Iraqi forces liberate first neighborhood inside Tal Afar, west Mosul
TAL AFAR, Iraq - South al-Kifah, the first neighborhood of the diverse city of Tal Afar was liberated from ISIS on the fourth day of a multi-pronged assault after the Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi and Iraqi armed forces entered the town and engaged in clashes with ISIS militants.
Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary units (PMUs) announced that their forces together with the Iraqi forces brought South al-Kifah neighborhood under control, the first to be recaptured in the city from ISIS since the start of the operation on August 20.
In the meantime, Rudaw's Sidad Lashkiri reported nearby that advances are now towards Tal Afar’s flour factory and grain silo.
He added another force is advancing into the outskirts of Mualimeen neighborhood.
With the help of air cover, over the past four days and on all fronts, an estimated 100 ISIS militants have been killed, said the reporter.
He added of the 40 villages around the town, 27 have so far been liberated from ISIS.
Federal Police together with the Rapid Response Force and the Hashd al-Shaabi are closing in on Mullah Jasim village, considered the largest in the area. With its recapture, the Iraqi forces will able to reach the second neighborhood within the city, North al-Kifah. But ISIS’s heavy defenses have deterred the recapture so far.
As part of the continued efforts to shrink ISIS's territory, the Hashd al-Shaabi is fighting to liberate Qaratapa village in order bring under control Shingal-Tal Afar road.
Tal Afar consists of 25 neighborhoods and 15 areas.
In the meantime, the Hashd al-Shaabi announced on Wednesday that their military advances continue into al-Khadra neighborhood in southern Tal Afar by the Hashd al-Shaabi's 16th Brigade.
The Hashd forces are simultaneously targeting ISIS positions in al-Halabiya area, east of Tal Afar, and Marishia village nearby, it stated.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the commencement of operations by security forces to retake the Tal Afar, which has a large Turkmen population as well as Arabs and Kurds.
The US-trained Counter Terrorism Service (CTS), Federal Police, the Rapid Response Force, Iraqi Army, and Hashd al-Shaabi are taking part in the operation with the backing of the coalition.
UNAMI stated more than 30,000 civilians have fled the area as of Sunday. An estimated 10,000 to 50,000 civilians are believed to still be living under ISIS control in Tal Afar and the surrounding areas, according to coalition figures.
It has served as a key ISIS route between Iraq and Syria since 2014 and is the last major centre in northwestern Iraq still controlled by the terrorist group.
Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary units (PMUs) announced that their forces together with the Iraqi forces brought South al-Kifah neighborhood under control, the first to be recaptured in the city from ISIS since the start of the operation on August 20.
In the meantime, Rudaw's Sidad Lashkiri reported nearby that advances are now towards Tal Afar’s flour factory and grain silo.
He added another force is advancing into the outskirts of Mualimeen neighborhood.
With the help of air cover, over the past four days and on all fronts, an estimated 100 ISIS militants have been killed, said the reporter.
He added of the 40 villages around the town, 27 have so far been liberated from ISIS.
Federal Police together with the Rapid Response Force and the Hashd al-Shaabi are closing in on Mullah Jasim village, considered the largest in the area. With its recapture, the Iraqi forces will able to reach the second neighborhood within the city, North al-Kifah. But ISIS’s heavy defenses have deterred the recapture so far.
As part of the continued efforts to shrink ISIS's territory, the Hashd al-Shaabi is fighting to liberate Qaratapa village in order bring under control Shingal-Tal Afar road.
Tal Afar consists of 25 neighborhoods and 15 areas.
He added seven neighborhoods have been designated to the Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) forces with to goal to be liberated in 21 days, he added.
In the meantime, the Hashd al-Shaabi announced on Wednesday that their military advances continue into al-Khadra neighborhood in southern Tal Afar by the Hashd al-Shaabi's 16th Brigade.
The Hashd forces are simultaneously targeting ISIS positions in al-Halabiya area, east of Tal Afar, and Marishia village nearby, it stated.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the commencement of operations by security forces to retake the Tal Afar, which has a large Turkmen population as well as Arabs and Kurds.
The US-trained Counter Terrorism Service (CTS), Federal Police, the Rapid Response Force, Iraqi Army, and Hashd al-Shaabi are taking part in the operation with the backing of the coalition.
UNAMI stated more than 30,000 civilians have fled the area as of Sunday. An estimated 10,000 to 50,000 civilians are believed to still be living under ISIS control in Tal Afar and the surrounding areas, according to coalition figures.
It has served as a key ISIS route between Iraq and Syria since 2014 and is the last major centre in northwestern Iraq still controlled by the terrorist group.