‘Kurdistan remains graveyard for terrorists’
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – On Tuesday, Islamic State (IS) extremists launched a multi-pronged attack on the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga forces near Mosul, northern Iraq.
Early morning on Tuesday, IS extremists attacked Peshmerga forces in several frontlines, including Gwer, Khazir, Bashiq, Nawaran, and Telskuf. The insurgents used hundreds of suicide bombers and dozens of suicide armored vehicles.
Peshmerga forces effectively repelled the IS attacks on all of the frontlines. While in Telskuf, IS extremists were able to breach Peshmerga frontlines and enter the town. According to the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) announcement on Twitter, IS sent three VBIEDs across Peshmerga trenches and occupied Telskuf and Musqelat, north of Mosul in the early morning.
“Telskuf has been completely cleared of IS terrorists. Peshmerga military prowess proven time and again,” KRSC added
An embedded Kurdistan24 reporter near the Mosul front reported that he saw the dead bodies of at least 30 IS extremists in and around the town of Telskuf, 20 km (12 miles) in the vicinity of the IS stronghold, Mosul.
KRSC revealed the figures of today’s attack where “at least 25 IS vehicles [were] destroyed, including 15 by the Peshmerga, and more than 80 IS terrorists were killed.”
Masrour Barzani, Chancellor of the KRSC, said in a Tweet, “I commend our brave Peshmerga & commanders for defeating ISIS in today's attack & demonstrating Kurdistan remains a graveyard for terrorists.”
“Our selfless Peshmerga remain the world's best hope of defeating ISIS. The Global Coalition must ensure our fighters can outgun the enemy,” Barzani added.
Hama Risha, a Peshmerga commander in Wardak village on the Khazir frontline which has been under constant IS attacks in the past three days, said, “IS wanted to take revenge for its losses in Bashir village, but thanks to the Peshmerga forces, they were unsuccessful.”
Reporting by Hisham Arafat and Baxtiyar Goran
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany and Ava Homa