Iraqi armed forces are prepared for their next major campaign against the so-called Islamic State (IS) in the town of Tel Afar, according to top US commanders.
Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend, a top US commander, said on Friday, the Iraqi forces are now ready for the upcoming military operation against IS in Tel Afar, and the offensive will be launched relatively soon, the Associated Press reported.
The operation for recapturing Tel Afar from the IS militants follows weeks of preparation, including regrouping the army troops and repairing equipment and weapons, the US commander added.
The preparation comes after nine months of battling the extremist group in the city of Mosul. The town of Tel Afar (some 65 kilometres west of Mosul) was captured by IS militants back in 2014 when the group first emerged in Iraq, and has been a main stronghold since.