This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34795506

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Sinjar battle: Kurds in offensive to retake Iraq town from IS Battle for Sinjar: Kurds 'advance on IS-held Iraqi town'
(about 3 hours later)
Kurdish forces in northern Iraq have launched an offensive to retake Sinjar, a strategic town near the Syrian border, from Islamic State militants. Kurdish forces say they are making progress in a major offensive they have launched against Islamic State (IS) militants in Sinjar in northern Iraq.
The campaign is supported by air strikes by the US-led coalition. Peshmerga fighters have reportedly taken a strategically important main road near the town that helps connect the IS strongholds of Mosul and Raqqa.
Recapturing Sinjar would effectively cut off the supply line between the IS strongholds of Raqqa and Mosul. The offensive is supported by US-led coalition air strikes.
When the town fell to IS last year, tens of thousands of people from the Yazidi religious minority were trapped after fleeing up Mount Sinjar. When it captured Sinjar last year, IS killed or enslaved thousands of members of the Yazidi religious minority.
Hundreds of Yazidi men were killed and thousands of Yazidi women and girls captured and used as sex slaves. Tens of thousands of others became trapped on nearby Mount Sinjar without food or water for days until they were rescued by Syrian Kurdish forces. The risk of genocide was a key factor in the US decision to launch air strikes in Iraq.
Most of the Yazidis on the mountain were evacuated but there thousands are still there. 'Moving carefully'
The campaign to retake Sinjar is led by about 6,000 Kurdish Peshmerga forces in alliance with some 1,500 Yazidi fighters known as the Sinjar Resistance Units and about 300 Kurdish PKK guerrillas. Coalition warplanes bombed IS positions, command-and-control facilities and weapons stores in the Sinjar area overnight before some 7,500 Peshmerga fighters launched a ground assault around dawn on Thursday, closing in on three fronts.
The BBC's Ahmed Maher in Baghdad says for the Kurds the campaign is more than just a military operation - Sinjar is symbolically significant because it is part of the disputed territories claimed by both the semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region and the central government. Within hours, they had successfully blocked Highway 47, the main road between Mosul, to the east, and Raqqa to the west, and secured three surrounding villages.
The Yazidi community accused the Kurds of letting them down, saying the Peshmerga withdrew from the town allowing IS militants to take over. A Peshmerga source later told the BBC's Ahmed Maher that they had managed to seize a key checkpoint on the road at Umm al-Shababit, 26km (15 miles) west of Sinjar, and asserted their control over three hills to the north-west.
The IS attack on Sinjar in August 2014 was one of the reasons the US began air strikes against IS positions in Iraq, amid a warning of genocide. Yazidis, whose religion includes elements of several faiths, are considered infidels by IS. The Peshmerga are also laying siege to the 80% of the town of Sinjar that they failed to retake in an offensive in December, when IS was driven from Mount Sinjar.
Kurds determined to win Sinjar back - Jim Muir, BBC News, on Mount Sinjar At the scene: Jim Muir, BBC News, on Mount Sinjar
The offensive by Kurdish forces began in earnest at dawn, with a series of coalition air strikes sending up plumes of smoke around the town of Sinjar.The offensive by Kurdish forces began in earnest at dawn, with a series of coalition air strikes sending up plumes of smoke around the town of Sinjar.
It lies at the foot of a rugged mountain of the same name, and is strategically placed near the border with Syria.It lies at the foot of a rugged mountain of the same name, and is strategically placed near the border with Syria.
Peshmerga forces began opening up with rocket fire, and their troops started moving down to join an advance on the ground.Peshmerga forces began opening up with rocket fire, and their troops started moving down to join an advance on the ground.
Kurdish forces have controlled part of the town since an attack months ago. But IS militants put up strong resistance, leading to a prolonged stalemate.Kurdish forces have controlled part of the town since an attack months ago. But IS militants put up strong resistance, leading to a prolonged stalemate.
The Kurds are clearly determined to win Sinjar back. They are calling this Operation Free Sinjar and say they are throwing 7,500 fighters into the battle.The Kurds are clearly determined to win Sinjar back. They are calling this Operation Free Sinjar and say they are throwing 7,500 fighters into the battle.
Sinjar is one of the biggest towns they lost last year, though it was its mainly Yazidi population who suffered the most.Sinjar is one of the biggest towns they lost last year, though it was its mainly Yazidi population who suffered the most.
The Kurds are hoping for a swift victory. But advancing against IS in built-up terrain has proved slow and dangerous in the past.The Kurds are hoping for a swift victory. But advancing against IS in built-up terrain has proved slow and dangerous in the past.
The militants are adept at planting booby-traps and other bombs, often causing heavy casualties.The militants are adept at planting booby-traps and other bombs, often causing heavy casualties.
"We are advancing but carefully and slowly towards the heart of the town because of Daesh booby-traps, snipers, minefields and suicide bombers," the source said, using a pejorative term for IS based on an Arabic acronym of its former name.
A coalition statement said the Sinjar offensive would "degrade Daesh resupply efforts, disrupt funding to the terrorist group's operations, stem the flow of Daesh fighters into Iraq, and further isolate Mosul from Raqqa."
"Coalition air strikes will continue to target Daesh leaders, revenue sources, supply routes, command facilities, and weapons caches to dismantle their operations in Iraq and Syria," it added.
US military advisers were with Kurdish commanders near Mount Sinjar, but were positioned well back from the frontline, a US military spokesman told the Reuters news agency.
The Kurds estimated that there were almost 600 IS militants in Sinjar before the offensive began, but the coalition said they believed some 60 to 70 had been killed in Thursday's air strikes.
Thousands of Yazidis who fled the Sinjar area when it fell to IS in August 2014 are reportedly taking part in the offensive. Turkish Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels have trained a Yazidi militia, while others have joined the Peshmerga.
Hussein Derbo, the head of a Peshmerga battalion made up of 440 Yazidis, told the Reuters news agency: "It is our land and our honour. They [IS] stole our dignity. We want to get it back."
Sinjar - a strategic townSinjar - a strategic town
Who, What, Why: Who are the Yazidis?Who, What, Why: Who are the Yazidis?
Iraq: The minorities of NinevehIraq: The minorities of Nineveh
Are you in Sinjar? Have you been affected by issues in this story? If it is safe to do so, please get in touch. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.Are you in Sinjar? Have you been affected by issues in this story? If it is safe to do so, please get in touch. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
Or use the form belowOr use the form below