ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Six weeks after Iraq’s second-largest city was declared liberated, security forces have announced that the battle to oust ISIS from Tal Afar, 60 kilometers west of Mosul, is just days away.
The country’s War Media Cell urged all citizens on Saturday in the areas around Tal Afar to tune their radios to 104.5 FM in order to receive information.
Iraq’s official military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Rasoul told reporters in Baghdad on Friday the fight will start "in the next few days."
Iraqi military leaders said Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has approved their combat plans, The Associated Press reported.
There have been reports and video showing Iraqi security forces mobilizing towards the besieged city.
Rasoul said the fight will involve the Iraqi Army, counterterrorism services (CTS), police and Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitaries (PMUs) — not specifying which Hashd brigades, nor whether they will enter the Turkmen city.
The country’s War Media Cell urged all citizens on Saturday in the areas around Tal Afar to tune their radios to 104.5 FM in order to receive information.
Iraq’s official military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Rasoul told reporters in Baghdad on Friday the fight will start "in the next few days."
Iraqi military leaders said Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has approved their combat plans, The Associated Press reported.
There have been reports and video showing Iraqi security forces mobilizing towards the besieged city.
Rasoul said the fight will involve the Iraqi Army, counterterrorism services (CTS), police and Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitaries (PMUs) — not specifying which Hashd brigades, nor whether they will enter the Turkmen city.
Abu Ali al-Kufi, executive assistant of Hashd al-Shaabi, stated through their media on Saturday that the PMUs "are ready for the start of operations."
He added at all Hashd brigades are on standby and "waiting for the zero hour."
Mosul was declared liberated on June 10 after a fierce nine-month battle between Iraqi security forces (ISF) and ISIS in the city with Hashd and Peshmerga securing outlying towns and areas.
"I can't say that we replaced every single damaged or broken vehicle or rifle or machine gun," said Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the top US commander in Iraq. "They'll be ready enough."
He sees Tal Afar "unfolding relatively soon."
Strategic Tal Afar was used by ISIS to travel between Iraq and Syria prior to Hashd al-Shaabi announcing it had encircled the city from the south and west in November 2016.
Kurdish Peshmerga fighters man a defensive line that runs roughly south of the Mosul Dam to northern Shingal.
In June, at least 500 families fled Tal Afar to Kurdish-controlled areas before being transferred to Hamam Alil camp.
Kurdish forces have complained that operations against ISIS in Tel Afar west of Mosul have been prioritized over an offensive in the areas south of Kirkuk and Hawija.
ISIS has stepped up its activity south of Kirkuk where the Hamrin mountain range runs along Kurdistan’s southern border.
An estimated 50,000 people are still believed to be trapped in the city of Tal Afar.
"It's smaller and there are fewer bad guys," Townsend said. "But for the Iraqi security force member or policeman or infantry man or special forces soldier who's attacking, it won't be easier. He's going to be facing a determined ISIS fighter dug into Tal Afar, determined to fight to the death."
He added at all Hashd brigades are on standby and "waiting for the zero hour."
Mosul was declared liberated on June 10 after a fierce nine-month battle between Iraqi security forces (ISF) and ISIS in the city with Hashd and Peshmerga securing outlying towns and areas.
Abadi, the Commander in Chief of all Iraqi forces, has said that the Tal Afar offensive will commence once military commanders are ready.
The PM met with a high-level delegation this week including generals and Ambassador Douglas Silliman from the United States, which leads the global coalition to defeat ISIS and trains, advises, assists and provides intelligence to ISF.
ISF does not publicly release casualty reports. The AP reported as many as 1,400 troops were killed and more than 7,000 wounded in the Mosul offensive, and significant resupplying and repairing is needed prior to Tal Afar.
"I can't say that we replaced every single damaged or broken vehicle or rifle or machine gun," said Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the top US commander in Iraq. "They'll be ready enough."
He sees Tal Afar "unfolding relatively soon."
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Gen. Joseph Votel met with Abadi in Baghdad and with the Commander in Chief of Kurdish Peshmerga Masoud Barzani in Erbil this week.
“I think they are ready,” Votel said in reference to the Tal Afar operation.
Strategic Tal Afar was used by ISIS to travel between Iraq and Syria prior to Hashd al-Shaabi announcing it had encircled the city from the south and west in November 2016.
Kurdish Peshmerga fighters man a defensive line that runs roughly south of the Mosul Dam to northern Shingal.
In June, at least 500 families fled Tal Afar to Kurdish-controlled areas before being transferred to Hamam Alil camp.
Kurdish forces have complained that operations against ISIS in Tel Afar west of Mosul have been prioritized over an offensive in the areas south of Kirkuk and Hawija.
ISIS has stepped up its activity south of Kirkuk where the Hamrin mountain range runs along Kurdistan’s southern border.
Coalition officials told Rudaw English on Friday that the decision for Hawija ultimately rests with Baghdad.
An estimated 50,000 people are still believed to be trapped in the city of Tal Afar.
"It's smaller and there are fewer bad guys," Townsend said. "But for the Iraqi security force member or policeman or infantry man or special forces soldier who's attacking, it won't be easier. He's going to be facing a determined ISIS fighter dug into Tal Afar, determined to fight to the death."
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