UPDATE - Shia militia launches anti-Daesh op. west of Mosul

*ADDS QUOTES FROM IRAQI TURKMEN LAWMAKER

By Ali Jawwad and Arif Yusuf

BAGHDAD (AA) – The Shia Hashd al-Shaabi militia has started an operation to liberate Daesh-held areas west of Mosul, the Iraqi army said Saturday.

The army said in a statement the offensive also aims to cut Daesh supply lines in the targeted areas.

Established two years ago, the Hashd al-Shaabi is an umbrella group of pro-government Shia militias drawn up specifically to fight the Daesh terrorist group.

Jawad al-Talebawi, a spokesman for Asaib Ahl al-Haq faction, a member of the Shia militia, said their forces have made quick advances west of Mosul.

“We, however, cannot give details about the areas where we have advanced in order to maintain the secrecy of our operation,” he said.

He said the anti-Daesh operation aims to cut the terrorist group’s supply lines from the Syrian city of Raqqa to Mosul.

Tal Afar, which has a Turkmen majority, is one of the major cities located west of Mosul.

Iraqi lawmaker Aydin Maruf, for his part, warned that some 5,000 militiamen were heading to besiege Tal Afar.

Maruf, who is a member of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, said the operation by the Shia militia would put the city’s Turkmen population at a great danger.

On Oct. 18, the Iraqi army -- backed by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes -- launched a much-anticipated operation to retake Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, which Daesh overran in mid-2014.

While most villages on the city’s outskirts have since fallen, Daesh remains in control of Mosul, which is the last Daesh stronghold in northern Iraq.

Sunni forces participating in the Mosul operation do not want the Shia militia to play a role in the campaign, fearing such a move could lead to sectarian tension -- and conflict -- in the ethnically diverse city.