ISIS launches major assault on Kurdish front in Iraq

[Valin]

CNN:

Tim Lister, CNN

February 18, 2015

 

 

Irbil, Iraq (CNN) ISIS fighters launched a major assault Tuesday night southwest of Irbil in the Kurdish region of Iraq, Kurdish officials said.

 

 

A "big attack" is taking place near the towns of Gwer and Makhmour, one Kurdish source told CNN, citing an assistant to Gen. Sirwan Barzani, commander of the sector. The towns are some 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Irbil, the Kurdish capital.

 

According to Kurdish officials in the area, fighting at close quarters was continuing hours after the first ISIS assault was launched at about 9 p.m. local time (1 p.m. ET).

 

ISIS launched its offensive on Kurdish positions from several directions, one Kurdish official said. Coalition aircraft were in the area, according to the officials, but they had so far been unable to fire on ISIS units because of the close proximity of the two sides on the ground.

 

(Snip)