FM says Iraqi forces have taken 70 percent of Tal Afar

BAGHDAD – Iraq's foreign minister says Iraqi military forces have taken 70 percent of the Islamic State holdout town of Tal Afar.

Ibrahim al-Jaafari made the announcement at a news conference with his French counterpart on Saturday.

It comes a day after Iraqi military officials said forces had fought their way into the center of the town with help from the U.S.-led coalition.

Tal Afar is about 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Syria's border and it's among the last IS-held towns in Iraq.