Iraq: Almost All Areas of Tal Afar Have Been Recaptured from ISIS

On Sunday, September 5, the Iraqi Army announced that nearly all areas of the city of Tal Afar have been recaptured from the Islamic State (ISIS). According to Reuters, the Iraqi Army stated in a statement that 29 areas of the city of Tal Afar were reclaimed from ISIS after just eight days of fighting. Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah, commander of the operation 'Qadimun Ya Tal Afar' (We Are Coming to Tal Afar), announced: 'Today, all central areas of Tal Afar have been liberated from ISIS.' Faleh al-Fayyad, head of the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi), also congratulated the 'rapid victory' in Tal Afar in a statement. According to General Yahya Rasool, spokesman for the Iraqi Army, fighting continues in the Al-Ayadiyah area, located 11 kilometers north of Tal Afar. He added that Iraqi forces will announce complete victory in Tal Afar after liberating Al-Ayadiyah. Iraqi forces are supported by U.S. air cover in the fight against ISIS. Tal Afar is located in the middle of the supply lines from Mosul to Syria. The city of Mosul was liberated from ISIS control in July of this year after months of heavy fighting. Reuters, citing Iraqi and Western sources, reported that approximately 2,000 ISIS fighters were resisting against 50,000 Iraqi forces in Tal Afar. The news agency quoted residents who had left Tal Afar before the operation, stating that ISIS forces in the city had become worn out. Tens of thousands of residents fled Tal Afar before the Iraqi Army's attack.