Retaking a city
The week's news at a glance.
Tall Afar, Iraq
In a huge assault last week, more than 8,500 Iraqi and American troops took back a city that has been controlled by insurgents for nearly a year. Tall Afar, located near the Syrian border, had been functioning as insurgents’ staging ground for operations across northern Iraq. At least 150 insurgents were killed and hundreds captured in the battle. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani told The Washington Post that Iraqi troops were now so well trained and experienced that the U.S. could withdraw 50,000 of its own troops by the end of the year. U.S. military officials, speaking anonymously, said it was too soon to be discussing a specific timetable for withdrawal.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Democrats: How to rebuild a damaged brand
Feature Trump's approval rating is sinking, but so is the Democratic brand
-
Unraveling autism
Feature RFK Jr. has vowed to find the root cause of the 'autism epidemic' in months. Scientists have doubts.
-
'Two dolls': Can Trump sell Americans on austerity?
Feature Trump's tariffs may be threatening holiday shelves but they've handed Democrats a 'huge gift'