MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Sunday, the Iraqi prime minister announced the beginning of the operation to free Tal Afar.
"Air Force jets dropped hundreds of thousands of leaflets over Hawija, Al-Qaim, Rawah, Anah and Akashat districts. The leaflets contained news on the Iraqi army's successes and Daesh losses, as well as a warning that all militants will either surrender or die," the press service said in a statement.
Previously, Iraqi officials had not verified publicly that the operation had launched, though Kurdish news agency Rudaw reported in the first week of August that it mission has already commenced.
Earlier on Monday, the Iraqi army seized control over the road between Mosul and Daesh-held Tal Afar.
Prior to the launch of the operation, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said that it believes that Tal Afar liberation will be "easier" than the Mosul campaign.
