Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army launched an operation this morning to liberate Qaratepe and surrounding villages from ISIS gangs. The peshmerga have liberated many villages and areas that were in the hands of ISIS and reached the southern border of Kurdistan at Hemrin mountain.

In attacks this morning the villages of Bayize, Comêle, Tinêre, Sose`Îdo and Ebu Ubeyde were liberated, after which PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) peshmerga forces reached the slopes of Mount Hemrin.

4 more villages under Kurdish control

It is reported that as the result of the joint operation PUK forces have liberated 4 villages, and the Iraqi army and Shia volunteers 3 villages.

Qaratepe Mayor Rehim Aziz claimed that 14 more villages had come under the control of peshmerga forces