US to expand military offensive in Iraq
30 Aug GJH
The United States is considering a new military offensive in the
Turkmen town of Amerli, north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, to break the
siege of the town by ISIL terrorists, the Pentagon says.
On Wednesday, Iraqi troops were also preparing for an operation to
end the blockade of the town in Salahuddin province where about 12,000
to 15,000 Shia Turkmen are surrounded by ISIL and have no access to food
or water.ÓWe are aware that there are humanitarian crises and human
suffering throughout Iraq. This includes Amirli," Pentagon spokesman
Army Col. Steve Warren on Wednesday.
"Providing relief for humanitarian situations through air operations
is one of the missions that we've been authorized to conduct," Warren
said.Thousands of Shia fighters also gathered in Tuz Khurmatu, some 25
kilometers (15 miles) northeast of the town, to help with the
operation.Iraqi security forces were also mobilizing in Hamrin
Mountains, located to the south of Amerli, said an army lieutenant
general.Iraqi planes, which have been targeting the Takfiris' positions
there, launched at least nine strikes in the area on Tuesday, an army
officer said.
Meanwhile, Nickolay Mladenov, the United Nations envoy in Iraq called
for urgent help, saying the residents were facing a "possible massacre"
should the terrorists overrun the town.
Iraq has been fighting the ISIL terrorists since they took control of
Mosul on June 10. The takeover was followed by the fall of the city of
Tikrit, located 140 kilometers (87 miles) northwest of the capital
Baghdad. The control of Tikrit was later retaken by the Iraqi army.The
ISIL terrorists have been committing heinous crimes in the captured
areas, including the mass execution of civilians and Iraqi security
forces.
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