The Popular Mobilization Forces, a pro-Iraqi government Shiite militia, managed late Wednesday to wrest control of a critical airport from Daesh [also known as the Islamic State] forces, according to a statement by the militia.
"With God's willing, our forces managed to fully liberate Tel Afar airport following fierce battles with the Islamic State," the statement said.
"Our forces are now carrying a cleaning operation inside the airport to trace the escaping members of Daesh members who are still hiding inside the facility," it said.
It added that liberating the airport would be a starting point for the militia as it seeks to cut that last supply line for Daesh between Mosul and Tel Afar.
"It will also secure the Iraqi-Syrian border with an air cover once the airport is rehabilitated," the statement read.
The city of Tel Afar is located on the strategic route between Mosul and Syria’s al-Raqqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic State.
Earlier on Wednesday, Iraqi forces repulsed "fierce" Daesh counter-attacks near the extremist militia's key stronghold of Mosul, an army officer said.
"The forces stationed in the liberated districts east of Mosul were able to repel a number of fierce attacks launched at dawn by Daesh," Colonel Dureed Saeed added.
He told dpa that 23 Daesh fighters, including foreign suicide bombers, had been killed in the violence.
Ten government troops, including an officer with the rank of colonel, were also killed.
On October 17, government forces, backed by US-led airpower, started a long-awaited offensive to retake Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city.
Following initial advances, the drive has been slowed by Daesh's use of suicide car bombings and sniper fire.
The al-Qaeda splinter group is believed to be holding thousands of civilians for use as human shields in and around Mosul.
The city has been underDaesh control since mid-2014.
In recent months, the extremist militia has suffered military setbacks and lost ground in Iraq and neighbouring Syria.
