Kurdish troops claim 'biggest victory' against IS as they break Mt. Sinjar siege

Kurdish forces have claimed their "biggest victory" against the Islamic State (IS) as they broke the siege of Mount Sinjar, where thousands of Yazidis and other displaced Iraqis have been trapped since August.

The Kurdish offensive began early on Wednesday as the U.S.-led coalition launched the most intensive round of air strikes yet. Nearly 8,000 Kurdish troops launched a two-pronged attack as the coalition conducted 45 air raids to open a wide corridor through which captives could leave, reported the BBC.

Masrur Barzani, Chancellor of the Kurdistan Region Security Council, hailed the victory by remarking that it was "a very big operation."

A statement issued by the Kurdish command said that large numbers of militant fighters had fled westwards into Syria or eastwards towards Mosul, which they captured in June.