Iraqi general sees easy victory over exhausted IS fighters in Tal Afar

Record ID: 904734

  • Title: Iraqi general sees easy victory over exhausted IS fighters in Tal Afar
  • Date: 31st July 2017
  • Summary: EAST MOSUL, IRAQ (JULY 30, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF IRAQI COMMANDER, MAJOR-GENERAL NAJM AL-JABOURI, SPEAKING TO REUTERS JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SENIOR IRAQI COMMANDER, MAJOR-GENERAL NAJM AL-JABOURI, SAYING: "I don't expect the Tal Afar battle will be a large or complicated battle, the enemy is extremely worn out, the enemy has been surrounded for a long time and is being targeted daily, at night and during the day, by the coalition forces and the Iraqi air force." IRAQI FLAG HANGING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SENIOR IRAQI COMMANDER, MAJOR-GENERAL NAJM AL-JABOURI, SAYING: "I know from the intelligence reports that their morale is low and that they are trying to escape from Tal Afar in any way possible." AL-JABOURI SPEAKING TO REUTERS JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SENIOR IRAQI COMMANDER, MAJOR-GENERAL NAJM AL-JABOURI, SAYING: "We know through our air surveillance and through some intelligence, because they (Islamic State) don't allow civilians or anyone to reach their areas, that their number is no more than 1,500 to 2,000 fighters." AL-JABOURI SPEAKING WITH REUTERS JOURNALIST
  • Embargoed: 14th August 2017 16:29
  • Keywords: Battle for Tal Afar victory in Mosul Islamic State Major-General Najm al-Jabouri senior Iraqi general gruelling urban combat IS
  • Location: EAST MOSUL, IRAQ
  • City: EAST MOSUL, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016S1TGZR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A senior Iraqi general predicted on Sunday (July 30) a relatively easy victory for his forces in the upcoming battle for the Islamic State haven of Tal Afar as up 2,000 fighters and their families there are "worn out and demoralised".
    Less than one month after declaring victory in the city of Mosul, Iraqi forces are poised to attack Tal Afar, which is around 40 km (25 miles) to the west of Mosul, in what will be the next major battle against the militants.
    Major-General Najm al-Jabouri estimated there were between 1,500 and 2,000 militants left in Tal Afar. The figure may include some family members who support them, Jabouri told Reuters in an interview.
    The key battlefield commander said the fight would be simple compared to the nine months of gruelling urban combat in Mosul, which took a heavy toll on Iraqi forces.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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