RABIA, Northern Iraq
- Kurdish forces repulsed an Islamic State (ISIS) offensive against the town of Rabia on Iraq’s border with Syria on Tuesday, killing at least eight militants and early reports suggesting possible Peshmerga casualties.
The Kurdish forces recaptured Rabia, an important post on the border with Syria, in September. The crossing is strategically important because it can be used by the jihadists to ferry fighters back and forth between Iraq and Syria.
“Eight Humvee vehicles belonging to ISIS were seized by the Peshmerga, and more than eight bodies belonging to ISIS fighters were counted,” Peshmerga commander Numan Galnaski told Rudaw.
“We can’t give an exact number” of terrorists killed because “they were buried under rubble” he added. “Peshmerga forces are advancing forward.”
From the battlefield, Lieutenant-General Hashim Setayi confirmed ISIS vehicles destroyed or seized. “ISIS is retreating gradually,” he said.
Sources told Rudaw that Peshmerga forces also had sustained casualties, but the numbers and other details remained unclear.
