Iraqi forces launched an operation to retake a northern town Sherqat from Islamic State terror group. Tens of thousands of civilians are thought to be trapped in Sherqat, which lies on the Tigris River, 100 kilometers south of Iraq’s second-largest city.
It has been surrounded by Iraqi troops and militias allied to the government. The operation to liberate Sherqat started early morning yesterday from several directions with the support of coalition forces, Joint Operations Command spokesman Yahya Rasool told the news agency.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said in an televised message from New York, where he attended the United Nations General Assembly that forces are also moving to retake two areas in the western province of Anbar.