The US-led coalition has hailed the liberation of the strategic city of Tal Afar as a "stunning victory" for Iraqi forces. But as IS regroups, US officials have warned that the militant group's leader may still be alive.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/MAXPPP/C. P.Tesson
Advertisement
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the recapture of the strategic city of Tal Afar from the so-called "Islamic State" (IS) militant group in a statement circulated Friday.
"Tal Afar has been liberated," Abadi said in a statement. "We say to the 'Islamic State' fighters: wherever you are, we are coming for you, and you have no choice but to surrender or die."
Iraqi forces launched the operation to recapture Tal Afar after liberating Mosul in July. IS rose to notoriety in 2014, when it launched a brutal military campaign and captured large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, culminating in the occupation of Mosul.
'Dangerous work remains'
Tal Afar, which lies about 70 kilometers (40 miles) west of Mosul, was a strategic point for IS along the militant group's supply line between Iraq and Syria. The operation is a significant win for Iraqi forces who captured the city in less than two weeks.
However, the US-led coalition against IS warned that while recapturing Tal Afar marked a "stunning victory," Iraqi forces faced significant challenges securing the former Shiite enclave.
"Dangerous work remains to completely remove explosive devices, identify ISIS fighters in hiding and eliminate any remaining ISIS holdouts so they do not threaten the security of Tal Afar in the future," said a coalition statement.
'No convincing evidence' IS chief dead
Meanwhile, US Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend, commander of the anti-IS coalition, said that evidence has yet to emerge that IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had been killed despite numerous reports stating otherwise.
In June, Russian authorities said they were investigating whether Russian airstrikes had killed him in May, while the independent UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed to have credible information from senior IS leaders that al-Baghdadi was dead.
"I've seen no convincing evidence, intelligence, or open-source or other rumor or otherwise that he's dead … There are also some indicators in intelligence channels that he's still alive," Townsend said.
"When we find him, I think we'll just try to kill him first. It's probably not worth all the trouble to try and capture him."
Thousands of IS fighters have fled to Syria's Deir el-Zour province as the US-led coalition has ramped up efforts to uproot the militant group in their strongholds in Iraq and Syria. Townsend said it is likely that al-Baghdadi had fled with other IS fighters to one of the militant group's remaining bastions.
What is the 'Islamic State'?
IS has gone from an obscure al-Qaida splinter group to a global phenomenon. DW takes a look at the defining aspects of the jihadi group — from its "caliphate" to its tactics.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/Al-Furqan
Where did it come from?
The "Islamic State" (IS) — also known as ISIL, ISIS and Daesh — is an al-Qaida splinter group with a militant Sunni Islamist ideology. It emerged in the aftermath of the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and is led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Their goal is to create a worldwide "caliphate." It gained worldwide notoriety in 2014 after a blitzkrieg military campaign that resulted in the capture of Mosul.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo
Where does it operate?
IS is believed to be operational in more than a dozen countries across the world. It controls territories in Iraq and Syria. However, the group has lost much of the territory it controlled in Iraq and Syria at the height of its expansion in 2014.
Who is fighting back?
The US leads an international coalition of more than 50 countries, including several Arab nations. Russia, Iran and its Lebanese Shiite ally Hezbollah, which all support the Syrian government, also fight IS. Regional forces such as the Kurdish peshmerga (above) and US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters, fight IS on the ground. The Iraqi army and militia have pushed IS from large parts of the country.
Image: picture-alliance/abaca/H. Huseyin
How does it fund itself?
One of IS' main sources of income has been oil and gas. At one point, it controlled an estimated one-third of Syria's oil production. However, US-led airstrikes deliberately targeted oil resources and the Syrian government as well as US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters have retaken most oil wells. Other means of income include taxes, ransom, selling looted antiquities and extortion.
Image: Getty Images/J. Moore
Where does it carry out attacks?
IS has claimed responsibility for numerous terrorist attacks across the globe. The militant group has targeted capitals across the EU, including Berlin, Brussels and Paris. IS leaders have encouraged so-called "lone wolf" attacks, whereby individuals who support IS carry out terrorist acts without the direct involvement of the group.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Spingler
What other tactics does it use?
The group uses various tactics to expand its power. IS fighters have looted and destroyed historical artifacts in Syria and Iraq in an attempt at "cultural cleansing." The group has also enslaved thousands of women from religious minority groups, including Yazidis. IS also uses a sophisticated social network to distribute propaganda and recruit sympathizers.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Eid
How has it impacted the region?
IS has further exacerbated the ongoing Syrian conflict. Millions of Syrians and Iraqis have fled their homes, many traveling to Europe in pursuit of refuge. Although it has lost all of its strongholds, the militant group has left extraordinary destruction in its wake. Areas affected by the militant group's rule will likely take years to rebuild.
