50 militants killed as fierce clashes continue in Shingal

SHINGAL, Kurdistan Region - More than 50 militants of the Islamic State (ISIS) were killed in Shingal overnight as Peshmerga forces repelled a four-pronged attack on Kurdish positions in the city, a military commander told Rudaw Monday.

General Hashim Sitayi, commander of the Kurdish forces in Shingal said the militants renewed attacks on Peshmerga positions around 5 am Monday local time, targeting his troops with three bomb-laden vehicles.

“We have casualties among our brave Peshmerga but also more than 50 dead bodies of the Daesh (ISIS) in our hands,” General Sitayi told Rudaw. “We have strongly repelled the offensive, although the battle is still continuing,” he said.

Peshmerga forces broke a four month-long siege of the Shingal Mountain last December and recaptured parts of the town, but were unable to advance due to minefields planted in the city by the militants.

Sitayi said coalition air strikes were involved in the overnight attacks on the militants.

“We have control of the situation in Shingal but there are sporadic mortar shots in and around Shingal,” he added.    

Shingal’s Mayor Maisar Haji Salih told Rudaw earlier that the militants had launched a four-pronged attack on Kurdish positions late Sunday night.

Air strikes also targeted militant positions in the Gwer area east of Kirkuk on Saturday, halting an ISIS advance across the Khazir Lake.

“We continually coordinate with coalition fighter jets which fly almost constantly overhead,” Lieutenant Muhammad Karim told Rudaw. 

Meanwhile, the Kurdish military began digging a 70-kilometer long ditch around the border towns of Zumar and Rabiaa, which they say will protect both the Peshmerga and the residents from suicide bombings.

First Lieutenant Nahro Haji told Rudaw that the two-meter deep ditch will effectively hinder vehicles with explosives from crossing the Nineveh plains and target positions inside the cities. 

“It has already deterred the militants from sending in suicide vehicles and residents feel safer now with the ditch,” Haji said.