Iraqi forces launch offensive to retake two ISIL-held towns

The offensive to recapture both towns, which are on the western border with Syria and are two of the armed group’s last strongholds in the country, came not long after the Iraqi military captured ISIL’s de-facto capital, Mosul.

Iraqi forces have launched an assault to recapture Al-Qaim and Rawa from the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS).

The offensive to recapture both towns, which are on the western border with Syria and are two of the armed group’s last strongholds in the country, came not long after the Iraqi military captured ISIL’s de-facto capital, Mosul.

 

Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker reports from Erbil in northern Iraq.