As Iraq army forces backed by allied fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units advancing on old parts of Tal Afar, this city is to completely be liberated soon.
The spokesman for Iraq’s Joint Operations Command (JOC), Brigadier General Yahya Rasool, announced in a statement on Saturday that government forces and volunteer fighters, commonly known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha’abi, were now in control of 90 percent of the city, located 63 kilometers west of Mosul.
He added that only a few neighborhoods in Tal Afar were still being controlled by Daesh.
The commander of the Tal Afar liberation operation, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah, also said soldiers from the army’s 9th Armored Division and fighters from the 2nd and 11th brigades of Hashd al-Sha’abi had reclaimed full control over al-Muthanna al-Oula neighborhood in Tal Afar, and hoisted the Iraqi flag over several buildings there.
Additionally, Iraqi army soldiers and Hashd Sha’abi forces recaptured al-Urouba al-Thaniyah neighborhood and nearby Bowari area.
The soldiers and allied fighters also freed al-Salam and Hassan Koi neighborhoods in central Tal Afar.
Separately, Iraqi army troops liberated eight villages in the southeast of Tal Afar.
“Only 5 percent of Tal Afar territory is under the Daesh control and scattered clashes are going on to completely clear the city of Daesh” Iraqi army commander said
