Iraq: Army retakes almost all of Tal Afar from IS August 27 /update 2

Event

According to an Iraqi military statement on Sunday, August 27, Iraqi forces had successfully retaken almost all of the Tal Afar region from Islamic State (IS) control after eight days of fighting. All of Tal Afar's 29 neighborhoods are reportedly under Iraqi control. However, clashes are still ongoing in Al-Ayadiya, a small area northwest of the city. 

Context

The Iraqi offensive to take back Tal Afar began on August 20. A series of airstrikes on the city have also been carried out in recent months by Iraqi and US-backed coalition forces, targeting IS headquarters, tunnels, and weapons caches. Shortages of basic goods and soaring food prices, combined with airstrikes and militant violence, have led to dire living conditions in the town. According to UN sources, some 49,000 have tried to flee Tal Afar district since April.

The offensive against IS in Tal Afar follows the Iraqi government's announcement that Mosul had been effectively freed from IS control on July 9 after months of fighting. Mosul, situated in northern Iraq, had been under IS control since 2014 and was widely considered a symbolic and strategically important stronghold for IS in Iraq. IS rule led to the displacement of nearly 700,000 civilians from Mosul and tens of thousands of people are expected to return to the city in the near future now that IS has been pushed out. The battle for Mosul caused a major humanitarian crisis, including cases of malnutrition and severe psychological trauma. The United Nations (UN) has estimated that it will cost at least USD 1 billion to repair basic infrastructure in the city.

The Iraqi military's successes against IS are likely to spur retaliatory attacks and there is much evidence to assume that as IS continues to lose its territory, it will increasingly employ asymmetrical means of warfare (e.g. terrorist tactics).

Advice

Individuals throughout Iraq are advised to remain vigilant due to the high risk of terrorist attacks and militant activity.

The security environment in Iraq remains complex. Although travel is permissible in some areas, other areas should be considered strictly off limits. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to all travel.