US Jets Strike Multiple IS Positions Around Mosul

[Dems to Win]

Source: Rudaw, Kurdistan

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—US fighter jets launched a bombing campaign against positions of the Islamic State (IS) near Mosul dam and surrounding towns shortly after midnight on Friday, Rudaw reporter said.

The jets have bombed IS positions in four areas near the dam as well as in Rabia crossing, Mahmoudia, Telskouf, Zumar and Tilkef.

A Peshmerga eyewitness said this is the heaviest US bombing of militant positions since the start of airstrikes against the Islamist group last week.

snip...

The bombing is continuing at the moment and Kurdish Peshmerga forces are expected to launch a ground assault to retake areas lost to the IS earlier this month including the Yezidi town of Shingal.


Read more: http://rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/150820141

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The US Air Force is acting as the Kurdish peshmerga airforce. The US is at war in Iraq once again.

Very risky to be bombing around the dam. I suspect ISIS will try to blow it as they retreat, if they are pushed out of the area. A dangerous time ahead, with hundreds of thousands of lives possibly at risk. Gotta wish the airmen and peshmerga the best of luck.

ETA: Good luck, even tho I don't support further US war in Iraq. If they are going to make a push to recapture the dam, they need to do it quickly and successfully. They are trying to avert a real disaster at this dam (it is unstable and needs constant maintenance), I hope they don't trigger a disaster in their efforts.

[Dems to Win]

1. Another article from same source with interesting info about Mt Shingal operation

PKK Sets Conditions for Assistance and Military Missions on Mount Shingal

http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/15082014

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) blocked a planned raid on the Islamic State (IS) by Peshmerga and US Special Forces on Wednesday night, after insisting any attack must be coordinated with its forces, a Peshmerga commander said.

According to the Peshmerga commander in the Shingal area, members of the PKK and the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) from Syria, who are currently positioned on Mount Shingal, had demanded that any military operations in the area must be coordinated with them.

The commander, who spoke to Rudaw on condition of anonymity, said that the US forces refused coordination with the PKK, because the group remains on the United States’ terror list.

Firat News (ANF), a PKK news agency, confirmed on Thursday the arrival of the Peshmerga and US soldiers on Mount Shingal in three helicopters on Wednesday.


....much more interesting stuff. Seems the US forces who landed on Mt. Shingal couldn't get the people there to agree to work with the peshmerga people they brought with them. The peshmerga are divided into several different forces -- PKK, YJP, etc. Not interchangeable, not a single unified force.

[NCarolinawoman]

2. *

[paleotn]

5. their politics are just as complex and crazy as ours. (nt)

[hollowdweller]

8. I sort of suspect

That the US wants the Kurds and their allies to draw ISIS into a large battle that will send more fighters from Syria and other areas into that region.

Then as they are either there or on the way US planes and drones will destroy them en route.

[Purveyor]

3. Well we shall soon see if ISIS really had control of the Mosul dam or not.

If she 'blows', then yes they did.

[candelista]

6. ISIS will not destroy the dam. They want to control the electricity.

The capture of the Mosul dam, the largest in Iraq, by Islamic State (IS) insurgents is of huge strategic significance in terms of water and power resources.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28772478

[cosmicone]

4. Just mow the fuckers down and let them start their fundie caliphate in hell n/t

[tabasco]

7. Finally,

we agree on something.

[Rhinodawg]

9. Wow.

I think there are some people here who will give you an argument.

[flamingdem]

10. Why do you think it needs to be done quickly?

I read that Isis kept engineers there and are forcing them to do maintenance.

Just wondering if as you say it's too risky unless they have a solid plan to oust them without letting them blow the dam.

[Dems to Win]

11. Once they start the operation to take over the dam, it better be done fast

Once ISIS knows the peshmerga are attacking, they may well try to destroy the dam.

I do agree that ISIS will not destroy the dam unless they are under attack -- they want the money from selling the electricity it supplies.