By Gamal Badrani
NINEVEH, Iraq (AA) - Iraqi forces launched Tuesday an offensive to retake the centre of Qayyara district in northern Iraq from Daesh group.
“Operations began at 4a.m. local time (01:00 GMT) to liberate the center of Qayyara, 60km south of Mosul,” Qayyara governor Saleh al-Jabouri told Anadolu Agency.
He said Iraqi forces, backed by U.S.-led coalition warplanes, are attacking Daesh positions from several directions.
Al-Jabouri estimated that there are between 15,000 to 20,000 residents in Qayyara, a strategically important area for Iraqi forces planning to capture Mosul, Iraq’s largest city, from Daesh.
Backed by U.S.-led airstrikes, Iraqi forces have managed to retake most of the territory seized by Daesh since 2014. The terrorist group, however, still controls several parts in the country.