Iraqi forces, US coalition step up airstrikes ahead of Tal Afar ops
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraqi forces and US-led coalition airplanes have increased airstrikes on ISIS targets in Tal Afar ahead of an offensive to retake the town from ISIS.
Lt. General Anwar Hama told The Associated Press that a series of airstrikes this week “targeted IS group headquarters, tunnels and weapons’ stores.”
On Monday alone, the Coalition announced there were two strikes that destroyed nine ISIS roadblocks and two front-end loaders near Tal Afar.
Additionally a strike beginning on Sunday and closing on Monday damaged an ISIS tunnel and suppressed two mortar teams.
"The preparations are under way, there are strikes aimed at wearing them down and keeping them busy, targeting their command and control centers, their depots... these strikes have been going on for some time," Iraqi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Rasoul said in a statement.
"We are waiting for the commander in chief of the armed forces [Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi] to give the orders for the liberation battle to start."
The Iraqi army, the federal police and the US-trained Counter Terrorism Service (CTS), totaling almost 40,000 soldiers, will be carrying out the offensive in addition to the US-led coalition air support, an Iraqi army source told Rudaw English on Tuesday.
The Iraqi source estimated that there were between 900 and 1,000 ISIS fighters in the town along with their families.
The city of Tal Afar has been under siege by the Hashd al-Shaabi for some eight months. The largely Shiite force intends to take part in the operation to oust ISIS from the city.
"The Hahsd al-Shaabi will carry out its role by liberating Tal Afar, from the surrounding areas of the city through to the city center on the agreed fighting fronts," a senior commander in the force, Moeen al-Kadhimi, told Rudaw English.
Official Hashd media have also announced that they are ready to take part in the Tal Afar battle.
Maj. Gen. Mitham al-Zaidi said on Monday a brigade from Karbala had arrived in Tal Afar and they are "ready."
Brigade 11 announced they killed three suicide bombers on Monday who were trying to infiltrate between Tal Abtah and Tal Afar.
Abadi said in late July that the controversial Hashd al-Shaabi force, which was brought under government control by the parliament late last year, will take part in the offensive to drive ISIS out of the Turkmen town.
This is a reversal of an earlier decision. Abadi had told a tribal delegation from Tal Afar in late 2016 that the Hashd forces would not enter the Turkmen town and instead the Iraqi army would take over that mission.
Neighboring Turkey has long opposed the involvement of the Shiite force in the operation, citing violence at the hands of the group against the Turkmen populated town and fearing it will alter the region's demographics, causing tensions between Ankara and Baghdad.
Tal Afar, 60 kilometers west of Mosul, has been under ISIS control since mid-2014.
The United Nations reported that since April, some 49,000 civilians have fled Tal Afar. The situation was described by residents who escaped as dire as food and water supplies are dwindling.
Lt. General Anwar Hama told The Associated Press that a series of airstrikes this week “targeted IS group headquarters, tunnels and weapons’ stores.”
On Monday alone, the Coalition announced there were two strikes that destroyed nine ISIS roadblocks and two front-end loaders near Tal Afar.
Additionally a strike beginning on Sunday and closing on Monday damaged an ISIS tunnel and suppressed two mortar teams.
"The preparations are under way, there are strikes aimed at wearing them down and keeping them busy, targeting their command and control centers, their depots... these strikes have been going on for some time," Iraqi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Rasoul said in a statement.
"We are waiting for the commander in chief of the armed forces [Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi] to give the orders for the liberation battle to start."
The Iraqi army, the federal police and the US-trained Counter Terrorism Service (CTS), totaling almost 40,000 soldiers, will be carrying out the offensive in addition to the US-led coalition air support, an Iraqi army source told Rudaw English on Tuesday.
The Iraqi source estimated that there were between 900 and 1,000 ISIS fighters in the town along with their families.
The city of Tal Afar has been under siege by the Hashd al-Shaabi for some eight months. The largely Shiite force intends to take part in the operation to oust ISIS from the city.
"The Hahsd al-Shaabi will carry out its role by liberating Tal Afar, from the surrounding areas of the city through to the city center on the agreed fighting fronts," a senior commander in the force, Moeen al-Kadhimi, told Rudaw English.
Official Hashd media have also announced that they are ready to take part in the Tal Afar battle.
Maj. Gen. Mitham al-Zaidi said on Monday a brigade from Karbala had arrived in Tal Afar and they are "ready."
Brigade 11 announced they killed three suicide bombers on Monday who were trying to infiltrate between Tal Abtah and Tal Afar.
Abadi said in late July that the controversial Hashd al-Shaabi force, which was brought under government control by the parliament late last year, will take part in the offensive to drive ISIS out of the Turkmen town.
This is a reversal of an earlier decision. Abadi had told a tribal delegation from Tal Afar in late 2016 that the Hashd forces would not enter the Turkmen town and instead the Iraqi army would take over that mission.
Neighboring Turkey has long opposed the involvement of the Shiite force in the operation, citing violence at the hands of the group against the Turkmen populated town and fearing it will alter the region's demographics, causing tensions between Ankara and Baghdad.
Tal Afar, 60 kilometers west of Mosul, has been under ISIS control since mid-2014.
The United Nations reported that since April, some 49,000 civilians have fled Tal Afar. The situation was described by residents who escaped as dire as food and water supplies are dwindling.