Iraq launches offensive to capture Daesh-held Qayyara

By Gamal Badrani

NINEVEH, Iraq

Iraqi forces launched Tuesday an offensive to retake the centre of Qayyara district in northern Iraq from Daesh group.

“Operations began at 4a.m. local time (01:00 GMT) to liberate the center of Qayyara, 60km south of Mosul,” Qayyara governor Saleh al-Jabouri told Anadolu Agency.

He said Iraqi forces, backed by U.S.-led coalition warplanes, are attacking Daesh positions from several directions.

Al-Jabouri estimated that there are between 15,000 to 20,000 residents in Qayyara, a strategically important area for Iraqi forces planning to capture Mosul, Iraq’s largest city, from Daesh.

Backed by U.S.-led airstrikes, Iraqi forces have managed to retake most of the territory seized by Daesh since 2014. The terrorist group, however, still controls several parts in the country.