Shiite militias launch assault west of Mosul

 

(29 Oct 2016) State-sanctioned Al-Hashed al-Shaabi (Shiite militias) have launched an assault to the south-west of Mosul aimed at pushing out Islamic State group fighters from the town of Tel Afar, 47 miles (77km) from Iraq's second city. Tel Afar had a majority Shiite population before it fell to IS group militants in the summer of 2014. Fighters from the Popular Mobilisation Units established control over more than ten villages southwest of Mosul. Meanwhile, heavy artillery drove the IS group back from the town of Shura, south of Mosul. The aim of the operation is to cut supplies between Mosul and Raqqah, and cut the siege off in Mosul and liberate Tal Afar. Many families had to flee their homes as a result of the ongoing fighting. The involvement of Al-Hashed al-Shaabi (Iranian-backed Shiite militias) has raised concern that the battle for Mosul, a Sunni-majority city, could aggravate sectarian tensions. The militias announced they will not enter the city itself. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/0caa18c01ca97dc21c178c37a747a9db