Iraqi Shi’ite group to storm airbase west of Mosul

Some Islamic State fighters have already pulled out from the base and moved to the town of Tal Afar, Jafaar Hussaini, a spokesman for Kata’ib Hezbollah, an Iranian backed group, told Reuters. “The battle will be finished on Wednesday,” he added. 

Kata’ib Hezbollah is a main component of the Popular Mobilisation, a coalition of mainly Shi’ite militias that joined the US-backed campaign on Mosul end of October. 

Capturing Tal Afar would help cut Islamic State’s supply lines between  Mosul and the territory under control of the Sunni hardline group in Syria. 

Afghan security officials have confirmed that at least four security forces were killed when their vehicle was attacked by a suicide bomber in the capital Kabul. 

The security officials, who did not want to be named as the investigation into the attack is still underway, said on Wednesday that 11 others were wounded in the attack which took place in Puli Mohmood Kahn area near the Afghan defense ministry com-pound. 

They said it is not clear if the bomber was on foot or on a motorbike when he attacked the forces. 

No any group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Taliban insur gents have recently increased their attacks against Afghan security forces across the country.