Security forces, Shiite militias end 2-month old Sunni militants siege on Shiite Iraqi town

BAGHDAD – A military spokesman and a lawmaker say Iraqi security forces and Shiite militiamen have broken a two-month siege imposed by the Islamic State extremist group on the northern Shiite Turkmen town of Amirli.

Army spokesman Lt. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi said Sunday that forces "reached" the town, but gave no details. Turkmen lawmaker Fawzi Akram al-Tarzi said the forces entered the town from two directions and are distributing aid to residents.

On Saturday, the U.S. conducted airstrikes against the Sunni militants and air-dropped humanitarian aid to residents. Aircraft from Australia, France and Britain joined the U.S. in the aid drop, which came after a request from the Iraqi government.

About 15,000 Shiite Turkmens were stranded in the farming community some 105 miles (170 kilometers) north of Baghdad.