- Title: Islamic State militants use tunnels to resist Peshmerga attack
- Date: 8th November 2016
- Summary: BASHIQA, IRAQ (NOVEMBER 8, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PESHMERGA FIGHTERS IN A STREET NEAR BASHIQA VARIOUS OF GRAFFITI ON DOORS READING (Arabic): "MUSLIM" PESHMERGA ARMORED VEHICLES ON A STREET CONVOY DRIVING INTO THE TOWN EXTERIOR OF A HOME USED BY ISLAMIC STATE FIGHTERS BROKEN WINDOW IN THE HOUSE VARIOUS OF HOLES IN THE WALL, MADE BY JIHADISTS TO CONNECT ROOMS TO EACH OTHER HOLE IN THE CEILING / HOLE IN THE WALL INSIDE THE HOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (Kurdish) PESHMERGA FIGHTER, COLONEL ABDULLAH SALEH, SAYING: "Our forces targeted the places that used to attack us yesterday, they consist of tunnels. According to our military expertise, we expect that the tunnels connect this hill to the homes on the other sides, therefore they were able to create network between the homes. In these homes there are tunnels that also lead outside, so (the militants) would fire at us, then go into the tunnel and target us from another location. But now we are in control of the tunnels." HOLE IN THE WALL OF A HOUSE VARIOUS OF A TUNNEL CREATED BY ISLAMIC STATE MILITANTS SAND USED TO REINFORCE THE BUILDING VARIOUS OF PESHMERGA FIGHTERS WALKING DOWN A STREET ARMORED VEHICLE DRIVING DOWN A STREET
- Embargoed: 23rd November 2016 12:46
- Keywords: Islamic State Peshmerga Iraq Middle East Bashiqa tunnels attack escape
- Location: BASHIQA, IRAQ
- City: BASHIQA, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA00157L4W1Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga forces faced resistance from Islamic State militants in Bashiqa on Tuesday (November 8), who used a network of tunnels to move around in the town.
The fighters continued their attack on the town northeast of Mosul on Tuesday (November 8), trying to clear the pocket of militants outside the city.
In Bashiqa, some 15 km. (10 miles) from Mosul, the first waves of a 2,000-strong peshmerga force entered the town on foot and in armored vehicles or Humvees.
A commander with the forces, Colonel Abdullah Saleh, said the militants used tunnels to initially avoid the Peshmerga attacks.
"The militants were able to create a network between the homes. In these homes there are also tunnels that lead outside, so (the militants) would fire at us, then go into the tunnel and target us from another location. But now we are in control of the tunnels," he said.
Islamic State fighters have sought to slow the offensive on their Mosul stronghold with waves of suicide car bomb attacks. Iraqi commanders say there have been 100 on the eastern front and 140 in the south.
Armed U.S. soldiers, part of a 5,000 strong force Washington says is advising and supporting the Iraqi offensive, were accompanying the Peshmerga in Bashiqa through streets lined by rows of damaged houses, some with entire floors collapsed. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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