Iraqi forces take back IS stronghold

The northern Iraq city of Tel Afar has been reclaimed from Islamic State by Iraqi forces, the Joint Operations Command says.

Iraqi forces have retaken almost all of Tal Afar, Islamic State's stronghold in the country's northwest.

Fighting was ongoing in al-'Ayadiya, a small area just outside the city. Iraqi forces were waiting to retake the city's surrounding areas to declare a complete victory.

Tal Afar was the latest objective in the US-backed war on the jihadist group following the recapture in July of Mosul, where it declared its self-proclaimed caliphate over parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014.