ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Rudaw recently spoke with Peshmerga commanders on the Makhmur front southwest of Erbil on the first anniversary of the US commencing airstrikes against Islamic State targets in the Kurdistan region.

The Peshmerga proudly showed off a US-made artillery piece captured by ISIS but in turn destroyed by the US airstrikes. Commanders at the scene said ISIS hoped to target Erbil, just 60 kilometers away, with the massive cannon.

They also praised the accuracy of US airstrikes, and said no Peshmerga or civilians had accidently been struck or killed by the warplanes.

Rudaw