The terrorist group of Daesh has suffered heavy losses as the Iraqi army launched on Sunday a ground offensive to retake Tal Afar, west of the recently liberated Mosul.

"Two advanced defense front-lines of Daesh collapsed due to airstrikes of the air force and a snap attack from the security forces and the Shiite Popular Mobilization Forces," a local TV channel quoted a source as saying.

An intensive and precise shelling preceded the the ground offensive, which was announced earlier today by Prime Minister Haider Abadi.

No further details were given by the source on the losses suffered by Daesh.

Source: MENA