Peshmerga Forces Rescue Yazidis

But Iraqi Parliament Fails to Choose New PM

 

Kurdistan’s Peshmerga forces have opened a road to Mount Sinjar, rescuing more than 5,000 Yazidis who fled there after the Islamic State captured the city of Sinjar last week. U.S. warplanes had pounded Islamic State’s positions around Mount Sinjar, making the Peshmerga counteroffensive and their daring rescue operation possible.

Meanwhile in Baghdad, the Iraqi Parliament on Sunday failed to choose a prime minister and adjourned until 19 August. The current premier, Nuri al-Maliki has put up a fight to retain his premiership for a third term. Iraqi Sunni and Kurdish factions as well as some Shia parties oppose his reelection, but he enjoys solid backing among a significant segment of Shia majority. The U.S., Iran and other former allies of Maliki oppose his reelection as well.   

File photo: The Yazidis at Mount Sinjar (POMED.org)