- Title: Iraqi villagers celebrate liberation by Peshmerga forces
- Date: 27th October 2016
- Summary: FADILIYA VILLAGE, IRAQ (OCTOBER 27, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FADILIYA VILLAGE PESHMERGA ARMORED VEHICLES ON RIDGE NEAR VILLAGE VARIOUS OF PESHMERGA FIGHTERS / SMOKE RISING VARIOUS OF PESHMERGA FIGHTERS AT A SAND BARRIER SOLDIERS STANDING BEHIND AN ARMOURED VEHICLE, SMOKE RISING VARIOUS OF SMOKE AND DUST RISING FROM SEVERAL EXPLOSIONS ARMOURED VEHICLE ON ROAD DRIVING TOWARDS VILLAGE TANK ON ROAD DRIVING TOWARDS VILLAGE, SOLDIERS HOLDING UP VICTORY SIGN CONVOY OF HUMVEE ARMOURED VEHICLES ENTERING FADILIYA VILLAGE RESIDENTS GREET SOLDIERS, ONE MAN SERVES THEM COFFEE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MEMBER OF THE PESHMERGA FORCES, CAPTAIN ANWAR ISMAIL, SAYING: "We liberated this village in a short period of time, and thank God no Peshmerga were harmed. We liberated the whole village of Fadiliya. The residents are happy and are welcoming the Peshmerga with joy. We have been victorious over Daesh, God willing no Daesh will remain in this country." VARIOUS OF DAMAGED BUILDINGS IN THE VILLAGE RESIDENTS APPLAUDING AND CHEERING AS PESHMERGA FORCES DRIVE THROUGH A STREET IN THE VILLAGE IN CONVOY OF ARMOURED VEHICLES RESIDENTS OF THE VILLAGE HOLDING UP THE VICTORY SIGN PESHMERGA FORCES ON ARMOURED VEHICLES, AUDIO OF VEHICLES' HORNS A MAN GREETING MEMBER OF THE PESHMERGA FORCES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT OF FADILIYA, SUBHI ABDEL RASOUL, SAYING: "The situation was terrible, they treated us very badly, we were destroyed, those terrorists destroyed us. Now we are so happy, after seeing (the Peshmerga). I am crying because I am so happy." MAN WITH CHILD IN HIS ARMS STANDING NEAR A DAMAGED HOUSE DAMAGED HOUSE PESHMERGA FORCES WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RESIDENT OF FADILIYA, SAMIR MOHAMED, SAYING: "It was very bad, they treated us horribly. Daesh ruined so many lives." ISLAMIC STATE FLAG ON THE GROUND VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS AND PESHMERGA FORCES IN THE STREET U.S. SOLDIER STANDING WITH THE TROOPS VARIOUS OF AMBULANCE DRIVING THROUGH A STREET VARIOUS OF WOMAN AND HER CHILDREN HOLDING UP VICTORY SIGNS CHILDREN CLAPPING AND JUMPING AS THEY CHANT: "PESHMERGA"
- Embargoed: 11th November 2016 14:47
- Keywords: Iraq Mosul Fadiliya peshmerga Kurdish
- Location: FADILIYA, IRAQ
- City: FADILIYA, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA00155S7WHZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Residents of the Iraqi village of Fadiliya clapped with joy as they welcomed the liberating Kurdish Peshmerga forces on Thursday (October 27).
It took the soldiers 10 days to gain the upper hand in Fadiliya, home to 1,000 people still trapped there, surrounded by improvised explosive devices (IEDs), just four kilometres (2.5 miles) north of Mosul.
A commander with the Peshmerga said none of his fighters were harmed when they entered the village.
Iraqi and Kurdish forces have cleared more than 30 villages like Fadiliya since the start of the offensive against Islamic State in their main Iraqi stronghold of Mosul.
It's expected to be the biggest battle since a U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.
Clearing towns and villages of the ultra-hardline militants is proving to be a slow and highly risky mission which suggests securing Mosul - with a population of 1.5 million - could take months in the event of victory.
When Kurdish fighters first stepped into Fadiliya, they were met with a barrage of suicide bombers who kept screaming Allahhu Akbar (God is Greatest) as they sped closer and closer in cars, SUVs, motorcycles and Humvees stolen from the Iraqi army.
The Kurds had to move cautiously through the village, located four km north of Mosul.
Like others it is rigged with explosives, forcing a slow advance. They were finally able to recapture the village on Thursday (October 27).
Residents of the village took to the streets to celebrate the arrival of the forces. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
