Iraqi Army Preparing to Declare Conclusion of Tal Afar Battle



Iraqi forces have begun the mopping-up operations in the district of Tal Afar, preparing to officially pronounce the district free.


An officer in the Joint Operations Command announced on Saturday the liberation of six new areas in Tal Afar district, northwest of Mosul.


Colonel Khalid al-Jawari told BasNews "the joint forces of the federal police and the army have taken control of six neighborhoods, including Qadisiyah First, Qadisiyah Second, Muthana First, Muthana Ssecond, al-Orubah, al-Salam and Tal Afar General Hospital, after violent clashes with the Islamic State (IS) militants on Saturday.


The clashes resulted in the death of over 40 IS militants and capturing of 10 others.
The troops continue the raids and search operations for the remaining militants, he said, adding “the engineering effort continues to destroy the booby traps and improvised explosive devices on the main streets."


He noted "the security forces are preparing to break into the remaining residential neighborhoods in the center of the district," pointing out that IS has militarily collapsed in Tal Afar.

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