TAL AFAR (Sputnik) — The Iraqi armed forces have reached an old citadel, located in the center of the city of Tal Afar, Ahmad Asadi, spokesman for Iraq's Shia Hashd Shaabi militia, told Sputnik on Friday.
"Our troops reached the area around the citadel. It is a matter of few days now — Tal Afar will be fully liberated by Eid al-Adha [a Muslim holiday, celebrated on September 1 this year]," Asadi said.
"The distance between troops in the west and east of the city is nearly two kilometers [1.2 miles]," Asadi said.
On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi announced the beginning of the military offensive aimed at retaking Tal Afar, which is located 30 miles away from recently liberated Mosul. Tal Afar is the last major stronghold of the Daesh militants on the border of Iraq with Syria.
