Operation to Retake Tal Afar from ISIS in Iraq Begins

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced early Sunday, August 20, that the ground operation by the country's security forces to retake the city of Tal Afar in Nineveh province has begun. Tal Afar, located 70 kilometers from Mosul, is considered one of the last major areas still under the control of the Islamic State group in Iraq. Al-Abadi stated that the security forces have commenced the operation and addressed ISIS fighters in a televised speech, saying, "You have no choice; either you surrender or you die." Airstrikes on Tal Afar began on August 15, and a spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Defense had previously announced that the ground operation would commence once the airstrikes concluded. Last week, the Iraqi police also stated that preparations for the operation were underway. The exact number of military and police forces participating in the liberation of Tal Afar has not been disclosed. Reports indicate that the Popular Mobilization Forces, mainly Shiite militias, will accompany the security forces in this operation. Earlier, General Stephen Townsend, the senior U.S. commander in Iraq, stated that Iraqi military forces are broadly prepared to begin the operation. Townsend, who is also responsible for providing support to Iraqi forces, mentioned, "I cannot say we have replaced all damaged vehicles and weapons, but everything is adequately prepared." A U.S.-led coalition is currently conducting air operations against ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria, as well as supporting Iraqi military forces and some Syrian militias in ground battles against the Islamic State. According to the Associated Press, Tal Afar and its surrounding areas are among the last major regions where ISIS still maintains its presence and influence. The city is the second most populous in Nineveh province after Mosul and is located about 150 kilometers from the Syrian border. Tal Afar is also situated along one of the key routes used by ISIS for the movement of personnel and supplies. The operation to retake Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, began last October and was officially declared liberated in mid-July. Mosul, Tal Afar, and other parts of Iraq fell under the control of the Islamic State group in 2014 during the peak of its advances alongside vast areas of Syria.