Iraq: Iraqi forces enter besieged northern city of Amerli by the Islamic State (IS/ISIS) militants
Iraqi security forces backed by Shiite militias and U.S. airstrikes have reportedly entered the northern town of Amerli, where Islamic State militants have laid siege to the town for weeks, prompting fears of a sectarian massacre.
Reuters and BBC report that Iraqi Army and volunteer fighters entered the town on Sunday after defeating the Sunni rebels, also known as ISIS or ISIL, east of the city. The Islamic State, which claims to enforce a pure version of Islam, has apparently targeted Amerli because of its large Shiite Turkmen population, seen by them as apostates.
Reuters say fighting continues to the north of Amerli.
NPR’s Peter Kenyon, reporting from Erbil, says that as Iraqi forces began the push into the city, U.S., British, French and Australian humanitarian aid drops were also carried out alongside American airstrikes against the militants.