MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The statement added that the militias had also liberated a strategically important region between the two cities.
"The troops have established control over the road connecting Mosul and Tal Afar in the western part of the Nineveh province," the statement published on the website of the militias said.
SVBIED Image at Iraqi Forces convoy yesterday in TalAfar, which saw very severe fighting b/w Iraqi Army / Shiite Mobilization Forces & ISIS. pic.twitter.com/N6dxViUCdA
— Battle Analytics (@BattleAnalytics) 21 августа 2017 г.
On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi announced the beginning of the military offensive aimed at retaking Tal Afar, which remains the last stronghold of the terrorist group in Iraq after the liberation of Mosul.
#Iraqi army fire against Islamic State militants on the outskirts of #TalAfar pic.twitter.com/DXokxdnanu
— Ayman Hassan (@ayman___hassan) 20 августа 2017 г.
In July, Abadi announced the liberation of the Daesh-occupied Mosul by the Iraqi troops.
