PHOTOS: Peshmerga liberate Turkmen village of Bashir in 24-hours

Kurdish Peshmerga declared victory in the Turkmen populated village of Bashir in southern Kirkuk Province on Sunday.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Kurdish Peshmerga declared victory in the Shia-Turkmen populated village of Bashir in southern Kirkuk Province on Sunday.

Previously, state-sponsored Shia militia Hashd al-Shaabi conducted almost 20 attacks on Bashir attempting to free the village from Islamic State (IS) control, but the attacks were unsuccessful.

Peshmerga forces, with the aerial support of the international coalition, launched the military operation of liberating Bashir on Saturday morning, and the village was among two more that were cleared from IS by Sunday morning.

“Peshmerga forces have completely liberated Bashir village from Dae’sh,” Wasta Rasul, a Peshmerga Commander in southern Kirkuk, told Kurdistan24 on Sunday morning using a pejorative word for IS.

“Only Peshmerga [as a ground force] participated in the operation,” Rasul added.

Commenting on the casualties during the offensive, he stated, “Unfortunately, two Peshmerga heroes were martyred and seven injured.”

He also mentioned that numerous jihadist bodies were left in the hands of Peshmerga.

The Kurdistan Region Security Council’s (KRSC) official Twitter account posted on Sunday morning, “As of 0830hrs, our courageous #Peshmerga forces were in complete control of Bashir village. Biji Peshmerga!”

Bashir has been under IS control for almost two years. The liberation of the village is important because IS often used mortars there to shell areas under Peshmerga control, including the town of Khurmatu in southern Kirkuk.

According to Kurdistan24 reporter Soran Kamaran, following the liberation of Bashir, Hashd al-Shaabi militia entered the village to retrieve 19 bodies belonging to their militiamen who were killed in their previous attacks.

However, the bodies were wired with booby-bombs by IS and exploded after the militia tried to take them.

“So far, the number of militiamen killed and wounded by the booby-bombs along with the previously killed is unknown,” Kamaran said.

Moreover, Peshmerga Commander and former Peshmerga Minister Sheikh Ja’far told Kurdistan24, “Peshmerga planned Bashir’s liberation in three days and took control of the village within 24-hours.”

“The international coalition played a crucial role in freeing the village, especially the US, Italy and Sweden,” Ja’far continued.

It is worth mentioning that Hashd al-Shaabi militia did not participate in the operation. Peshmerga commanders have previously told Kurdistan24 that the coalition decided before that they will not cooperate with Peshmerga in liberating the village if the militia is involved.

“The [international] coalition military operation room told Peshmerga before the offensive began that the coalition warplanes won’t participate if Peshmerga were not fully in charge of the operation,” Ja’far concluded.

In a press conference, Kirkuk Governor Najmaddin Karim stated that the representative of the international coalition was surprised that Peshmerga liberated such a strategic village within a short period.

 

Reporting by Hemin Dallo, Soran Kamaran and Mewan Dolamari
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany
Photos by Alexandre Afonso

Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24/Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)
Peshmerga offensive during the liberation of the Turkmen village of Bashir, southern Kirkuk Province, April 30, 2016. (Photo: Kurdistan24 / Alexandre Afonso)