Iraqi security forces and Kurds gain

ground against Islamic State

Shi'ite fighters and Iraqi army members ride in vehicles during a patrol in Jurf al-Sakhar October 2! 2"#$%
& Shi'ite fighter aims using a sniper rifle during a patrol in Jurf al-Sakhar October 2!
2"#$%
BY AHMED RASHEED AND ISABEL COLES-
BAGHDAD/ARBIL Iraq Sat Oct 25, 2014
'(euters) - Iraqi government forces and Shi'ite militias sei*ed control of the strategic
to+n of Jurf al-Sakhar near ,aghdad from Islamic State on Saturday and Kurdish
fighters made gains in the north after heavy coalition air strikes against the Sunni
militants%
Iraqi troops and their Shi'ite allies broke the grip of Islamic State in Jurf al-Sakhar
after months of fighting against insurgents determined to march on the capital%
-Our forces +ith the support of the volunteers are in total control over Jurf al-Sakhar
no+ and the terrorists fled to the south+est areas of the to+n!- a spokesman for
security forces there said%
& victory could allo+ Iraqi forces to prevent the Sunni insurgents - positioned in
several locations around ,aghdad - from edging closer to the capital! sever connections
to their strongholds in +estern &nbar province and stop them infiltrating the mainly
Shi'ite south%
.he security officials said the Sunni insurgents fled to the t+o nearby villages of al-
/arisiya and 0ay al-&skari and +ere still attacking +ith sniper fire and mortars%
1overnment forces +ere preparing for a ma2or overnight operation against them%
In the latest fighting! 34 members of the Iraqi security forces and Shi'ite militias as
+ell as 5"" Islamic State fighters +ere killed! the officials said%
It +as not possible to get independent verification of the casualty tolls in the to+n 3"
km '$" miles) south of ,aghdad%
Speaking to state television in the to+n! 6rime 7inister 0aider al-&badi said Iraqis
forced out by fighting +ould soon return to their homes%
Islamic State s+ept through northern Iraq in the summer! facing little resistance from
8%S%-trained government troops%
.he al 9aeda offshoot then declared a caliphate and threatened to reach ,aghdad!
rattling the Shi'ite-led government and intensifying sectarian bloodshed%
On Saturday! a suicide bomber killed seven Shi'ite militiamen in a to+n 2ust north of
,aghdad! police and medical sources said%
Islamic State controls large parts of the Sunni heartland in Iraq's +estern &nbar
province! as +ell as s+athes of Syria and +ants to redra+ the map of the 7iddle :ast%
S.(&.:1I; IS<&7I; S.&.: =:.>O(K &. S.&K:
Sunni insurgents have been moving fighters! +eapons and supplies from +estern Iraq
through secret desert tunnels to Jurf al-Sakhar! Iraqi officials have said% =o+ it
appears government forces may be able to disrupt that net+ork%
>hile Iraq's army and Shi'ite militias have resisted Islamic State efforts to move closer
to ,aghdad! Kurdish forces have also gained ground! recapturing territory in the north%
.he Kurds retook the to+n of ?umar and several nearby villages from early on
Saturday after heavy coalition air strikes against the insurgents! security sources said%
If the Kurds manage to hold ?umar! that could enable them to disrupt Islamic State
supply lines to nearby to+ns and cities%
& Kurdish intelligence officer in ?umar said Kurdish peshmerga forces had advanced
from five directions in the early morning and encountered fierce resistance% &
spokesman for the peshmerga also said ?umar +as no+ in Kurdish hands%
?umar +as one of the first Kurdish-controlled to+ns to be overrun in &ugust by
Islamic State +ho +ent on to threaten the autonomous region's capital! &rbil!
prompting air strikes by the 8nited States - a campaign since 2oined by ,ritain
and /rance%
If the Kurds are able to keep ?umar! it +ould also make it easier for them to advance
on Sin2ar! +here Islamic State are besieging members of Iraq's @a*idi minority on a
mountain%
0elped by the air strikes! Kurds have regained ground but progress has been
hampered by a lack of heavy +eaponry and by homemade bombs and booby-traps laid
by the militants%
1ains have been easily lost in the +ar against Islamic State%
.he Kurds claimed victory in ?umar in September! only to +ithdra+ from the to+n
again after suffering heavy losses%
One peshmerga fighter deployed in the area on Saturday said a sniper +as still at large
in a village ad2acent to ?umar! and a car bomb had eAploded +hen they approached a
vehicle! killing seven peshmerga%
In another village! &yn al-0el+a! the peshmerga said #4 militants had been taken
captive! all of them Sunni .urkmen%
>hile 8%S% air strikes have had some impact on the insurgents! it is not clear +hether
they +ill be enough to secure a defeat in the long term in the ma2or oil producer and in
Syria%
.he 8nited States and its allies conducted 22 air strikes against Islamic State forces in
Iraq on /riday and Saturday! the 8%S% ;entral ;ommand said%
8%S% +arplanes also destroyed an Islamic State artillery
piece near Kobani in Syria! officials said Saturday% .he to+n near .urkey's border
appears in less danger of falling! but the threat remains! 8%S% officials said on
.hursday%
.he 22 strikes in Iraq included attacks on frequently targeted areas near the vital
7osul dam! the city of /allu2ah and the northern city of ,ai2i! home of an oil refinery%
'>riting by 7ichael 1eorgyB :diting by <ouise Ireland)
6osted by .havam