Iraq's premier has warned militants of the self-styled "Islamic State" to surrender "or be killed." Iraqi forces have made significant gains over the past year, culminating in the liberation of Mosul.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Images/F. Dana
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Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday announced a new offensive to liberate the strategic city of Tal Afar, located 70 kilometers (43 miles) west of Mosul, from the so-called "Islamic State" (IS) militant group.
Dressed in military uniform, al-Abadi warned in a televised speech that the militant group should surrender or meet a violent end.
"I am saying to Daesh that there's no choice other than to leave or be killed," he said, referring the militant group by its Arabic-language acronym.
Strategic stronghold
Tal Afar has long been a stronghold for hardline Sunni insurgents. It was cut off from other IS-held territories in June during the Iraqi-led operation to recapture Mosul.
According to US and Iraqi military sources, there are roughly 2,000 IS militants in the city. Iraqi authorities are expecting a tough fight, in part due to the fierce resistance they met in the historic district of Mosul before it was fully liberated.
However, civilians who have fled Tal Afar have reported low morale among the remaining militants in the city following months of combat, aerial bombardment and the lack of fresh supplies.
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.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/D. Souleiman
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'Victory is coming'
Iraqi warplanes dropped leaflets over the city hours before Baghdad made an official announcement of the new campaign to reclaim Iraqi territory from IS.
"Prepare yourself, the battle is imminent and the victory is coming, God willing," the leaflets read.
Over the past week, the US-led coalition against the militant group has carried dozens of air strikes in Tal Afar and the surrounding areas, targeting command centers and ammunition caches.
"Intelligence gathered shows clearly that the remaining fighters are mainly foreign and Arab nationals with their families and that means they will fight until the last breath," Iraqi Colonel Kareem al-Lami told Reuters news agency this week.
Al-Lami noted that while most of the city has streets wide enough to allow easy access for military vehicles, there are some areas where Iraqi-led forces will need to move street by street, similar to the final days of the Mosul campaign.
Humanitarian organizations are not expecting a mass exodus similar to that seen during the Mosul offensive. From 10,000 to 40,000 civilians are believed to be in Tal Afar and surrounding areas, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
