Tal Afar (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi force continued Wednesday to recapture more areas held by Islamic State militants in the town of Tal Afar, their last holdout in Nineveh province.The Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell quoted operations commander, Lt. Gen. Abdul-Amir Yarallah, saying forces took over al-Asheq village, besides the Kasak-Mahalabiya road in the east.
Military media also said three other villages, as well as a mountainous area called Sheikh Ibrahim, were also recaptured.
Popular Mobilization Forces, the paramilitary troops fighting the militants alongside the government, said through their media that troops took over 75 percent of al-Jazeera region, southeast of the enclave.
Military media said earlier forces had recaptured al-Tenek neighborhood in the east.
Security forces made advance on Wednesday in several directions in Tal Afar town, invading al-Tenek district, east of the town, gaining control on the medical center there and invading al-Jazeera district, in the northeast. Al-Khadraa district, in the south, was invaded, while wide regions of al-Kifah al-Shamali, in the northwest, were previously freed.
More than 1400 Islamic State militants with Arab and foreign nationalities are estimated to be in the town, according to military commanders.
The United Nations says more than 40.000 civilians have fled the town, while 30.000 others are believed to be still stranded inside.
Troops liberate two districts in Tal Afar: Commander
Tal Afar (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi troops have liberated al-Tenek and al-Kifah al-Shamali districts in Tal Afar, Islamic State’s last enclave in Nineveh province.
The army’s ninth armored division as well as the 11th and 26th brigades of al-Hashd al-Shaabi [Popular Mobilization Units] managed to free al-Tenek district, located east of Tal Afar,” Lt.Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah, commander of the Tal Afar Operations, said in statements. “Troops raised the Iraqi flag there.”
Troops previously liberated al-Kifah al-Shamali district.
Peshmerga kills two IS members infiltrating from Tal Afar into northwestern Mosul
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Kurdish Peshmerga troops killed two Islamic State militants in northwest of Mosul, a security source said on Wednesday.
A suicide attacker, wearing a suicide belt, was killed by the troops, while another militant was killed near Kol Mohamed village in Zimar town, northwest of Mosul, the source told Shafaq News.
The two militants infiltrated from Aiyadhiya town, in Tal Afar, located west of Mosul.
Islamic State orders militants to set headquarters in Tal Afar on fire
Tal Afar (IraqiNews.com) Islamic State has ordered militants to set their headquarters on fire and withdraw from open areas, according to intelligence of paramilitary troops.
“The enemy ordered militants to burn their headquarters and withdraw from open areas in Tal Afar toward buildings and narrow alleyways,” a statement by the media service of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) said.
On Monday, PMUs media service said IS set oil wells on fire to hinder military jets reach targets.
Wide regions liberated, invaded as troops make advances in Tal Afar
Tal Afar (IraqiNews.com) The pro-government paramilitary troops along with security forces have resumed advance in several directions in Tal Afar town, the last Islamic State bastion in Nineveh province.
Statements by the media service of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) said joint troops invaded al-Tenek district, east of the town and started invasion on al-Jazeera district, in the northeast.
“Troops of the 26th and 25th brigades of the army invaded al-Tenek district and controlled the medical center there,” the service said. “PMUs along with security troops managed to pass the first defense line of al-Jazeera district. Fierce battles are currently ongoing there.”
Earlier today, “the 26th brigade, backed by army jets, resumed its advance in al-Khadraa district, in south of Tal Afar.”
Another statement said troops “targeted IS locations, west of Mahlabiya, ahead of invasion.”
“The 17th brigade fired rockets against IS locations including a leadership center in Mahlabiya, located east of Tal Afar,” it said adding that the enemy was directly targeted.
“The 53rd brigade, along with Federal Police and Rapid Response troops liberated wide regions of al-Kifah al-Shamali, northwest of Tal Afar,” according to the media service.
Iraqi forces tell IS in Tal Afar to choose surrender or death
Tal Afar (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi government forces are telling Islamic State militants to choose between surrendering or death as forces as troops reach the heart of the group’s last holdout in Nineveh province.
Intelligence sources told Alsumaria News that government forces used loudspeakers in the enclave to tell fighters to surrender ot otherwise face death, to which fighters were thrown into chaos and responded with chants through mosques’ loudspeakers to interrupt the security forces’ calls.
| And a good time was had by all, until the festivities started up again. |