Iraq’s biggest victory in months frees thousands trapped by jihadist siege

Iraqi forces broke through to the jihadist-besieged Shiite town of Amerli Sunday, where thousands of people have been trapped for more than two months with dwindling food and water supplies. It is the biggest offensive success for the Iraqi government since militants led by the Sunni Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) jihadist group overran large areas of five provinces in June, sweeping security forces aside. The breakthrough came as America carried out limited strikes in the area, the first time it has expanded its more than three-week air campaign against militants outside of Iraq’s north.

The operations will be limited in their scope and duration as necessary to address this emerging humanitarian crisis and protect the civilians trapped in Amerli.

Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby

The strikes, which happened early on Sunday Iraq time, destroyed five ISIL vehicles and a checkpoint, bringing the total number of U.S. strikes since Aug. 8 to nearly 120. Washington has said that operations in Syria will be needed to entirely defeat ISIL, but has so far ruled out any cooperation with the Damascus regime against the jihadists. It has, however, attempted to enlist the support of long-time foe Tehran, a key backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Middle East Amerli