IFP Exclusive

Iraq Starts Operation to Liberate Tal Afar from ISIS

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has officially announced the beginning of an operation to retake the city of Tal Afar from ISIS terrorists.

Six weeks after Iraq’s second-largest city Mosul was declared liberated, the Iraqi PM announced that the battle to oust ISIS from Tal Afar, 60 kilometres west of Mosul, has been officially started, according to Arab media reports.

Iraq’s official military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Rasoul told reporters on Friday that the fight will involve the Iraqi Army, counter-terrorism services (CTS), police and Hashd al-Shaabi popular forces (PMUs).

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) says thousands of pro-government fighters are going to participate in the operation to retake Tal Afar.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Lebanon-based Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network on Friday, Ahmed al-Asadi said 20,000 volunteer forces, commonly known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha’abi, will take part in the battle for Tal Afar.

“We have information about the presence of foreigners within ISIS ranks in Tal Afar, but we do not know their identity,” Asadi pointed out.

He noted that the operation to liberate Tal Afar will not take long, but rather several weeks.

IFP Editorial Staff

The IFP Editorial Staff is composed of dozens of skilled journalists, news-writers, and analysts whose works are edited and published by experienced editors specialized in Iran News. The editor of each IFP Service is responsible for the report published by the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website, and can be contacted through the ways mentioned in the "IFP Editorial Staff" section.

Recent Posts

IRGC: US Iran’s main enemy, Israel can’t survive without its support

The spokesperson and deputy head of public relations for the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC)…

2 hours ago

Iran says increased number of its centrifuges in response to the IAEA resolution

The Atomic Energy Organization and the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that, in response to the…

2 hours ago

Iranian, Belarusian tourism ministers meet on facilitating tourist movement

Iran's Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri, met on Thursday…

5 hours ago

Unscheduled visit by Qatari prime minister to Tehran sparks speculation

Reports emerged by Iranian daily Donya-e Eqtesad suggest that the Qatari Prime Minister and Minister…

20 hours ago

ICC issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu, Gallant for ‘war crimes’ in Gaza

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,…

21 hours ago

Iran to respond to Europe’s “non-technical” move: Foreign Minister

As France, Germany, and the United Kingdom submit an anti-Iran draft resolution to the International…

21 hours ago