- 150,000 Shiite Turkmen have been stranded in town of Amerli since June
- Village besieged by ISIS militants and suffering dwindling water and supplies
- Local Iran-allied ground troops backed by U.S. airstrikes helped lift the siege
- Iraq's outgoing prime minister today visited Amerli, prompting celebrations
- News comes amid a growing resistance movement against ISIS in Iraq
- Kurdish peshmerga forces also forced jihadists to leave areas around Tikrit
Residents
of the small Iraqi town of Amerli took to the streets in celebration
today after local security forces backed by U.S. airstrikes broke a
two-month siege by ISIS militants.
About
150,000 Shiite Turkmen have been stranded in the town with dwindling
water and supplies since June - but this morning aid finally begun
flowing to the area and life slowly returned to normal.
The
siege was lifted after the U.S. air force carried
out limited strikes in the area for the first time, and ground forces
backed by Iran-allied Shiite militias forced the ihadists to withdraw.
The
news comes as ISIS faces growing resistance in Iraq - with Kurdish
peshmerga troops also forcing militants to abandon a number of areas
around the city of Tikrit this morning.
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Liberated: Residents of the small Iraqi town of
Amerli take to the streets in celebration, after local security forces
backed by U.S. airstrikes broke a two-month siege by ISIS militants
Celebrations: The siege was lifted after the
U.S. air force carried out limited strikes in the area around Amerli,
and ground forces backed by Iran-allied Shiite militias forced the
ihadists to withdraw
Jubilant security forces, Shiite fighters and residents of Amirli take to the streets in joy after ISIS withdrew
Hope: An Iraqi child wearing a soldier's helmet
makes a victory sign after Iraqi forces liberated the northern town of
Amirli. The area had been under the siege of ISIS militants for over two
months
Iraq's outgoing prime minister Nouri al-Maliki travelled to Amerli this morning, praising its residents for fending off attacks by ISIS militants.
Iraq's outgoing prime minister Nouri al-Maliki travelled to Amerli this morning, praising its residents for fending off attacks by ISIS militants.
Jubilant
security forces, Shiite fighters and residents of Amirli greeted
al-Maliki with hugs and Shiite slogans when he arrived in the town.
In
footage aired on state TV, al-Maliki was shown sitting at a wooden desk
in front of a large poster of Shiite leader Grand Ayatollah Ali
al-Sistsani, ordering promotions and awards for forces who took part in
ending the siege.
'I
salute you for your steadfastness and patience against those beasts and
killers,' he told a gathering of fighters in the large hall, as they
chanted Shiite religious slogans.
Jubilation: Iraq's outgoing prime minister Nouri
al-Maliki (pictured centre) travelled to Amerli this morning, praising
its residents for fending off attacks by ISIS militants
Force: Iraqi soldiers and Shiite militias join in a convoy as Iraq's prime minister Nouri al-Maliki arrives in Amerli
An Iraqi soldier stands guard in Amerli next to a
pro-ISIS sign that had been daubed on the wall by Islamist militants
who have since fled the area
Salute: Locals celebrate after Iraqi forces
liberate the northern town of Amirli. Aid is now flooding into the town,
which has been besieged for the last two months
Map shows the Sinjar mountains, where the
Yazidis were trapped by ISIS militants last month, as well as the town
of Amerli, where local security forces backed by U.S. airstrikes broke a
two-month siege by ISIS militants
Ali al-Bayati, who heads the local Turkmen Saving Foundation, said four trucks loaded with food, medicine and fruit entered the town of Amirli this morning after militants fled the area.
Ali al-Bayati, who heads the local Turkmen Saving Foundation, said four trucks loaded with food, medicine and fruit entered the town of Amirli this morning after militants fled the area.
The
aid was sent by the Iraqi government and the Iraqi Red Crescent, he
said, adding that soldiers first started bringing food to families in
their houses last night.
'The situation is getting back to normal, but gradually,' al-Bayati said.
'Some people have come out from their houses and walk in the street.
Shops are still closed, but people are happy to see their city secured
by Iraqi security forces,' he added.
Well-trained: Asaib Ahl al-Haq Shi'ite militia
fighters from the south of Iraq run during a successful mission to take
control of Sulaiman Pek village from ISIS militants this morning
Guns: Kurdish peshmerga forces celebrate as they take control of Sulaiman Pek from ISIS militants
Teamwork: Asaib Ahl al-Haq Shi'ite militia
fighters from the south of Iraq and Kurdish peshmerga forces work
together to take control of Sulaiman Pek from the jihadists
Conflict: A fighter of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq
Shi'ite militia from the south of Iraq takes cover from sniper fire
during a successful attempt to take control of the Sulaiman Pek village
from Islamist State militants this morning
Since early
this year, Iraq has faced a growing Sunni insurgency led by the
al-Qaida-breakaway group ISIS, who along with their allies have taken
control of territory in the country's north and west.
The crisis is Iraq's worst since the 2011 withdrawal of U.S. troops.
Elsewhere
in Iraq, Kurdish peshmerga forces were pictured celebrating as they
took control of Sulaiman Pek from ISIS militants in the northwest of
Tikrit.
Iraq's human rights minister, Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani today said Islamist fighters have carried out
atrocities on 'an unimaginable scale' since the fighting began.
Speaking at an emergency debate on this conflict, the UN official added that ISIS militants 'oozing
with barbarity' posed a serious threat to both his country and the wider world.
At least 1,420 people were killed in Iraq in August alone, U.N. figures showed today.
Returning to normal: A young Yazidi girl carries
water in the Iraqi town of Lalesh. Having recently fled Mount Sinjar
after persecution from ISIS militants, the Yazidis are now taking
shelter at a local holy temple
Defence: Gun-wielding Yazidi men stand outside
their temporary home in Lalesh. The town's usual population consists of a
small number of maintenance workers for the holy shrine but has now
expanded to include 400 Yazidi families displaced by ISIS militants
Sanctuary: A elderly Yazidi man prays at the door of the holy temple in Lalesh
Displaced: Yazidi refugees take shelter in an
unfinished building in Dohuk. Thousands of Yazidis have been forced to
leave their homes since ISIS militants began massacring them in Syria
and Iraq
The one-day session, called by Iraq with
the support of allies including the United States, is expected to agree
to Baghdad's request to send UN experts to investigate crimes committed
in the conflict.
There is
'strong evidence' ISIS and allied groups have carried out targeted
killings, forced conversions, sexual abuse and torture in Iraq, U.N.
Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Flavia Pansieri said, opening
the debate in Geneva.
'The
reports we have received reveal acts of inhumanity on an unimaginable
scale,' she told the U.N. Human Rights Council, on its first meeting
about the latest surge in violence.
Iraqi government forces and police had also committed acts that may amount to war crimes, Pansieri said.
'Systematic
and intentional attacks on civilians may constitute war crimes and
crimes against humanity. Individuals, including commanders, are
responsible for these acts,' Pansieri said, referring to crimes
committed by both sides.
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