Iraq: The army broke the siege of Islamists in Amerli

With the help of American air raids – Australia sends military equipment

The Islamic State fighters broke the two-month siege of the city of Amerli.

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Today the Iraqi security forces, backed by thousands of Shiite militias, achieving a rare victory in the battle against the jihadists.

The  mayor of Amerli and army officers said that troops, backed by militias defeated the extremist Islamic state in the east of the city, but the fighting continues in the north Amerli.

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“Security forces and militia fighters are in Amerli now since they broke the siege, and this will certainly alleviate the suffering of the residents,” said Adel al the mayor of Amerli, while added: “Our forces entered the Amerli and broke the siege ‘.

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The advance of Iraqi forces follows  the bombing campaign unleashed during the night by the American army against the Islamic State positions near the town and dropping humanitarian aid to trapped residents  of Amerli.

Loads with aid threw British, French and Australian aircrafts.

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“I can see the tanks of the Iraqi army to patrol the streets of Amerli now. I am very happy that we got rid of the terrorists of the Islamic State which threatened to massacre us, “said Amir Ismael, a resident of Amerli, on a telephone conversation with Reuters.

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The armed townspeople had managed to repel the attacks of the militant Islamic State, which had surrounded the city and thought Shiite Turkmens living there at most, are spacers.

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However, despite the fact that hundreds of people were able to be saved and to leave town with TIH military helicopters, more than 15,000 people remain for two months trapped in the city, faced with the lack of water, food and medicines.

Australia sends military equipment

Meanwhile, Australia announced that would send military equipment to help the Kurdish forces in northern Iraq, in response to the request of the United States, as reported today by Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Australia will join Canada, Italy, France, Britain and the USA to provide equipment and humanitarian aid as part of a multinational effort that will coordinate Iraq and other countries in the region, stated the Australian Prime Minister.