Kurdish forces have carried out a successful operation against ISIL in Iraq – one that may be a turning point in the fight against the terrorist organization in the region. A group of villages have been liberated and cleared of ISIL fighters.
This is Qarqash Iraq - yet another frontline where Peshmerga fighters together with the US-led coalition have carried out a mission against ISIL. The scene is a familiar one – trucks full of soldiers with Kurdish flags raised high.
they advanced strongly with the support of airstrikes hitting ISIL targets.
ISIL did not back off easy. Fighting was intense. The sound of gunfire almost constant, the color of the sky practically invisible as smoke filled the air.
Commander Jabar emphasized – ISIL per usual, did not respect rules of war and once again used unethical tactics.
"Certainly, ISIL members always want to use civilians as shields, and they do not care about humanity, they have no conscience. But we as Peshmargas, we have always respected humanity, and we follow the rules of war in Geneva agreements of 1949 including the 4 agreements," Jabar said.
The operation was a risky one, tells us commander Jabar, JUST as a mortar drops close by. But this mission was also vital for the people of Erbil – as it is only half an hour away from the city.
"The operation also aimed to save the region because these areas impact security within the Kurdistan region in general and to ensure that citizens feel safe and calm. Now we are only 15 kilometers from the center of Mosul," Jabar said.
As the fighting came to an end. Peshmergas tried to clear the area of mines left behind by ISIL. Meanwhile Peshmerga soldiers remain determined to fight the war until the end.
"We will renew our battle, I mean, with the orders of the president we will go to the front as much as we can. You understand? We will sacrifice blood even if there is only one piece left of Kurdistan's land. We will not let the haters and the enemies of Kurds come to this road," Peshmerga soldier Choman Hassan said.
The operation here was victorious – and a critical one as well as the area is located just east of Mosul, the last major city ISIL controls in the region. The liberation of these villages gets Peshmergas one step closer to their ultimate goal of defeating ISIL in Iraq.
