Advancement of Kurdish Peshmerga Forces in Iraq Marks a 'Strategic Victory'

Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces have continued their advance in the region and the city of Sinjar, supported by airstrikes from the U.S.-led coalition. The President of the Kurdistan Region described this as 'a strategic victory.' Masoud Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan Region, visited the Peshmerga forces in the Sinjar mountains on December 30, where tens of thousands of the Yazidi minority had sought refuge following advances and attacks by Islamic State (ISIS) militants in recent months. Reuters reported that with the retreat of the Islamists and after the Kurds took control of large parts of Sinjar, the Yazidis in the area celebrated. Reports of advances in this region had been published by news agencies since the end of the week. On Thursday, Reuters reported that Iraqi Kurdish forces had managed to take control of the Sinjar mountains. Barzani also stated that the Peshmerga have managed to break the siege of Sinjar, preparing two mountain routes for supplying Kurdish forces in the area. He noted that these victories could prevent the Islamic State from sending supplies to Mosul. According to the President of the Kurdistan Region, the Peshmerga could join the Iraqi army in battles in Mosul if requested by the central government in Baghdad. The Peshmerga were engaged in a fierce battle with Islamists in the Sinjar region. The Iraqi army has launched operations to retake the airport near the city of Tal Afar two days ago. In the latest round of U.S. airstrikes, 13 attacks were carried out against Islamic State positions near Sinjar, Ramadi, Mosul, Baiji, and Tal Afar. The Associated Press quoted Jabbar Yawar, a spokesperson for the Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga, stating that they continue to face resistance from Islamist militants in the city of Sinjar and that there is still 'a long way to go' until complete clearance.