Shiite forces advance on Tal Afar in Mosul operation - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Shelly Kittleson

Shelly Kittleson

Dec 1, 2016

Members of the Shi'ite Badr Organisation fighters take cover behind a berm during a battle with Islamic State militants at the airport of Tal Afar west of Mosul, Iraq, November 20, 2016. REUTERS/Khalid al Mousily - RTSSJEJ — Members of the Shiite Badr Organization take cover behind a berm during a battle with Islamic State militants at the Tal Afar airport, west of Mosul, Iraq, Nov. 20, 2016. — Reuters/Khalid al Mousily

Iraqi army vehicles are seen pushing into Topzawa village during the operation against Islamic State militants near Bashiqa, near Mosul, Iraq October 24, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari - RTX2Q8P7

Anti-IS troops are gaining ground on multiple fronts in Iraq

Muhannad Al-Ghazi

Muhannad Al-Ghazi

Members of the Shi'ite Badr Organisation fighters ride on military vehicles during a battle with Islamic State militants at the airport of Tal Afar west of Mosul, Iraq November 18, 2016. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani - RTX2UAJW

Iran, Turkey fight over Tal Afar

Mustafa Saadoun

Mustafa Saadoun

A Iraqi Turkmen Shiite fighter, who volunteered to join the government forces, runs for cover on August 4, 2014 in Amerli, some 160 kilometres (100 miles) north of Baghdad, as the city has been completely surrounded by Islamic State (IS) Sunni militants for more than six weeks. Residents say a humanitarian disaster is imminent in the town, which has been without power and drinking water for days. IS fighters, who run large swathes of neighbouring Syria, launched a blistering offensive on June 9 that saw the

Iraq's Sunni, Shiite Turkmens fall out over IS

Fehim Tastekin

In Paris, reporting on Turkish politics

An Iraqi solider stands guard near a F-16 fighter jet during an official ceremony to receive four of these aircrafts from the U.S., at a military base in Balad, Iraq, July 20, 2015. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani - RTX1L2B2

Kurds concerned about Baghdad's increasing military prowess

Mohammed A. Salih

Mohammed A. Salih