Iraq: On the frontline with ISIL-fighting Peshmerga forces

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Iraq: On the frontline with ISIL-fighting Peshmerga forces



BAGHDAD: -- Euronews correspondent Mohamed Shaikhibrahim has been embedded with the Kurdish Peshmerga Forces in their push to retake Mosul.

He was with the company of soldiers at a military camp just 1.5 kilometres from the jihadist fighters from where they prepared to engage them. It is known as “Sultan Abdullah Barrack”.

It is close to Sultan Abdullah, which lies south-east of the city. It is one of a cluster of villages which have to be cleared of the so-called Islamic State before the offensive on Mosul.

This is one of the most important military fronts for the Peshmerga but so far the troops have been frustrated in their efforts to liberate the village.

The battles are mostly at night. In daylight the Peshmerga forces monitor from afar, opening fire on any suspicious movements among the buildings which are now empty of civilians.

ISIL have built a maze of tunnels to move from one house to another. They have laid booby traps around the village to prevent a surprise attack. They claim ISIL is using chemical weapons.

“In the presence of international experts we have recorded the fact this site was bombed with chemical weapons and poisonous gases on more than four occasions,” Brigadier Mohammed Assad Peshmerga Forces told Mohamed Shaikhibrahim.

“The worst of these attacks was last year by shells with deadly chemicals in them. We also found landmines with chemicals which we dismantled preventing hundreds of soldiers from being killed.”

It was not far from here that an attack by ISIL using mustard gas was confirmed.

That was last August. There were no fatalities but fears persist the militants will continue to use the weapons which have the potential to cause massive injuries and that they will become more sophisticated in their use.

Chemical weapons are banned under an international treaty signed after their lethal use in World War 1.

The Peshmerga troops have been able to retake many of the villages surrounding Mosul. Their targets now are to keep control of the borders and provide back up for the Iraqi troops advancing on the city.

Mohammed Shaikhibrahim reported: “Sultan Abdullah is considered one of the main military barracks from which to attack and this is the reason why so many of the Peshmerga elite forces are stationed here. It is also a sensitive transit point between Kirkuk, Erbil and Mosul cities.”

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-03-31

[chilli42]

This is the way it should have been sorted out long ago. Were it not for the Russians, America would still be insisting that Assad must go and the Syrisn army would be bogged down protecting their territory from the so called Syrian Rebels. IS days are numbered and it will be the best kind of victory as it comes at the hand of Muslims .... albeit Shia Muslims. It will be interesting to see if the Kurds will get a chance at their own state for all they have put against fighting IS. My guess they I'll get Jack s@&t as any land they get will come at te expense of Turkiye, Syria Iraq.