Iraqi forces said they faced tough resistance on Monday from Islamic State fighters driven out of the city of Tal Afar to a small town where they had "nothing to lose" by fighting to the end.
An advance by the Iraqi army and Shiite paramilitary groups into al-'Ayadiya was being slowed by snipers, booby-traps and roadside bombs, military officials told Reuters.
"The offensive started from two fronts in a bid to distract Daesh fighters," army Lt. Col. Salah Kareem said, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.