Posted on 08/04/2014 7:47:32 PM PDT by TangoLimaSierra
The Kurdish forces went on the offensive on Sunday after Islamic militants captured Shangal 200 kilometers west of Erbil.
SHANGAL—Kurdish Peshmerga forces have entered Shangal, said military officials, and they have cornered militants of the Islamic State in parts of the town.
Rudaw reporter in the area said that units from the 10,000-strong Peshmarga force who had encircled the town earlier in the day are now in the town center and try to rout the Islamic militants.
The Peshmerga were able to enter Shangal following a heavy bombardment of the Rahman and Nasir sectors where the militants had taken position. Meanwhile, a large Peshmerga forces have made their way to the Shangal mountainside where thousands of Yezidi families have taken shelter.
Rudaw reporter says that the Peshmerga have made progress in their counteroffensive near Zumar where they intend to cut off the IS militants from retreating into Syria.
The IS are said to have demolished the Zumar bridge in anticipation of the Peshmerga advance.
The Kurdish forces went on the offensive on Sunday after Islamic militants captured Shangal 200 kilometers west of Erbil.
“We decided to go on the offensive and fight the terrorists to the last breath,” said Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani Monday afternoon. “We have ordered the Peshmerga to attack the terrorists and enemies of Kurdistan with all their power.”
Barzani said that the Kurdish forces “will not relinquish an inch of Kurdistan and we will defend our dear Yezidi brothers and sisters.”
Earlier in the day, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered the Iraqi air force to assist the Peshmerga in their fight against the IS militants.
According to Rudaw reporter in the region, Iraqi jets bombed militant positions in Shangal and Zumar today.
Unofficial sources told Rudaw that members of the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) have joined the Peshmerga fight against the Islamic militants. Ten Kurdish volunteer fighters were also reported to have reached Shangal from Turkey.
They are fighting along side the men
Those people over there are screwed up beyond belief. America and all civilized people of the world should not get involved in the affairs of the "beast of the fields" that inhabit the area. Let them ALL destroy each other and sink back into obscurity.
Wow hadn’t seen that before - thanks for the info.
Had not seen that info before - thanks for the info.
Go Kurds Go!
But the USA will not deal honestly . All we do is leave a wake of death, destruction and chaos in the ME
and unfulfilled promises.
“But the USA will not deal honestly . All we do is leave a wake of death, destruction and chaos in the ME”
You have no idea what you are talking about. That’s grossly inaccurate and plain slanderous.
In fact, by 2007 we were the ONLY entity in Iraq that all sides trusted -including the insurgents. In many conflicts one side or the other would insist on an American or Coalition officer to mediate talks and monitor agreements with opponents. We were deal brokers and enforcers. We maintained the peace with our forces. I saw it down to the unit level. Locals coming to the base LNO complaining they’d been kicked out by their landlord breaking lease, thefts, dispossession, etc. And the LNO rectified them.
We left Iraq at peace, without “death, destruction and chaos”. It was in our absence that agreements were not honored, conflicts arose and the peace was lost. That was certainly not conservatives’ or my policy. We worked hard and succeeded. Perhaps it is your policy? You know, to light the world on fire to hasten the day of the Mahdi, Savior, etc. return?
Theological nihilists. Get on a plane and join the fight where you belong, burning the world down. But you won’t because there is nothing honorable in your opinion.
That’s fine and dandy but look at the place now.
Why would anyone trust the leadership of the USA?
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