Iraq starts offensive to take Daesh-held Tal Afar

Iraqi forces launched a military operation on Sunday to capture the northwestern city of Tal Afar from Daesh terrorist group, Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced.

"Daesh [terrorists] have no choice but to either surrender or die," al-Abadi said in a televised statement.

He said the army, anti-terrorism forces, federal police and the Shia Hashd al-Shaabi militia were taking part in the offensive.

A predominantly Turkmen city, Tal Afar was captured by Daesh in mid-2014 along with vast swathes of territory in northern and western Iraq.

Iraq has amassed some 400,000 troops in preparations for the decisive offensive to recapture the city.

Last month, Iraqi forces dislodged Daesh from their last stronghold in Mosul, once Iraq’s second largest city.