ISIS siege of Iraqi town over after U.S. airstrikes, aid drops

Source: CNN

(CNN) -- Iraqi security and volunteer forces have broken the siege of Amerli and have entered the town, retired Gen. Khaled al-Amerli, an Amerli resident and member of its self-defense force, told CNN on Sunday. Iraqi state TV also reported that the siege had been broken.

The news prompted a wave of celebrations across the town, which had been besieged by fighters from the terror group ISIS. Residents waved the Iraqi flag and fired celebratory shots into the air, al-Amerli said."Today is a day of victory for Iraq and the resilient people of Amerli," the retired general said.

ISIS fighters had surrounded Amerli, 70 miles north of Baquba, since mid-June. The town's fewer than 20,000 residents have been without power.

"Residents are enduring harsh living conditions with severe food and water shortages, and a complete absence of medical services -- and there are fears of a possible imminent massacre," U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said last week. ISIS has called the Shiite Turkmen heretics and vowed to push them out.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/31/world/meast/isis-iraq-syria/index.html?hpt=hp_t1