Iraqi forces have driven out Daesh terrorists from 12 villages in Tal Afar, only one day after Prime Minister Haider al Abadi announced a major operation to liberate the key city of Nineveh Province.

The Iraqi army, the federal police and the Popular Mobilization Forces, backed by air support, managed to achieve a significant progress on three axes, spokesman for the Joint Operations Command Brigadier General Yahya Rasool told Al Hurra TV on Monday.