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Battle for Sinjar: Kurdish forces enter IS-held town in Iraq Battle for Sinjar: Kurdish forces enter IS-held town in Iraq
(about 1 hour later)
Kurdish fighters have entered Sinjar in northern Iraq, a day after launching an offensive to retake it from Islamic State (IS) militants.Kurdish fighters have entered Sinjar in northern Iraq, a day after launching an offensive to retake it from Islamic State (IS) militants.
The Kurdistan Regional Security Council said in a tweet that Peshmerga forces had entered "from all directions" and were clearing the town of IS. Kurdish Peshmerga forces were filmed streaming into the town, walking through its rubble-strewn streets and putting Kurdish flags on buildings.
The Kurdish offensive is supported by US-led coalition air strikes. The Kurdish offensive was supported by US-led coalition air strikes.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi army says it has launched an offensive to recapture the western city of Ramadi from IS. Meanwhile, in the Iraqi capital, at least 12 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack.
The army press office said the offensive was under way "along the northern, western and south-western axes, with air support", the official al-Iraqiyah TV reports. The bomber targeted the funeral of a Shia militia member in south Baghdad and wounded at least 32 people.
However, Reuters news agency quotes a municipal official and a police officer from the area as saying the advance has not yet begun. Also in Iraq, the army says it has launched an offensive to recapture the western city of Ramadi from IS - although some local sources say the advance has not yet happened.
'They stole our dignity''They stole our dignity'
A senior Peshmerga source said Kurdish special forces entered the northern parts of Sinjar and raised the Iraqi Kurdistan flag on a number of buildings, including a primary school, a medical centre and a government office.A senior Peshmerga source said Kurdish special forces entered the northern parts of Sinjar and raised the Iraqi Kurdistan flag on a number of buildings, including a primary school, a medical centre and a government office.
But he warned clearing the town "was a work in progress".But he warned clearing the town "was a work in progress".
"It might take between seven to 10 days to reach the centre... as there is a large scale clean-up operation due to booby traps and suicide bombings, heavily used by IS militants who depend on guerrilla tactics," he told the BBC's Ahmed Maher who is at Mount Sinjar. "It might take between seven to 10 days to reach the centre... as there is a large scale clean-up operation due to booby traps and suicide bombings, heavily used by IS militants who depend on guerrilla tactics," he told the BBC's Ahmed Maher, who is at Mount Sinjar.
The Kurdish news agency Rudaw tweeted a stream of photos and videos it said were of Peshmerga troops inside the town.The Kurdish news agency Rudaw tweeted a stream of photos and videos it said were of Peshmerga troops inside the town.
"They are patrolling each and every alley of the town and they are repelling [IS militants]. We have seized many of their weapons and we have also bodies of the dead militants. Peshmerga are now in full control of the town," a soldier, Wahder Saleh, said. "They are patrolling each and every alley of the town and they are repelling [IS militants]," a soldier, Wahder Saleh, said.
The offensive to retake Sinjar began in earnest at dawn on Thursday, with some 7,500 Peshmerga fighters closing in on three fronts after coalition warplanes bombed IS positions, command-and-control facilities and weapons stores. "We have seized many of their weapons and we have also bodies of the dead militants. Peshmerga are now in full control of the town."
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 offensive to retake Sinjar began in earnest at dawn on Thursday, with some 7,500 Kurdish fighters, backed by Yazidi religious minority volunteers, closing in on three fronts after coalition warplanes bombed IS positions, command-and-control facilities and weapons stores.
Within hours, they had successfully blocked Highway 47, the main supply road linking IS-held Mosul, to the east, and Raqqa, IS' de facto capital in Syria, to the west, and secured three surrounding villages.
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.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 from the Yazidi religious minority are reportedly taking part in the offensive. Turkish Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels have trained a Yazidi militia, while others have joined the Peshmerga. Thousands from the Yazidis are taking part in the offensive. Turkish Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels have trained a Yazidi militia, while others have joined the Peshmerga.
IS killed or enslaved thousands of Yazidis when they captured Sinjar in August 2014. Many more became trapped on nearby Mount Sinjar without food or water for days until they were rescued by Syrian Kurdish forces.IS killed or enslaved thousands of Yazidis when they captured Sinjar in August 2014. Many more 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.The risk of genocide was a key factor in the US decision to launch air strikes in Iraq.
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." Hussein Derbo, the head of a Peshmerga battalion made up of 440 Yazidis, told Reuters: "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