As reports from various sources indicate that Shiite militia groups have launched an operation Saturday to capture the predominantly Turkmen town of Tal Afar in northern Iraq from Daesh, Turkish military sources said that these groups are not near the town and reports are part of a psychological warfare attempt.
Earlier announcements by the militias, collectively known as Hashdi Shaabi or Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), claimed that an assault was being launched to capture Tal Afar, amid Turkey's concerns on ethnic and sectarian conflict due to past human rights violations by these groups against local Sunni population in other parts of Iraq.
Military sources stated that the reports suggesting that 8,000 to 10,000-strong PMF militia are going to attack Tal Afar are being leaked to the press on purpose, and these groups are 75 to 100 kilometers away from the town. Sources in the region said that, as of Saturday, the PMF militia launched an operation to the north of the towns of Qayyarah and Ayn al-Jahesh, located some 40 to 50 kilometers south of Mosul.
Noting that these groups have not made a considerable advance lately, military sources stated that these reports about these groups are being promoted to international media as "local sources aligned with these militia groups", possibly upon pressure from the Iraqi central government and Iran-aligned groups.
The sources added that the area southeast and northeast to Tal Afar, the possible routes to approach the town, has been heavily fortified by Daesh terrorists. The town and the hills to its north, east and southeast form one of the few geographical barriers in the far flung Nineveh Plain against forces approaching in opposite directions. The areas located south and west of Tal Afar are being controlled by Daesh, and mainly formed out of desert with little infrastructure.
Controlling the area is strategically important for Daesh to keep the areas it controls in eastern Syria including its bastion Raqqa safe, while keeping only the route out of Mosul open. Sources said that it would take a very long time for these groups to overcome heavily fortified Daesh positions, where it is expected to put up a strong resistance.
The sources noted that PMF militia groups have only been provided with air cover by Iraqi Air Forces from time to time, whereas anti-Daesh coalition does not provide air support for these groups.
