Iraq Starts Offensive to Take Back Tal Afar From Islamic State

Iraqi government forces supported by fighters from the Abbas Brigade, which fights under the umbrella of the Shiite popular mobilisation units, advance towards the city of Tal Afar, the main remaining stronghold of the Islamic State group, after the government announced the beginning of an operation to retake it from the jihadists on August 20, 2017. MOHAMMED SAWAF/AFP/Getty Images

BAGHDAD/ERBIL, Iraq - Iraqi security forces launched an offensive to take back the city of Tal Afar on Sunday, their next objective in the U.S.-backed campaign to defeat Islamic State militants, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said.

“You either surrender, or die,” Abadi said in a televised speech announcing the offensive, addressing the jihadists.

A still image taken from a video shows Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi speaking as he makes a statement on Tal Afar, in Baghdad, Iraq on August 20, 2017. Al Iraqiya TV/ via REUTERS TV