Page 10 - aruba-today-20170819

A10 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 19 auguSt 2017
US: Iraqi forces ready for next battle against IS extremists

of Tal Afar “unfolding rela- more than 7,000 wounded,
tively soon.” The upcom- and the Iraqi military has
ing fight follows weeks of proceeded methodically
Iraq regrouping troops and since its biggest success to
repairing equipment and date. Just three years ago,
weapons after recapturing its soldiers were chased
Mosul in July. by the Islamic state group
“I can’t say that we re- from much of the battle-
placed every single dam- field.
aged or broken vehicle or “The last days of Mosul
rifle or machine gun,” said looked like Iwo Jima to
Townsend, whose forces me,” Townsend told a small
are aiding the Iraqi military. group of reporters.
But, he insisted: “They’ll be “In the end, it took bull-
ready enough.” dozers plowing ISIS fighters
Tal Afar and the surround- under the rubble,” he re-
ing area is among the last called, using multiple dif-
pockets of IS-held territory ferent acronyms for the ex-
in Iraq after victory was de- tremist group. “Iraqi infan-
clared in Mosul, the coun- try men advanced beside
try’s second-largest city. the bulldozers, shooting
In this Feb. 8, 2017 photo, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, center, speaks with an Iraqi officer Tal Afar is west of Mosul and throwing grenades at
during a tour north of Baghdad, Iraq. Senior U.S. commanders say Iraqi forces are largely set for and about 150 kilometers Daesh fighters popping up
their next major campaign against Islamic State extremists. Townsend, the top U.S. commander
in Iraq, said he sees the Iraqi assault on the IS-held area of Tal Afar “unfolding relatively soon.” (93 miles) east of the Syrian out of the rubble.”
(AP Photo/ Ali Abdul Hassan) border. It sits along a major Iraiqi Humvees emerged
road that was a key IS sup- shot up, their glass spider-
ply route. webbed with bullet marks
By LOLITA C. BALDOR largely set for their next take the city of Mosul. Mosul took a heavy toll on and shrapnel, their weap-
Associated Press major campaign against Is- Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, Iraqi forces. As many as ons worn out or even
BAGHDAD (AP) — Senior lamic State extremists after the top U.S. commander in 1,400 troops were killed and destroyed.q
U.S. military leaders said closing out the wrenching Iraq, said he sees the Iraqi
Friday that Iraqi forces are nine-month battle to re- assault on the IS-held area Syrian army, Hezbollah allies
attack IS on Lebanon border

By PHILIP ISSA fighters nearby.
Associated Press In Moscow, Russia’s De-
BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian gov- fense Ministry said the Syr-
ernment forces and allied ian army is finalizing its push
Lebanese militant Hezbol- to encircle IS militants in the
lah fighters have captured town of Akerbat in Hama
several Islamic State posi- province.
tions on strategic hilltops Syrian troops have already
along the Syrian-Lebanese seized key heights in the
border, a military outlet area, cutting off avenues
said Friday. of supply for the militants,
The captures come ahead according to the Russian
of an anticipated Leba- statement.
nese offensive to clear the The militants have started
extremists from their side of fleeing the area in small
the frontier. Separately, the groups, making their way
Russian military said Friday toward Deir el-Zour, the
that its aircraft are support- largest city still under IS
ing a Damascus govern- control, the ministry said. It
ment offensive against the added that Russian drones
Islamic State group in a are patrolling the area
town in central Syria. round-the-clock, directing
The area taken includes air strikes.
several hilltops in the west- Russia has waged an air
ern Qalamoun mountain campaign in Syria since
range on the Syrian side of September 2015, helping
the border, according to Syrian President Bashar
the Central Military Media Assad’s forces gain ground
outlet. The outlet posted and achieve key victories.
video showing forces fight- The ministry also an-
ing their way up the hills, nounced that Russian rep-
under the cover of artillery resentatives signed a deal
fire. on Friday with Faylaq al-
This is the second push by Rahman, a Syrian rebel
the government in the area group, to join a de-esca-
— in July, Hezbollah and lation zone agreement for
the Syrian army defeated a Eastern Ghouta, an eastern
pocket of al-Qaida-linked Damascus.q