The operation to liberate Mosul's Tal Afar district from ISIS, launched by the Iraqi army and the Shia militia force Hashd al-Shaabi on August 20, continues.

The operational forces that entered the district center from western and southern sides have captured the neighbourhoods of Nida and Talya. The Iraqi army claimed in a statement today that 70% of the city has been taken under control.

Tal Afar was invaded by ISIS on June 16, 2014 and is 63 km to the west of Mosul. Mostly Shia and Sunni Turkmens live in the town, but most of the Shia had to move away after the ISIS invasion.

The Tal Afar operation was launched on August 20 with the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi’s announcement. The operation is carried out by the Iraqi army, anti-terror forces, federal police forces and the Shia militia force Hashd al-Shaabi, with a total of a 40.000 strong force.

Tal Afar is one of the largest residential areas still under ISIS control left in Iraq and Southern Kurdistan. With Tal Afar taken back, ISIS will have only Kirkuk’s Hawija district and the rural areas to the southwest of Mosul left under their control in Iraq.