Offensive to liberate Tal Afar from IS has begun: Kurdish official

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Security forces in Iraq have launched the offensive to liberate Tal Afar from the Islamic State (IS), a Kurdistan Region defense ministry official said on Wednesday.

About 100 tanks and armored vehicles have been stationed near the Badush area, 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Tal Afar.

“The operation began yesterday,” the Kurdistan Region’s Chief of Staff of the Peshmerga Ministry Jabar Yawar said.

“Around 18 villages near Tal Afar have already been liberated as announced by the commanders of federal government forces,” he added.

According to security officials, nearly 40,000 soldiers will be involved in the offensive to free the city from IS control.

Tal Afar, located 40 kilometers from Mosul, was captured by the extremist group in mid-2014.

The area is mostly populated by Sunni Turkmen.

Iraqi Major General Najm al-Jabouri said he predicted the battle to reclaim the city from IS would be easy because the fighters are “worn out and demoralized.”

“I don’t expect it will be a fierce battle even though the enemy is surrounded,” he told Reuters.

“The enemy is very worn out,” he explained. “I know from the intelligence reports that their morale is low.”

The Iraqi general predicted there were around 1,500 to 2,000 IS militants left in Tal Afar, including family members.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi revealed Shia militia Hashd al-Shaabi would play a significant role in the operation to liberate the city.

The Shia forces recently liberated over a dozen villages on the southeastern outskirts of Tal Afar.

The US-led coalition has also conducted regular air strikes in and around the area, paving the way for Iraqi troops to enter the city.

Editing by Ava Homa