Iraqi security forces and Shiite militiamen yesterday broke a six-week siege imposed by the Islamic State (IS) extremist group on the northern Shiite Turkmen town of Amirli following US airstrikes against the Sunni militants’ positions, officials said.
Army spokesman Lieutenant General Qassim al-Moussawi said the operation started at dawn and the forces entered the town shortly after midday. Speaking live on state TV, Lt Gen al-Moussawi said the forces suffered “some causalities”, but did not give a specific number. He said fighting was “still ongoing to clear the surrounding villages”.
Breaking the siege was a “big achievement and an important victory” he said, for all involved: the Iraqi army, elite troops, Kurdish fighters and Shiite militias.
Turkmen lawmaker Fawzi Akram al-Tarzi said they entered the town from two directions and were distributing aid to residents.
About 15,000 Shi’ite Turkmens were stranded in the farming community, some 170km north of Baghdad. Instead of fleeing in the face of the IS group’s rampage across northern Iraq in June, the Shiite Turkmens stayed and fortified their town with trenches and armed positions.
Residents succeeded in fending off the initial attack in June, but Amirli has been surrounded by the militants since mid-July. Many residents said the Iraqi military’s efforts to fly in food, water and other aid had not been enough, as they endured the oppressive August heat with virtually no electricity or running water.
The terrorists are being defeated by the Iraqi forces
Nihad al-Bayati, who had taken up arms with fellow residents to defend the town, said some army units had already entered while the Shi’ite militiamen were stationed in the outskirts. He said residents had fired into the air to celebrate the arrival of the troops.
“We thank God for this victory over terrorists,” Al-Bayati said from the outskirts of Amirli.
“The people of Amirli are very happy to see that their ordeal is over and that the terrorists are being defeated by Iraqi forces. It is a great day in our life.”
Yesterday, the US conducted air strikes against the Sunni militants and air-dropped humanitarian aid to residents. Aircraft from Australia, France and Britain joined the US in the aid drop, which came after a request from the Iraqi government.
The Pentagon’s press secretary, Rear Admiral John Kirby, said military operations would be limited in scope as needed to address the humanitarian crisis in Amirli and protect the civilians trapped in the town.
The IS extremist group has seized cities, towns and vast tracts of land in northeastern Syria and Iraq. It views Shi’ites as apostates and has carried out a number of massacres and beheadings.