Hawija, Tel Afar Operations Imminent: Iraq’s Abadi



The Iraqi forces will soon launch operations to liberate Tel Afar and Hawija towns from Islamic State (IS), Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi confirmed.

The two strategic towns, in Nineveh and Kirkuk provinces, have been under the control of IS since the group crossed the Syrian borders into Iraq in 2014.

In a press release made on Saturday, the Iraqi prime minister explained that with most of the country’s territories brought back under the control of the government, troops will soon move onto Tel Afar and Hawija to fully uproot the jihadist group.

Abadi pointed out that after reaching the Iraq-Syria borders, the Iraqi forces will protect the strip and will not cross into the neighbouring country.

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