"The operation aims to cut supplies between Mosul and Raqa and tighten the siege of (IS) in Mosul and liberate Tal Afar," Hashed spokesman Ahmed al-Assadi told AFP, referring to IS's main strongholds in Iraq and Syria.
"Operācijas mērķis ir pārraut piegāžu ceļus starp Mosulu un Raku [Sīrijas ziemeļaustrumos], kā arī padarīt ciešāku Mosulas aplenkumu un atbrīvot Tell Afaru," sacīja Asadi.