(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) BAGHDAD, Sept 2 (KUNA) -- Lt.-Gen. Staff Abdul-Amir Rashid Yarallah, commander of the operation "We are coming Tal Afar," said Saturday the so-called Islamic State suffered more than 2,000 deaths in the northern city of Tal Afar.

"The Iraqi forces will never negotiate with terrorists who have no choice other than surrender or be killed," Yarallah said in a press release here, citing the instructions of Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi.

The military operation to liberate Tal Afar resulted in the killing of over 2,000 IS militants - including 50 suicide attackers, and the destruction of 77 booby-trapped vehicles, 46 motorbikes and 25 mortar launchers.

During nearly two weeks of the operation, 990 explosive devises were defused, 71 homes were demined, 66 tunnels were destroyed and large quantities of munitions were seized, he revealed.

The principle set by the Prime Minister in ruling out any talks with terrorists, will be applicable in the coming fighters in other cities such as Al-Hwaija, Al-Shirqat and Al-Anbar, Yarallah added.

On Thursday, August 31, Al-Abadi, the supreme commander of the Armed Forces, announced the success of the US-backed operation to retake Tal Afar from the IS that started on August 20. (end) ahh.gb

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