Iraqi forces has launched an assault on the northern town of Hawija, one of the last bastions still held by the Islamic State group in the country. Lieutenant General Abdel Amir Yarallah said in a statement that a huge military operation has launched today to liberate Hawija and its surrounding areas. <br/><br/>Iraqi forces began an operation to retake the militant enclave near Hawija on September 21, quickly taking the town of Sharqat on its second day before moving on towards Hawija.