ISIS update 8/20/2017.. 'Surrender or die' al-Abadi tells ISIS in Tal Afar

Operations to free Iraq’s Tal Afar officially begins

Iraq: ‘Surrender or die’ – PM al-Abadi announces launch to retake Tal Afar from IS

Thousands flee ahead of Iraq’s ground attack to Tal Afar

Iraqi Forces Lay Siege on ISIL in 1st Day of Tal Afar Liberation Operation

The Iraqi Army troops and the country’s volunteer forces of Hashd al-Shaabi captured several regions South of the ISIL-held city of Tal Afar and managed to lay siege on the terrorists in the Southern direction of the city on Sunday.

The Iraqi units and Hashd al-Shaabi won four hills in the Southern direction of Tal Afar and trapped ISIL in a circle of their forces.

Also, the Iraqi pro-government forces took control of the village of Tal al-Saban West of Tal Afar.

In the meantime, the Iraqi Federal Police forces, backed up by Hashd al-Shaabi, liberated Abrah al-Najar, Abrah Hanash, al-Abrah al-Saqirah and al-Abrah al-Kabirah regions in Western direction of Tal Afar.

The Iraqi police also pushed ISIL out of the villages of Qazal Qi’yu and Kasar Mehrab Southeast of Tal Afar.

The Iraqi forces have ended their mop-up operation successfully in the villages of Batisheh, al-Alam, Khafajeh, Halbiyeh al-Oliya, Tal al-Masbak and the Southern part of Zambar mountains East of Tal Afar.

The Iraqi forces have, meantime, cut off the ISIL’s supply line from Tal Afar to al-Mahalbiyeh.

The Arabic-language al-Mayadeen TV reported that five ranking members of the military council of ISIL commanders are now in Tal Afar.

Earlier reports said that the Iraq’s military launched a military operation to liberate the city of Tal Afar, West of Mosul, in Nineveh province from ISIL terrorist group.

“You either surrender, or die,” Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a televised address.

“As we announce the start of operations to liberate Tal Afar we salute the heroic Iraqi forces who fight to bring victory, freedom and peace,” Abadi added on Twitter.

Iraqi government forces were deployed in four areas at the start of the ground offensive, while they allegedly cut all escape routes in and out of Tal Afar. The Iraqi air force also intensified its airstrikes on Takfiri terrorists in Tal Afar prior to the ground operation.

According to reports, About 2,000 battle-hardened militants remain in the city.

The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimated that about up to 40,000 people are left in and around Tal Afar and militants are “preventing people from escaping, as it did in West Mosul, by shooting at families attempting to flee.”

Also, some 50,000 people have fled the areas surrounding Tal Afar in recent months.

Spokesman for the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) had announced that thousands of pro-government fighters are also going to participate in the military operation to retake the Northern city of Tal Afar.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Lebanon-based Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network on Friday, Ahmed al-Asadi said 20,000 volunteer forces, commonly known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Shabi, will take part in the battle for Tal Afar.

Last November, the Iraqi Parliament approved a law giving full legal status to Hashd al-Shabi fighters. It recognized the PMU as part of the national armed forces, placed the volunteer fighters under the command of the Prime Minister, and granted them the right to receive salaries and pensions like the regular army and police forces.

Tal Afar has remained one of the last large ISIL’s strongholds in Iraq, as the liberation of the city will signify a large victory in the fight against terrorism.

Tal Afar has been under ISIL’s control since mid-2014, when the Takfiri terrorists captured the town. Before the seizure, it was home to 750,000 people. Many civilians still reside in the city.

The Iraqi Army announced in July 10 that Baghdad forces has recaptured the key town of Mosul, ISIL’s de facto capital in the Arab country, after 9-month of bloody battle with the Takfiri terrorists in Nineveh province.  

Why is Tal Afar so important for the Iraqi government ?

The Syrian Arab Army’s elite «Tiger Forces» units under the direct command of Suheil Al-Hassan,Battle-footage against the so-called Islamic state Terrorist-group in the countryside of Hama, Homs, and Raqqa…

Map of the Syrian Arab Army swallows the countryside of Hama, Raqqa, Homs from all sides,besiege the Uqayribate and the so-called Islamic state Terrorist-group completely trapped in Central Syria after losing strategic supply line…
It was only only a matter of time before the Isis found themselves besieged in the Hama Governorate…
The Islamic state’s nightmare became a reality as the Syrian Arab Army and their Allies reaches the Al-Sha’er Mountains from their positions in the Ithriya countryside with the Syrian Army in control every road leading the Eastern Salamiyah area, the Isis is now forced to dig-in for a siege of the strategic Town of Uqayribate, which has been their stronghold for over two years…
_. The Syrian Arab Army captured Talat Gharbiyah, Talat Sharqiyah, Sawwanat Husayyah, and Tall Husayyah…
_. The Syrian Arab Army created a pocket and besiege many Isis-held villages…
_. The Syrian Arab Army captured Sawwanat Al-Qusayr, and reached Bir Al-Fasidah…
_. Government forces captured Al-lahm, and khribat Harekba…
_. The Syrian Arab Army captured Al-Harith Gas-Field, and both Akram Gas-Fields…
_. The Syrian Arab Army captured Al-Kawn Oasis,including Al-Kawn village…
_. The Syrian Arab Army captured Najib Gas-Field East of Al-Sukhnah…

The Syrian Arab Army and their Allies break into Hamimeh Town in the Southeastern Homs countryside, comb the Isis Headquarters in the Mosque, taking control of several Armored vehicles..
The Syrian Arab Army target the Northern part of the Hamimeh Town in T-2 Pumping station axis near Deir ezzor area, and as result of the assault captured the Town after fierce clashes with the so-called Islamic state Terrorist-group…

SDF makes progress in fighting against Daesh for Raqqah

20 terrorists killed, one-third of border area liberated by Lebanese army

Special scenes from the Battles in Western Qalamoun…
The Syrian Arab Army, Hezbollah, and the Lebanese Army have made significant progress in the Qalamoun region these last 48 hours, liberating more than 70 k.m² of territory along the Lebanese-Syrian border…
The Syrian Arab Army and Hezbollah secured the Shabat Younes Hills, the areas of Harf wadi al-Dib,Shabat al-Mahbas al-Awla, Harf al-Hashishat, and Qarnt al-Hashishat from Isis-Terrorist-group…
The Syrian Arab Army seized almost all of the Jarajeer Barrens, a half of sites in Qarah Barrens, imposing fire control over Zamrani crossing, which left the Isis besieged inside the Syrian lands…
The entire Qalamoun operation has resulted in the liberation of more than 80 square k.m² of territory and more than 30 Isis-Terrorists killed…

Syrian Army, Hezbollah Capture over 85 Percent of ISIL-Held Heights at Border with Lebanon

The Syrian Army troops and the Lebanese Hezbollah fighters pushed ISIL back from more than 85 percent of the heights in Western Qalamoun region in the first day of their joint anti-terrorism operation codenamed “If You Return We Will Return Again”, military sources reported on Sunday.

The sources said that the army units and Hezbollah fighters, backed up by artillery and missile units, stormed ISIL’s defense lines from the Northern, Eastern and Southern directions along the border with Lebanon and managed to drive terrorists out of 87 percent of Western Qalamoun with total area of 155sq/km.

The army soldiers and Hezbollah took control of three passageways of al-Zamarani, Abu Hadij and Zahar Ali and strategic Abu Khadij heights overlooking al-Jarajeer field, Mas’oud canyon and Abu Khazir region, they added.

The sources went on to say that the pro-government forces imposed control over the heights near the town of al-Barij, Sha’ab al-Hasn peak, al-Samaqiyat region, al-Arqoub region, Khirbet al-Istanbul, Haqab al-Rawashena, Darvish fields and Sisiyan field after hours of non-stop clashes with terrorists in the Eastern part of the mountainous region.

The army and Hezbollah also liberated the heights of Qarna al-Shalouf, al-Mahbas cave, al-Maqara cave, Harf al-Dab canyon and Yunis caves in the Southern part of the mountainous region at border.

Relevant reports said on Saturday that the army troops and the Lebanese Hezbollah combatants pushed ISIL terrorists back from five more strategic regions in al-Jarajeer and Qareh heights after inflicting major losses on the terrorists.

The army men and Hezbollah fighters, backed up by artillery units’ heavy fires, continued their advances and imposed control over Wadi Mas’oud, Wadi Abu Khazir heights in al-Jarajeer.

In the meantime, the Syrian pro-government forces tool control of Sho’aba Sarour, Qabr al-Asrali and Khirbet al-Eileh regions in Qareh heights after hours of heavy fighting with ISIL.

The army and Hezbollah further advanced against ISIL-held regions in al-Arqoub region and Rabiyeh (hill) al-Nahash in Qareh heights.

The Syrian government forces, meantime, advanced toward the strategic Halmat Qareh region at the border with Lebanon.

President Assad gives speech on Syria situation

President Bashar Assad: Syrian Army Forces Crushing Terrorists, Clearing Areas

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said government forces, backed by allied fighters from popular defense groups, are crushing foreign-backed Takfiri terrorists across the country, and clearing areas of militants.

“Our army is making territorial gains every day, week after week, crushing terrorists and clearing lands occupied by them,” Assad said during a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in the capital Damascus on Sunday, presstv reported.

He added that valiant fighters from the Syrian army and allied forces made a positive role model in the history of wars.

“We, in cooperation with friends, will continue to squash terrorists wherever they are. We will continue national reconciliation, which has proved its effectiveness, will enhance communication with others and explore economic opportunities… The direct political, economic, and military support of our allies has helped us to make more gains than to suffer losses. These friends are our actual partners,” Assad pointed out.

The Syrian leader added that Syria had been a target throughout history, noting that the Syrian nation had been forced to pay a heavy price in the ongoing foreign-backed militancy plaguing the country.

“We have managed to foil the Western project. West is like a chameleon due to its behavior to fit different situations. The psychological war against the Damascus government has failed to discourage us from fighting terrorism or even frighten us… We have fought terror since day one, and we will continue to fight it until there is no terrorist in Syria…,” Assad stressed.

He went on to say that his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was playing the role of a political beggar after his support for Takfiri terrorist groups in Syria came to light.

Assad highlighted that there was no chance for a plan to partition Syria as long as government forces and their allies are fighting terrorism, adding that the main goal of de-escalation zones was to stop bloodshed, deliver humanitarian aid, evacuate militants, and bring life back to normal.

The Syrian president stated that his country’s economy was slowly but “consistently” recovering.

“We are not in a state of isolation as they think… There will be no security cooperation or diplomatic ties with some states until they sever their ties with terrorism in a clear and unequivocal manner,” Assad pointed out.

The Syrian president said elsewhere in his remarks that the assistance extended by Syria’s main allies, including Russia, Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement, had enabled the country’s army to make battlefield gains and reduce the burden of war.

“Their direct support – politically, economically and militarily – has made possible advances on the battlefield and reduced the losses and burdens of war,” Assad added.

He stated that Syria welcomed Russian-brokered, regional ceasefire deals, which Moscow seeks to extend in other places in Syria.

“We have an interest in the success of this initiative,” Assad noted while condemning U.S.-backed so-called “safe zones.” US President Donald Trump had hoped earlier this year that Washington would reach an agreement over these zones with Russia, but Assad said such a plan would only “give cover to terrorists.”

Syria has been mired in bloody war since March 2011, with Damascus forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad fighting tens of terrorist groups, including the ISIL and Al-Nusra Front.

Farsnews

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