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| Iraq |
| Mosul Offensive News |
| 2016-11-26 |
| Iraqi militia commences fifth phase of offensive operations Nineveh – (IraqiNews.com) Al-Hashd al-Sha’bi popular militias announced Friday the beginning of a fifth decisive phase of its advancement towards the strategic, Islamic-State-held town of Tal Afar, Nineveh. The militia’s media service said Friday it had liberated the village of al-Aazal, west of Mosul, as operations launched. The latest phase, which concluded on Wednesday, had seen the mostly-Shia militia consummating a siege on the city and liberating several villages on its outskirts after taking control of its vital military airport. Its commanders said the fifth phase would see the troops advancing further towards the center of Tal Afar. A spokesperson for Asaeb Ahl al-Haq, a component of al-Hashed al-Sha’bi, said in a statement that the current stage of operations are specifically targeting the Tal Abta neighborhood. He said his troops had managed to take over the villages of Um Nekheila and Toffaha as operations proceeded. Tal Afar has been a concern for Turkey which had said it feared that Shia paramilitary forces engaged in combat, most notably al-Hashed al-Shaabi, could carry out retaliatory measures against Sunni Turkmen residents of the town. Turkey has demanded the government in Baghdad to ensure that the militias stop at the siege on Tal Afar airport. The takeover of Tal Afar airport represents a major victory for the militias as it stands as a vital step towards the liberation of the whole town and cutting the last ISIS supply corridor to Syria. Iraqi militia captures villages in Tal Afar Nineveh – (IraqiNews.com) Al-Hashd al-Sha’bi militias said Friday they had recaptured one more village on its way to liberating the strategic town of Tal Afar, Nineveh, from Islamic State militants. The militia’s media service said they took over the village of Khodeir southwest of Tal Afar. “Al-Hashd has engaged in ferocious fights with ISIS elements,” adding that the group uses civilians as human shields. “Al-Hashd had also brought down an ISIS-run drone in Um Nekheila village, and also destroyed two booby-trapped vehicles.” Earlier today, the militia announced the beginning of a fifth decisive phase of its advancement towards the town, beginning the operation with liberating the village of al-Aazal, west of Mosul. The latest phase, which concluded on Wednesday, had seen the mostly-Shia militia consummating a siege on the city and liberating several villages on its outskirts after taking control of its vital military airport. Its commanders said the fifth phase would see the troops advancing further towards the center of Tal Afar. A spokesperson for Asaeb Ahl al-Haq, a component of al-Hashed al-Sha’bi, said in a statement that the current stage of operations are specifically targeting the Tal Abta neighborhood. He said his troops had managed to take over the villages of Um Nekheila and Toffaha as operations proceeded. Tal Afar has been a concern for Turkey which had said it feared that Shia paramilitary forces engaged in combat, most notably al-Hashed al-Shaabi, could carry out retaliatory measures against Sunni Turkmen residents of the town. Turkey has demanded the government in Baghdad to ensure that the militias stop at the siege on Tal Afar airport. The takeover of Tal Afar airport represents a major victory for the militias as it stands as a vital step towards the liberation of the whole town and cutting the last ISIS supply corridor to Syria. 50 ISIS Turbans eat it near Mosul Nineveh – (IraqiNews.com) Fifty Islamic State militants were killed and 32 others were arrested on Friday as Iraqi Federal Police proceed with operations to liberate area south of Mosul. A statement by the police service said operations have also resulted into the destruction of four barracks, adding that efforts continue to comb the villages recaptured over the past few days, presumably from booby-traps and landmines. Iraqi joint police and army forces, assisted by US-led international forces and popular militias, have been in battles with ISIS in Mosul, the extremist group’s last bastion in Iraq, since operations kicked off in mid October. Battles and military advancements from all directions over the past week have effectively isolated the province of Nineveh from the rest of Iraq, as well as cut ISIS’s vital supply lines from Syria. According to statements by the Iraqi Interior Ministry and the US-led international coalition, at least 1500 ISIS fighters have been killed since operations to recapture Mosul launched. |
| Posted by:badanov |