Posted on 06/01/2018 5:54:22 PM PDT by Texas Fossil
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – US forces have reached on the top of Mount Sinjar (Shingal) to establish a new a military base, a Kurdish Ezidi official said on Friday.
“Today, 15 military vehicles of US troops arrived on top of Mount Shingal and stationed themselves near Mira peak on the mountain,” Jalal Khalo, deputy mayor in Shingal, told Kurdistan 24.
The US forces are preparing to build a military base on the mountain, Khalo added.
Mount Shingal is one of the most strategic locations in Iraq, lying near the border with Syria and 125 km west of Mosul.
The Kurdish Peshmerga forces, supported by US-led coalition warplanes, liberated Shingal in mid-November 2015 after being occupied by the Islamic State (IS) in their infamous takeover in August of 2014.
In the past, the mountain was used by former dictator of Iraq Saddam Hussein to threaten Israel with long-range weaponry.
The following are some of the photos obtained by Kurdistan 24 showing US military vehicles arriving near Mount Shingal on Friday.
(Excerpt) Read more at kurdistan24.net ...
I see this as a very good move. This is the pinch point between Syria, Iran, Iraq and Turkey. And it is very high ground.
Hopefully this will stop Iran and Turk intervention/attacks in Shingal. In the past it has been aimed at the Ezidi's.
Thanks for posting. Thanks to Sangar Ali for reporting.
Shiite on a Shingal ...
Ezidi’s are not Muslim. Neither Shiite or Sunni.
There are other groups on Shingal, but the threat always comes from Muslim against the Ezidi.
“The Kurdish Peshmerga forces, supported by US-led coalition warplanes, liberated Shingal in mid-November 2015 after being occupied by the Islamic State (IS) in their infamous takeover in August of 2014.”
I’m not sure this is totally correct. My memory of this is that ISIS never occupied Shingal. Only because the were beaten back by YPG and PKK. Many don’t want to admit that, but that is what happened. In 2014 ISIS killed many Ezidi; men, women and children. Turkey and some Iraq elements have also attacked the Ezidi in Shingal and in other places. Including most recently in Efrin, Syria.
There are issues within the Pesh, concerning the Ezidi’s.
Most Kurds claim that they are descendants from the Ezidi’s.
Screw these foreign wars!
Militarize our borders and stop the invasion of America!
Getting ready to kick Syrian butts if they decide to take on American forces.
Could be. But also to deny Turkey’s aggression toward Shingal. It also could be a point to build Kurd unity through. I see this as a very positive step.
Yeah, I was thinking along that line also. This base may serve as a stop sign to other Governments in the area.
Forgotten all about the rape of the Yazidis. So much terror in this war. PKK wwould be a complication here for US, but maybe they’ve left.
Wonder how Iraq feels about this. Probably just want some baksheesh.
Officials from Saudi Arabia visited Kobanê and held a meeting with high ranking commanders of the Syrian Democratic Forces there
SA is a force to be contended with. This does not surprise me.
Kurds from past history do not trust SA. That may be changing, the new young Prince has been very different. There are rumors he was killed, but I suspect other things are going on.
Syrian Kurds are different when it comes to financial things. Not like the Kurds in Iraq. And the Syrian Kurds are less tribal. I really respect them. And have watched them closely for over 4 years.
Thanks for the heads up. I will check it out.
I’m sure the KRG likes it, Baghdad may be more for it than you would think. I’m getting mixed signals about the newly elected leader in Baghdad, al-Sadr. If he is truly a nationalist, as he is labeled, he might be taken as a positive force.
The PKK has moved out, to avoid Turkey shelling Shingal. PKK is a mixed blessing/curse for Kurds. Overall better than the publicity they get. Certainly not as bad as Erdogan says.
I about lose it when someone starts wearing a Che picture or Che’s photo. Much less Marx. (unless it’s Groucho Marx, smile.)
The location is a strange choice, seems to indicate an SA anti-Turkey slant (or maybe a peacemaker role between them?).
I assume they want to support the Kurds in Syria against Iran or others, and want peace between Kurds and SA supported terrorist relocated nearby.
Yes, I see it as positive.
Sadr’s a (Devil’s) wonder isn’t he? Now he’s running Iraq without even being elected.
A US base there takes care of any problems from Turkey, pleases the Kurds at no cost. May cause problems with Iran. How Sadr deals with that will tell us all we need to know about him.
Some here think he is OK now. I’m watching what he does to make up my mind.
I’d like a good ending for Syrian Kurds and their allies. Wherever that goes. It would be great if Kurds could be unified. There are some big obstacles to that.
Screw these foreign wars!
Militarize our borders and stop the invasion of America!
############
Exactly. We get played by foreign riffraff all the time. Every single one is a liability and a sponge.
This is precisely what Washington said to NOT do.
Mountain tops are great places for:
* Observations of the lower surrounding areas, esp. if someone is coming to attack.
* Provides great positions for artillery, anti-aircraft systems and handheld missiles
* Says: Stop below: Do Not Pass. Do Not Go. Do not collect $200 or you will die!
And minefields around much of its base area just to keep the rabble from a frontal attack at night.
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