Smoke billows from Al Ayadiya, north of Tal Afar, as Iraqi forces advance on August 28, 2017 during the ongoing operation to retake the town from ISIL. Ahmad Al Rubaye / AFP
Smoke billows from Al Ayadiya, north of Tal Afar, as Iraqi forces advance on August 28, 2017 during the ongoing operation to retake the town from ISIL. Ahmad Al Rubaye / AFP
Smoke billows from Al Ayadiya, north of Tal Afar, as Iraqi forces advance on August 28, 2017 during the ongoing operation to retake the town from ISIL. Ahmad Al Rubaye / AFP
Smoke billows from Al Ayadiya, north of Tal Afar, as Iraqi forces advance on August 28, 2017 during the ongoing operation to retake the town from ISIL. Ahmad Al Rubaye / AFP

Iraq PM congratulates military for 'overwhelming victory' in Tal Afar


Mina Aldroubi
  • English
  • Arabic

Iraqi prime minister Haider Al Abadi has congratulated the military for an "overwhelming victory" against ISIL in Tal Afar, as an officer likened continuing fighting in a nearby town to opening "the gates of hell".

Mr Al Abadi is expected to announce the full liberation of Tal Afar from ISIL within days. The military says it has retaken the city but is waiting for fighting to end in the town of Al Ayadiya, approximately 15 kilometres north of Tal Afar, before declaring complete victory in the offensive.

"We congratulate our heroes and the Iraqi nation for the overwhelming victory in Tal Afar," Mr Al Abadi said during a news conference in Baghdad on Tuesday evening.

He praised "the army along with counter terrorism forces, federal police and Hashed Al Shaabi (the Shiite-dominated Popular Mobilisation Forces)" and said they "have all participated in Tal Afar's victory".

Eight days after the offensive to retake Tal Afar began, the military said on Sunday that all 29 neighbourhoods in the northern city had been taken back from ISIL.

But heavy fighting continued on Wednesday between government forces and ISIL fighters in Al Ayadiya, situated on the road to the Syrian border.

An Iraqi military spokesman said on Tuesday evening that ISIL fighters were putting up tough resistance in Al Ayadiya.

"The military launched a series of heavy airstrikes and artillery since early morning Tuesday on the militants' positions in Al Ayadiya district," added Brigade General Yahya Rasool.

Iraqi officer Colonel Kareem Al Lami described the fighting in Al Ayadiya as "multiple times worse" than the notoriously difficult battle for Mosul's Old City, and said breaching ISIL's first line of defence in the town was like opening "the gates of hell".

Hundreds of ISIL fighters are positioned inside most of the houses and high buildings in the town, making it difficult for Iraqi forces to make any progress.

In response, the military have stepped up air strikes, as well as bringing in reinforcements from the federal police to boost units from the army, air force, federal police, US-trained counter terrorism service (CTS) and Hashed Al Shaabi.

The Norwegian Refugee Council reported on Wednesday that more than 3 million people are currently displaced by conflict across Iraq — a third as a result of the fighting in Tal Afar and Mosul during the last nine months.

Although the military operation in Tal Afar was brief, residents began fleeing several months before, with over 40,000 displaced since April.

“During the military operation, thousands of people had their movement restricted. We hope that today’s news will mean that displaced people can move freely so that they can begin to return home and start the long process of recovery,” said Heidi Diedrich, country director of the Norwegian Refugee Council.

“The first thing that must be in place is safety and security. Even after areas are retaken from ISIL, violence often continues.”

Mehmoud Mustafa, who fled Tal Afar with four other members of his family, said: "We can’t go back unless the government allows us to, a lot of homes are booby trapped and there are IED (improvised explosive devices) and mines everywhere”.

Last week, US-led Iraqi troops launched a multi-pronged operation to retake Tal Afar, a month after declaring Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, fully liberated.

ISIL is still in control of the northern town of Hawija as well as the areas of Qaim, Rawa and Ana, in western Iraq near the Syrian border.

Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

Her most famous song

Aghadan Alqak (Would I Ever Find You Again)?

Would I ever find you again
You, the heaven of my love, my yearning and madness;
You, the kiss to my soul, my cheer and
sadness?
Would your lights ever break the night of my eyes again?
Would I ever find you again?
This world is volume and you're the notion,
This world is night and you're the lifetime,
This world is eyes and you're the vision,
This world is sky and you're the moon time,
Have mercy on the heart that belongs to you.

Lyrics: Al Hadi Adam; Composer: Mohammed Abdel Wahab

Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

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Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Roger Federer's 2018 record

Australian Open Champion

Rotterdam Champion

Indian Wells Runner-up

Miami Second round

Stuttgart Champion

Halle Runner-up

Wimbledon Quarter-finals

Cincinnati Runner-up

US Open Fourth round

Shanghai Semi-finals

Basel Champion

Paris Masters Semi-finals

 

 

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

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China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Building boom turning to bust as Turkey's economy slows

Deep in a provincial region of northwestern Turkey, it looks like a mirage - hundreds of luxury houses built in neat rows, their pointed towers somewhere between French chateau and Disney castle.

Meant to provide luxurious accommodations for foreign buyers, the houses are however standing empty in what is anything but a fairytale for their investors.

The ambitious development has been hit by regional turmoil as well as the slump in the Turkish construction industry - a key sector - as the country's economy heads towards what could be a hard landing in an intensifying downturn.

After a long period of solid growth, Turkey's economy contracted 1.1 per cent in the third quarter, and many economists expect it will enter into recession this year.

The country has been hit by high inflation and a currency crisis in August. The lira lost 28 per cent of its value against the dollar in 2018 and markets are still unconvinced by the readiness of the government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to tackle underlying economic issues.

The villas close to the town centre of Mudurnu in the Bolu region are intended to resemble European architecture and are part of the Sarot Group's Burj Al Babas project.

But the development of 732 villas and a shopping centre - which began in 2014 - is now in limbo as Sarot Group has sought bankruptcy protection.

It is one of hundreds of Turkish companies that have done so as they seek cover from creditors and to restructure their debts.

Ukraine

Capital: Kiev

Population: 44.13 million

Armed conflict in Donbass

Russia-backed fighters control territory

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Asia Cup 2018 final

Who: India v Bangladesh

When: Friday, 3.30pm, Dubai International Stadium

Watch: Live on OSN Cricket HD

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The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ain Dubai in numbers

126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure

1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch

16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.

9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.

5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place

192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.