Special to WorldTribune.com
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
Iraqi Kurdish forces, supported by a U.S.-led air campaign, have launched an offensive aimed at recapturing the strategic town of Sinjar from Islamic State of Iraq and Levant militants in northern Iraq.
The attack by Peshmerga forces began at 7 a.m. local time on Nov. 12 with the Kurdish fighters advancing on the mountain town from three directions.
Sinjar lies along a key supply line for Islamic State militants between ISIL-held territory in Syria and the city of Mosul — the IS stronghold in northern Iraq.
ISIL militants overran Sinjar in August 2014, forcing tens of thousands of people from the Yazidi minority to flee into the mountains nearby.
The massacre of thousands of Yazidis by Islamic State militants in and around Sinjar in August 2014 prompted the United States to begin airstrikes against IS in Iraq and form an international coalition that is helping Peshmerga and Iraqi government forces battle the extremist group.
Iraqi Kurdish forces launch offensive on strategic town of Sinjar held by ISIL added by World Tribune on
View all posts by World Tribune →
You must be logged in to post a comment Login