Iraq’s military said on Tuesday that it is carrying out air strikes on ISIL targets in Tal Afar, west of Mosul, in preparation for a ground assault.<br /><br />It comes after US-backed Iraqi forces completed the recapture of Mosul last month, shattering the self-proclaimed caliphate declared by so-called Islamic State.<br /><br />Parts of Iraq and Syria remain however under ISIL control, especially along the border.<br /><br />Tal Afar is one of the last pockets of land held by the extremists in Iraq.<br /><br />Iraq starts bombing IS-held Tal Afar, west of Mosul: Sumariya https://t.co/6ZTsLDzzHG pic.twitter.com/iS7xw7UY1u— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) 15 août 2017<br /><br />The town had about 200,000 residents before falling to ISIL and hudreds of civilians have been fleeing the area ahead of the upcoming battle.<br /><br />That means collection points, screening, and shelter in camps for many – uncertain of what the future holds for them and their families.<br /><br />Hundreds of Iraqi’s flee the city of Tal Afar over fears it will be the next battleground in the fight against … https://t.co/oYKoOJA1LI pic.twitter.com/BkoNLeJ9WK— euronews (@euronews) 13 août 2017<br /><br />Tal Afar experienced cycles of sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shi’ites after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, and has produced some of ISIL’s most senior commanders.<br /><br />It has become the focus of a wider regional struggle for influence. <br /><br />Turkey, which claims affinity with Tal Afar’s predominantly ethnic Turkmen population, opposes the involvement of Shi’ite paramilitary groups fighting with Iraqi forces, some of which are backed by Iran.<br /><br />The US-led coalition is also keeping up its support to the Iraqi forces‘ campaign to end the militants presence all over the country.<br /><br />with Reuters<br />
