BAGHDAD — More than 200 Daesh (the so-called IS) militants were killed in the southwestern direction of Tal Afar, which was handled by the army’s Counter-Terrorism Service, the Joint Operations Command announced.

In a statement on Sunday, the JOC said 217 militants and eight snipers were wounded. Twenty-one booby-trapped vehicle were destroyed, while three others were defused. in addition, 105 explosives and fifteen booby-trapped houses were defused. Six tunnels were filled. Several weapons, telecommunications devices and vehicles were seized.

Earlier in the day, the military media said government troops and allied paramilitary forces had retaken full control over the town in a seven-day offensive after Iraqi PM Haidar Al-Abadi announced in a televised speech on Aug. 20 the beginning of operations to recapture Tal Afar, which has been held by the militants since 2014, when the extremist group first emerged to proclaim its self-styled ‘caliphate’. This came after 40 days of declaring victory in Mosul, the group’s former capital, where operations lasted between October to July.

Up to 2,000 Daesh fighters are believed to remain in Tal Afar, Brig. Gen. Yehia Rasool, the JOC’s spokesperson, said in remarks last week. Iraqi troops, police and special forces, allied with the Hashed Al-Shaabi paramilitary coalition, took control of all districts inside Tal Afar on Sunday, a week after launching their latest offensive against an IS stronghold. — Agencies

Some of those inside Tal Afar were believed to have fled to Al-Ayadieh, located on the road between the city and the Syrian border, where they appeared to be making a desperate last stand. — Agencies