Posted on 08/30/2014 9:21:35 AM PDT by GonzoII
Iraqi security forces, Shiite militiamen and Kurdish fighters launched a major operation today to break the more than two-month jihadist siege of a Shi'ite Turkmen-majority town, officials said.
The operation has been in the works for days, with Iraqi aircraft carrying out strikes and forces massing for the drive toward Amerli, which has been besieged since militants led by the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group launched a major offensive in June.
Residents face major shortages of food and water, and are in danger both because of their Shiite faith, which jihadists consider heresy, and their resistance to the militants, which has drawn harsh retribution elsewhere.
Army Staff Lieutenant General Abdulamir al-Zaidi said the operation to free Amerli from the jihadists has been launched with support from Iraqi aircraft, vowing that "we will be victorious over them".
Karim al-Nuri, spokesman for the Badr Organisation militia, said thousands of its fighters were taking part alongside civilian volunteers and security forces.
Forces from two other Shi'ite militias – Asaib Ahl al-Haq and powerful Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Saraya al-Salam forces – had also been gathering north of Amerli for the attack.
(Excerpt) Read more at themalaysianinsider.com ...
Let’s hope they surround it first.
And carpet bomb those isil rats as they retreat. Bomb to oblivion the villages they hide in, men, women and children. No quarter, no compassion.
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