The Islamic State militants has again surrounded Mount Sinjar in northern Iraq, where thousands of civilians were trapped this summer attempting to escape from jihadists.

“The mountain is besieged again and IS militants are trying to climb the mountain on foot to fight the Yazidi volunteers,” Dawud Jundi, a commander of the forces defending the area, told AFP through telephone.

On Mount Sinjar “there are about 2,000 families who are in a very difficult situation” he said adding that local forces are equipped only with light weapons so as to defend themselves.

During the first siege, the civilians, mostly members of the Yazidi religious minority, managed to escape via Syria with the help of Kurdish militants but that route is no longer open.

According to Mahma Khalil, another officer of the local forces, clashes take place in many sides of the mountain.

The IS attack begun on Monday when about 300 armored jihadists attacked and seized nearby villages before attacking the Mount Sinjar.