Intense clashes between the peshmerga forces and the ISIS gangs took place in the oil region of Zumar. The peshmerga forces launched an operation to retake the region which was captured by the gangs in August. According to the information coming through the peshmerga forces have encircled Zumar and entered the town.

The operation by peshmerga forces has been launched from all directions in order to retake the Zumar town, an oil-rich region in the Mosul that is under occupation of the gangs since 2 August. Zumar is at a distance of 55 km to Rabia at the border with West Kurdistan and 88 km to Mosul.

According to RojNews, intense clashes took place following the encirclement of the town by the peshmerga forces. RojNews reported that the peshmerga forces are advancing towards the town, inflicting the gangs heavy casualties. RojNews also said there are fallen peshmerga fighters as well and their bodies have been sent to Diyana.

PUK Press Office, PUKMedia, which reported that the peshmerga forces have entered the town after besieging it, quoted a peshmerga commander whose name was kept anonymous as saying that; “The peshmerga forces have launched an operation in the town center and are fighting with the ISIS gangs in each street in the half of the town. ISIS suffers heavy casualties”.

It has been reported that the operation is also being supported by air strikes of the coalition forces.

In the meantime, peshmerga sources reported that a main road leading to the villages of Til Kafır, Girê Pirê, Cizirê and Zumar has been taken under the control of the peshmerga forces.