Iraq Forces Break 2-Month ISIS Siege

Iraqi security forces and Shiite militiamen have broken a two-month siege imposed by the Islamic State on the northern Shiite Turkmen town of Amerli, according to various officials. Army spokesman Lt. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi said today that forces "reached" the town; retired general and Amerli resident Khaled al-Amerli confirms the report to CNN. Turkmen lawmaker Fawzi Akram al-Tarzi said the forces entered the town from two directions and are distributing aid to residents.

Yesterday, the US conducted airstrikes against the Sunni militants and air-dropped humanitarian aid to residents. Aircraft from Australia, France, and Britain joined the US in the aid drop, which was requested by the Iraqi government. About 15,000 Shiite Turkmens were stranded in the farming community some 105 miles north of Baghdad. (More Iraq stories.)