SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Kurdistan Region’s Counter-Terrorism Group on Thursday marked the 9th anniversary of Makhmour’s liberation and defending the City of Erbil from the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists.
Located some 50 kilometers in the south of the Kurdistan Region capital, Erbil, the town of Makhmour was taken over by the ISIS militants during the group’s offensives in Iraq in 2014.
The ISIS militants reached a serious point, where they tried to make further progress to invade Erbil.
On August 10th, 2014, a heavy force from Kurdistan Region’s Counter-Terrorism (CTG) marched from Sulaimani to Erbil to defend the city and stop the militants from further conquering Kurdistan lands.
Subsequently, the CTG forces successfully overthrew the ISIS militants in the town of Makhmour in less than hours of fighting against the militants and regained the area.
CTG defended Erbil and made a heavy blow to ISIS militants. The terrorists failed to reach deep into the governorate of Erbil.
“Nine years ago, the CTG forces made an unprecedented history, while everyone was sit-idly and several areas were handed to the ISIS terrorists without defending,” the CTG said in a statement, marking the anniversary.
“There were only a few kilometers left between the terrorist organization and the capital Erbil, however, the CTG forces defended Erbil and regained Makhmour,” the statement added.
Makhmour liberation operation ended with the martyrdom of one CTG combatant, who is widely known as Shahid Pshtiwan, becoming the symbol of defending Erbil.
“The CTG is the force that considers itself responsible for defending the Kurdistan territory and the sacrifices of the CTG forces in different parts of Kurdistan testify to this fact,” the statement continued.
