Iraqi forces on Tuesday recaptured from the Islamic State group the first three districts of jihadist bastion Tal Afar, as the Pentagon chief visited Baghdad in a show of support.
The UN said thousands of civilians have fled Tal Afar in the two days since the start of the broad offensive backed by the US-led coalition fighting IS.
In remarks before meeting in Baghdad with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said he wanted to keep the spotlight on eradicating the jihadists.
“Right now our focus is on defeating ISIS inside Iraq, restoring Iraqi sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said the Pentagon chief, using an alternative acronym for IS. Iraqi troops, supported by the forces of a US-led international coalition, routed IS in Mosul in July after a gruelling nine-month fight for Iraq’s second city.