Politics

Peshmerga repel IS attack, rescue five Ezidi women north of Tal Afar

Peshmerga forces on Monday morning repelled an Islamic State (IS) attack near Ayadhiya district and rescued five Yezidi (Ezidi) women from one of the surrounding villages

Sangar Ali 2017/08/28 07:10

kurdistan Iraq Tal Afar Mosul Peshmerga

TAL AfAR, Iraq (Kurdistan 24) – Peshmerga forces on Monday morning repelled an Islamic State (IS) attack near Ayadhiya district and rescued five Yezidi (Ezidi) women who escaped from one of the surrounding villages, according to a Peshmerga Commander.

Five jihadists attacked Peshmerga front lines near Ayadhiya district, some 11 kilometers north of the city of Tal Afar, in attempts to cross Peshmerga lines of defense in the area.

“Two of the jihadists blew themselves up, and Peshmerga soldiers killed the other three militants,” Izzadin Sadoun, a Peshmerga Commander, told Kurdistan 24. “The bodies of the IS militants were left on the ground.”

One of the Islamic State (IS) militants' bodies near the Peshmerga forces' front line, August 28, 2017. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)

Sadoun also mentioned that in a separate operation, Peshmerga forces rescued five fleeing Ezidi women in the village of Halum, north of Ayadhiya.

He did not give further details about the rescue operation.

Ayadhiya and its surrounding villages are the last strongholds of the jihadist group in the province of Nineveh.

Iraqi forces and the US-led coalition continue to shell IS bases in the area. Military commanders on the front lines claim the region will be cleared in the coming few days.

Editing by G.H. Renaud