Civilians evacuated before assault on Iraq’s Tal Afar

BAGHDAD

Iraqi forces have evacuated more than 500 civilians from the northern Tal Afar district within the past 24 hours in preparation for planned military operations against the Daesh terrorist group, according to a local military source.

“Army troops and Hashd al-Shaabi fighters have evacuated more than 500 civilians from the village of Muhallabia and areas north of the town of Ayadhya,” Army Captain Jabbar Hassan told Anadolu Agency.

Most of the evacuated civilians were taken to the Hamma al-Alil displacement camp south of Mosul, which is located some 65 kilometers east of Tal Afar.

After overrunning much of the country in 2014, Daesh now appears in disarray, especially after its loss of Mosul last month -- the group’s last stronghold in northern Iraq.

Some 40,000 Iraqi troops are now amassed on Tal Afar’s outskirts in preparation for a decisive campaign to retake the city from Daesh.