Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani today announced the liberation of Sinjar by peshmerga forces and thanked the US and other coalition partners for their crucial air support to the operation.

In remarks to a group of journalists following the liberation of symbolic town, the President said, “Today I declare Sinjar liberated. I congratulate the people of Kurdistan, in particular the Yezidis. Sinjar has become a symbol of the oppression of the people of Kurdistan. We have delivered on our pledge to liberate Sinjar.”

The President added that other than the peshmerga forces and coalition air support, no other forces were involved in the operation. He also called on the international community and the Iraqi federal government to help the KRG rebuild Sinjar so that its people can return to their homes.