U.S. Air Strikes Back Iraqi Kurds Battle Islamic State To Recapture Sinjar

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Thursday 12^th November 2015, Iraqi Kurdish forces launched a major offensive in renewed efforts to retake Sinjar from the reign of the Islamic State militants.

According to Kurdistan regional Security Council, the Kurdish forces supported by the US air strikes are expected to pressure on and clear the northern Iraq town off Islamic State elements.

Sinjar lies strategically on roads joining Raqqa and Mosul. Large areas have been seized from the frontline Sunni group with dozens killed as other militants’ retreats from parts of Sinjar.

Backed by U.S. and allies aerial offensive, Kurdish Peshmerga ground fighters approached Sinjar from west and east.

The well planned operation started early in the morning with Kurds forces advancing to cordon off Sinjar, seize and take control of key routes and establish buffer zone to protect town from artillery.

SUMMARY

U.S.-led coalition has been conducting daily aerial campaigns for more than a week. Within 24 hours the U.S.-led coalition had conducted 36 strikes against the militant’s positions.

Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook described the Sinjar operation as collaborative efforts between U.S. and it allies supporting the Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces eliminate Islamic State Takfiris.

The joint operation between Kurds, government forces and Shi’ite fighters with supported by US and the allies has highest possibility of claiming victory and retaking Sinjar.

The defeat against Islamic State in Sinjar would come at a critical moment when the militant group controls large areas of both Iraq and Syria and now expanding its foothold in Egypt and Libya.