Iraqi forces close to retaking Tal Afar from Islamic State

BAGHDAD/ERBIL — Iraqi forces have retaken almost all of Tal Afar, Islamic State’s (IS) stronghold in the country’s north-west, said the Iraqi military yesterday.

After just eight days of fighting, all 29 neighbourhoods in Tal Afar city had been taken back from the militant group, said the military in a statement.

However, fighting was ongoing in Al-Ayadiya, a small area 11km north-west of the city, where militants who fled the district’s city centre were hiding out, said Iraqi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Rasool.

Iraqi forces were waiting to retake the area before declaring complete victory in the offensive, he said, although pro-government fighters could already be seen celebrating, flashing victory signs as their tanks rolled through the streets, waving Iraqi flags and taking down black IS banners from buildings and lamp posts.

Tal Afar was the latest objective in the United States-backed war on the jihadist group following the recapture in July of Mosul, where IS declared its self-proclaimed caliphate over parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014.

The offensive on Tal Afar, which lies on the supply route between Syria and the former IS stronghold of Mosul, started on Aug 20. Up to 2,000 militants were believed to be defending the city against about 50,000 attackers, according to Iraqi and Western military sources. Officials have said they hope to announce victory by Eid al-Adha, the Muslim holiday set to start in Iraq on Sept 2.

Such a quick collapse of IS in the city, which has been a breeding ground for jihadist groups, would confirm Iraqi military reports that the militants lack command and control structures west of Mosul.

Until its takeover by IS, Tal Afar was largely populated by Shia Turkmen, whose beliefs are considered heretical by the Sunni jihadists of IS.

Tens of thousands of people are believed to have fled in the weeks before the battle started. Remaining civilians were threatened with death by the militants, according to aid organisations and residents who managed to leave.

Residents who fled Tal Afar days before the start of the offensive told Reuters that the militants looked “exhausted” and “depleted”.

Tal Afar has experienced cycles of sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shia after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, and has produced some of IS’ most senior commanders.

Once Tal Afar is retaken, Baghdad is expected to launch a new offensive on Hawija, about 300km north of the Iraqi capital. The Joint Operations Command has announced carrying out strikes near Hawija in recent days, including two that killed IS fighters and destroyed a command post.

IS is also present in the vast western province of Anbar, where it controls several zones along the border with Syria, including the Al-Qaim area.

Despite its losses in Iraq and Syria, IS has continued to claim responsibility for attacks carried out by its members or supporters abroad, including this month’s deadly attacks in Spain and knife attacks in Russia and Brussels. AGENCIES