Iraqi Forces Retake Two Areas in Tal Afar

Simultaneously with the visit of the U.S. Secretary of Defense to Iraq, Iraqi forces have retaken two areas in Tal Afar from the Islamic State (ISIS) forces. The ground operation by Iraqi security forces to reclaim Tal Afar in Nineveh province began with a message from the Prime Minister of Iraq early on Sunday, August 20. Airstrikes on the city had commenced on August 15, and the spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Defense had announced at that time that the ground operation would begin as soon as the airstrikes ended. Nevertheless, ISIS forces, estimated to be around a thousand, managed to halt Iraqi forces outside the city on Tuesday with their artillery attacks. Meanwhile, according to AFP, the United Nations announced that thousands of civilians are fleeing the area following the extensive assault by Iraqi forces supported by the U.S.-led coalition on Tal Afar. The UN Refugee Agency reported that approximately 9,000 people have settled in the 'Haman al-Alil' center in the past week, and this center is preparing to accommodate nearly 30,000 people. On the other hand, the International Organization for Migration stated that it has housed thousands of civilians since the attacks on Tal Afar began. According to this report, more than 3,000 people have entered two camps run by this organization since Friday. Tal Afar, located 70 kilometers from Mosul, is considered one of the last major areas still under the control of the Islamic State in Iraq. Iraqi forces were able to retake Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, from ISIS after nine months of fighting in July. Additionally, U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis stated on Tuesday during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Baghdad that there is a special focus on 'eradicating' the Islamic State. The U.S. Secretary of Defense emphasized, 'Our current focus is on defeating the Islamic State within Iraq and restoring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq.'