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Fighters from the Hashed Al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization units) advance towards the town of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, after the Iraqi government announced the beginning of the operation to retake it from the control of the Daesh group on August 22, 2017.

Here is a brief look at Press TV newsroom's headlines from 09:00 GMT to 17:00 GMT, August 22, 2017.

Iraq anti-Daesh Offensive

Iraq’s Federal Police say they have taken control of over 20 kilometers of Tal Afar on the third day of an offensive to liberate the Daesh-held city. The Federal Police said they have also launched artillery attacks on the three areas of Kefah, Wahda and al-Sa’ad on the western side of Tal Afar. Popular Mobilization Units also engaged in clashes with Daesh terrorists in the western and southeastern neighborhoods of the city. Clashes are now underway in Kefah as well as al-Jazirah and silo regions from where the PMU fighters are pushing back the Takfiris toward the center of Tal Afar. The Iraqi military has reported major gains in the city since the Iraqi prime minister declared operations to recapture the area on Sunday.

Blaming Pakistan

The US president has come up with a new strategy for Afghanistan and has once again backtracked on one of his campaign promises. Donald Trump says the US military will continue its presence in Afghanistan despite his earlier pledge of a speedy troop withdrawal. The new strategy has been met with anger by Taliban militants, dimming the hopes for an end to years-long violence and bloodshed.

Spain Terror Attacks

Four alleged members of a terror cell, which carried out the deadly attacks in Barcelona, are taken to a court in Madrid. The four detainees are the only ones still alive among the 12-men cell that organized the van attack, which left 15 people dead and some 130 people injured. They are from the town Ripoll in the north of Barcelona. On Monday, police shot dead 22-year-old Younes Abouyaaqoub, who they had identified as the driver of the van, who ran over the people on the packed Las Ramblas Boulevard last Thursday. Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack.

China Defends Pakistan

Pakistan’s foreign ministry calls for peace in Afghanistan hours after US president Donald Trump accuses Islamabad of supporting agents of chaos in the war-ravaged country. In a statement, the Pakistani foreign ministry underlined the necessity of restoring stability to Afghanistan. The statement reiterates Pakistan’s willingness to join hands with the international community in a bid to eliminate the menace of terrorism. Meanwhile, the Chinese government said Pakistan has made great contributions to fighting terrorism, urging the international community to fully affirm such efforts. Trump has drawn up a new strategy for Afghanistan, announcing that American troops will continue their presence in the south Asian country.

Korean Peninsula Crisis

North Korea has defended its nuclear deterrence and the development of inter-continental rockets in the face of US threats. The North Korean envoy went on say the ongoing joint military adventure by the US and South Korea will certainly add fuel to the fire. Pyongyang has warned that such military drills would further deteriorate the already tense situation or lead to war. Pyongyang says the exercises involve training aimed at removing North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The US disarmament ambassador described the Pyongyang’s development of inter-continental rockets and the strengthening of its nuclear deterrence as unjustifiable.

Battle for Tal Afar

Iraqi military forces have liberated the first residential areas of the town of Tal Afar, the last stronghold of Daesh terrorists in the country. The command center of Tal Afar operation announced Iraqi Special Forces have entered the southwestern and central neighborhoods of al-Kafah and al-Nour. Daesh militants fired rockets at the government troops and used roadside bombs and suicide car bombs to defend their positions. The operation to recapture Tal Afar was launched on Sunday with the army and Popular Mobilization Units edging on the city from western and southwestern fronts. The northern town is some 150 kilometers from the Syrian border and its liberation will cut Daesh connection links to the two sides of the border.

US Deadly Airstrikes

US-led airstrikes against the Syrian city of Raqqah are claiming more civilian lives. Reports say at least 170 people were killed in the attacks in the Daesh-held city within a week. According to a monitoring group, 42 people including 19 children and 12 women died in coalition bombardments on Monday alone. They were killed when warplanes hit the buildings in which they'd taken shelter. 27 other residents of Raqqah, seven of them minors, died in similar attacks in the same area a day before. The US-led coalition has confirmed it launched at least 250 sorties over Raqqah and its suburbs in the past week. The coalition provides Syrian Democratic Forces with air cover in their fight against Daesh terrorists.

 


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