New Kurdish Peshmerga Offensive Against ISIS Positions in Mosul Begins

Officials from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq announced that in the early hours of Sunday, August 15, they launched a new offensive aimed at taking control of the city of Mosul from the Islamic State (ISIS). Mosul is the largest city under ISIS control in both Iraq and Syria, with approximately two million residents. Reuters reported that the Kurdish Peshmerga's attack on the outskirts of the city began after heavy shelling of ISIS positions and airstrikes by U.S.-led coalition aircraft. The report indicates a strong response from ISIS militants to this attack. However, a Kurdish commander stated that six villages around Mosul have been liberated from ISIS control so far. Iraqi central government forces have also positioned themselves around Mosul. The Associated Press reported, citing Kurdish armed forces, that the goal of this operation is to capture more villages and areas around Mosul to tighten the siege on ISIS. Mosul was unexpectedly captured by ISIS in the summer of 2014. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed caliph of ISIS, immediately announced the establishment of the Islamic caliphate in this city and called on Muslims worldwide to pledge allegiance to him.