BAGHDAD: Iraq’s defence minister says the Iraqi air force and the US-led coalition have stepped up a campaign of air strikes on the Daesh-held town of Hawija ahead of a planned ground assault there.
Iraqi forces are pushing Daesh out of the remaining pockets of territory the group holds in the country after forces backed by the US-led coalition retook Iraq’s second largest city of Mosul in July.
Last month, the Iraqi military command overseeing the Daesh fight announced Hawija, 240 kilometres north of Baghdad, would be the next battle against the extremists.
Iraqi Defence Minister Erfan Al Hayali says his forces have begun radio broadcasts and leaflet drops on the town warning civilians of the planned push.
The Iraqi air force and the US-led coalition have stepped up a campaign of air strikes on the Daesh-held town of Hawija ahead of a planned ground assault there, according to Al Hayali on Saturday.
Iraqi forces are pushing Daesh out of the remaining pockets of territory the group holds in the country after forces backed by the US-led coalition retook Iraq’s second largest city of Mosul in July.
“There are large operations underway ahead of the liberation of Hawija and surrounding areas,” Iraqi Defense Minister Erfan Al Hayali told The Associated Press, explaining that his forces were working closely with Iraqi Kurdish forces known as the Peshmerga as well as the coalition.
Last month, the Iraqi military command overseeing the Daesh fight declared victory in Tal Afar, west of Mosul and announced Hawija, 240 kilometres north of Baghdad, would be the next battle against the extremists.
The stepped-up coalition strikes are targeting IS territory in western Anbar as well as Hawija, said US Army Colonel Ryan Dillon, coalition spokesman.
“Coming off of their victory in Tal Afar (Iraqi security forces) will use a lot of the same techniques,” Dillon said. “Simultaneous attacks proved to be very successful as did operations ahead of time to let civilians know what to do.”
Al Hayali said his forces began radio broadcasts and leaflet drops on Hawija warning civilians of the planned push.
The United Nations said the operation to retake Tal Afar forced some 20,000 people to flee, according to counts by Iraqi authorities. When the fight for Hawija begins, the UN estimates some 60,000 people will be affected.
—AP
