Iranian-backed Shia militia sends reinforcement to western Mosul

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi Shia militia Hashd al-Shaabi on Monday deployed more forces in western Mosul, the front line they are responsible for to advance toward the city center.

In a statement, the militia said four regiments had been sent to the west of the city to continue liberating the area from the so-called Islamic State (IS).

Hashd al-Shaabi mentioned their militia forces had successfully liberated many areas from the extremist group.

Additionally, the militia revealed the third stage of their operation in the region was to begin controlling the town of Tala’far.

In a press conference on Monday, Hashd al-Shaabi spokesperson Ahmed Assadi said the goal of the militia in the third stage was to retake Tala’far Airport.

Moreover, the group plans on recapturing 14,000 square kilometers in the area, including Bahaj and Hazar towns as well as surrounding territories.

“Tala’far is an important and strategic object for us to advance toward the center of the town,” he said.

Tala’far was occupied by the IS in June 2014. It is located 30 kilometers from the west of Mosul with a population of almost 200,000 people who are mostly ethnically Turkmen, based on 2014 statistics.

According to Assadi, the leader and “Caliph” of the IS Abu Bakir al-Baghdadi is hiding between the town of Bahaj and Tala’far.

Iraqi and Kurdish forces launched the military operation of liberating Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq, on Oct. 17.

Since then, the forces have attacked the group in the city from almost all front lines, aiming to move toward the center of Mosul.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany