Kurdish Peshmerga Operations to Retake Sinjar from the Islamic State

Kurdish Peshmerga forces began operations to retake the city of Sinjar in Iraq from the Islamic State group on Thursday, November 21, with air support from American fighter jets. The Kurdistan Security Council announced in a statement that 7,500 Kurdish Peshmerga fighters have entered the battle against the forces known as the Islamic State from three fronts. According to Al Jazeera, multiple airstrikes targeted the positions of the Islamic State or ISIS before the ground operation commenced. Kurdish officials refer to this operation as the 'Operation to Liberate Sinjar.' The French news agency reports that columns of smoke can be seen in the airspace over Sinjar, and fighting in the area is ongoing. The Islamic State captured the city of Sinjar over a year ago, killing hundreds of civilians and causing tens of thousands of Yazidi minorities to flee the city. Numerous reports have emerged regarding the genocide of Yazidis and the enslavement of their women and children by the Islamic State. The city of Sinjar holds significant military importance, located between Mosul, the third-largest city in Iraq, and areas in Syria that are under ISIS control. In this context, the Islamic State has reportedly 'killed' 300 Yazidi captives.