By Ahmed Qassim and Serhad Shakir

NINEVEH, Iraq

At least 15 Shia pro-government fighters were killed in a Daesh attack in Iraq’s northern city of Mosul, according to a militia fighter.

Scores of Daesh militants -- armed with heavy weapons and mortar shells -- attacked several villages late Friday in southwestern Tal Afar, 60 kilometers west of Mosul, Hassan al-Draji told Anadolu Agency.

The attack was thwarted by fighters of the Hashd al-Shaabi militia, leaving 44 Daesh militants dead, he said.

“Fifteen militia fighters were killed and 12 others injured in the confrontation,” al-Draji said.

Meanwhile, Iraqi military commander General Jassim Nizal said final preparations were in full swing to stage a military operation against Daesh militants in western Mosul.

“The offensive will be launched from numerous fronts with the support of the U.S.-led coalition with a view to eliminating Daesh,” he said.

Iraqi forces have driven Daesh militants from most of eastern Mosul as part of a wide-ranging offensive launched last October to retake the city, which the terrorist group overran in mid-2014.