Kurds, Yazidis blast their way into Sinjar

2014-12-22 1

Kurdish and Yazidi fighters are blasting their way into the Iraqi town of Sinjar.

New amateur video appears to show the fighters locked in a fierce shootout with Islamic State militants.

Over the weekend, the fighters broke a months-long siege of the mountain above the town.

Seizing the town would restore the majority of territory Iraqi Kurds lost in the jihadist group's surprise August offensive.

This fighter - introducing himself as a People's Protection Unit fighter named Marzan - says he's ready to sacrifice himself to protect Kurdistan and the Kurdish people.

Reuters cannot independently verify the video, which was obtained from a social media website.

The threat to Sinjar helped prompt U.S.-led air strikes against IS this summer.