The Kurdish Peshmerga forces combatting the ISIS for more than a month now are planning an offensive campaign. According to Ashraq Al-Awsat, a leading Arabic Newspaper, Kurdish Peshmerga forces are preparing to launch a broad offensive against militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Peshmerga forces will seek to recapture the northern city of Mosul—held by the Islamist group since August—as US and French military jets continue to target ISIS positions.
Mission against the Islamic State militants has intensified ever since NATO allies have pledged their support during the summit.
SaeedMamozeini, spokesperson of Kurdistan Democratic Party told Ashraq Al-Awsat: “On Friday, Peshmerga forces began an extended offensive on ISIS-controlled areas east of Mosul. After heavy aerial bombardment by US jets and artillery shelling by Peshmerga forces on ISIS positions in Aswad, a large village east of Mosul, our forces advanced and managed to take control of the village following a battle that lasted four hours.”
Remember, after securing some locations from ISIS, the Kurdish military force is trying to regain Mosul dam.
On Friday, France said it conducted its first air strike on a logistic depot of the terrorists. A day before this airstrike, France President Francois Hollande had told reporters in a press conference that French air strikes were imminent and would take place once reconnaissance flights had identified targets and had asserted that no troops would be sent on ground.
As offensive measures are launched in Iraq, several Kurdish military soldiers have arrived in Turkey to join with Syrian military in dealing with ISIS in Syria. CNN quoted an activist who said on Saturday: “Hundreds of Kurdish fighters from Turkey have arrived in the Syrian Kurdish town of Ayn al-Arab to join a Kurdish militia group battling to hold off ISIS forces.”
This comes in as more than 60,000 Syrian fled Syria and entered Turkey. Syrian’s fearing an attack by the ISIS in Northern part, have fled the region by migrating in Turkey. BBC quoted Turkish Deputy Prime Minister NumanKurtulmus who told the reporters on Saturday that as of today, the number of Syrian Kurds who entered Turkey has exceeded 60,000.
Tags: Iraq ISIS offensive strike US
