Amirli (Arabic: آمرلي, romanizedʾĀmirlī; Turkish: Emirli) also spelt Amerli, is a predominantly Shia Turkmen town in Saladin Governorate, Iraq, approximately 100 km from the Iranian border.[2] It is the centre of a farming region.[3]

Amirli
Amirli is located in Iraq
Amirli
Amirli
Coordinates: 34°43′30″N 44°35′15″E / 34.72500°N 44.58750°E / 34.72500; 44.58750
Country Iraq
GovernorateSaladin Governorate
DistrictTooz District
Population
 (2014)[1]
 • Total15,000−20,000

History edit

2007 bombing edit

On June 7, 2007, a bombing in the marketplace of Amirli killed 165 people and injured 350.[3][4]

2014 siege by ISIS edit

The town, and its nearly 20,000 Shia Turkmen,[5][6] was besieged by the ISIL starting in June 2014.[7] It was running out of food, water, and supplies. A U.N. representative stated, "The situation of the people in Amerli is desperate and demands immediate action to prevent the possible massacre of its citizens."[8] On August 31, the Iraqi army, with help from the United States and Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, managed to break the siege and entered the city, much to the rejoicing of its citizens.[9][10] Iran had reportedly played a "military planning" role in breaking siege of Amirli.[11]

References edit

  1. ^ "Town of Amirli in northern Iraq remains under siege: OCHA official". UN News. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Joint Effort to Break Jihadist Siege of Iraqi Turkmen Town".
  3. ^ a b Barzanji, Yahya (7 July 2007). "Suicide bomb kills over 100 in Iraq". Washington Post. The Associated Press.
  4. ^ "Iraq market truck bomb kills 105". BBC News. BBC. 7 July 2007.
  5. ^ "Iraq minority appeals to army, international community for help". CBC news. The Associated Press. 20 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Iraqi forces 'reach besieged Amerli'". BBC News. BBC. 31 August 2014.
  7. ^ al-Bayati, Ali (22 August 2014). "Amerli – the town holding out against the Islamic State and starvation". EA WorldView. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  8. ^ "Iraq conflict: UN warns of possible Amerli 'massacre'". BBC News. BBC. 23 August 2014.
  9. ^ "Iraqi troops supported with shia armed patrols enter the sieged Amirli". BBC (in Arabic). 29 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  10. ^ Roggio, Bill (2 September 2014). "US airstrikes in Amerli supported deadly Shia terror group". longwarjournal.com. Public Media. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  11. ^ Coles, Isabel (September 1, 2014). "Iranians play role in breaking IS siege of Iraqi town". Reuters. Retrieved October 17, 2014.