What next for Peshmerga troops after their Mosul Dam victory?

Kurdish Peshmerga fighters on top Mosul Dam after their victory. Credit: Twitter/lutfiabuaun

By Lutfi Abu-Aun: Middle East News Editor

After days of waiting on checkpoints, witnessing US air strikes and hundreds of Peshmerga forces driving to the frontline, today the ITV News team walked on top of Mosul Dam.

Kurdish Peshmerga fighters on top Mosul Dam after their victory. Credit: Twitter/lutfiabuaun

We saw many destroyed vehicles belonging to the radical Islamic State (IS) group - which took Mosul Dam earlier this month - and dozens of Improvised Explosive Devices planted in and around the dam.

Two Kurdish soldiers carry an IED that they found in Mosul Dam with dozens of others. Credit: Twitter/lutfiabuaun

Mansour Barzani, head of Peshmerga special forces and son of the Kurdish president, told us that the "terrorists'" seizure of this dam was like having a nuclear bomb.

Head of Pashmerga special forces Mansour Barzani speaks to Diplomatic Correspondent John Ray. Credit: Twitter/lutfiabuaun

Today was the second time I have witnessed Kurdish fighters victorious after defeating IS militants, and I can see that they are determined to keep the militant threat as far as they can from Kurdish land.

Two Peshmerga vehicles can be seen as a Kurdish flag flies over the dam. Credit: Twitter/lutfiabuaun

The question is - what will be the Peshmerga forces' next move?

Will they continue the battle to retake Iraq's second largest city of Mosul which fell into militants' hands in June?

Mosul Dam pictured after Kurdish Peshmerga forces retook control of the complex. Credit: Twitter/lutfiabuaun

Will they move southwest towards Sinjar, where tens of thousands from the Yazidi minority fled their homes after being threatened by militants to convert to Islam or be killed?

Some of the soldiers smile for the camera after their Mosul Dam victory. Credit: Twitter/lutfiabuaun

Or could the Peshmerga be happy maintaining their victory and reinforcing their border areas with Iraqi Arab lands?

A burned out Islamic State vehicle at the entrance of Mosul Dam. Credit: Twitter/lutfiabuaun

Thirty-five US air strikes, hundreds - if not thousands - of fighters from the Kurdish Peshmerga and more than a hundred Iraqi army soldiers were needed to retake the dam in several days.

The mission to continue the battle against the militants will be costly - and it will take time.