ISIS: Iraqi jets kill dozens of jihadis in Tal Afar, west of Mosul
GETTY The strikes are said to have killed "dozens" of ISIS militants
A statement from the Iraqi military’s press office, the War Media Cell, also claimed the strikes destroyed weapons stockpiles and safe houses used by the militants. The statement read: “Iraqi fighter jets launched airstrikes that destroyed a weapon stash, rest house, and booby-trapping workshops of the IS in Tal Afar.”
The statement added that “dozens of militants were killed” in the operation. Tal Afar is one of the few strongholds held by ISIS in the Nineveh region. The death cult has sustained heavy losses in personnel and territory since an offensive by the US-backed coalition was launched last October to retake Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq and last urban ISIS-controlled stronghold in the country.
GETTY The strikes were launched as part of a bombing offensive by Iraqi fighter jets
Chilling photographs released from Mosul Thu, March 16, 2017 U.S.-backed Iraqi forces push further into the Islamic State-held western half of Mosul, capturing a damaged bridge which could link up their units on either side of the Tigris river Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 12 An Iraqi special forces soldier checks men for explosive belts as they cross from Islamic State controlled part of Mosul to Iraqi forces controlled part of Mosul
Forces led by the Iraqi army managed to wrest control of Eastern Mosul from ISIS in January, and a new offensive to retake the city’s western region was started in February. Iraqi federal police confirmed Tuesday that more than 1,200 ISIS fighters, including 27 leaders and 214 snipers, had been killed, and 300 square kilometres were retaken since operations were launched in western Mosul. Fewer than 1,000 ISIS jihadis are believed to be left standing in Mosul’s Old City, according to commanders from the Iraqi leadership and US coalition.
GETTY Iraqi forces are engaged in an ongoing effort to retake western Mosul
What's left of Mosul's University Tue, January 31, 2017 Iraq's second largest school is left in ruins after the battle for Mosul. Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 8 General view of the library of the University of Mosul burned and destroyed during the battle with Islamic State militants