Iraqi Kurd Chief Says Sinjar Taken from Islamic State

Illicit –adj. something not allowed by law

Disrupt –v. to interfere with something

Simultaneously –adv. taking place at the same time as something else

reign of terror –n. a period when a person or group commits violent acts against many people and causes widespread fear

swaths –n. a long wide strip of land

incremental –adj. change taking place in small steps over time

peripheral –adj. at the edges of something, not in the center

destabilizing –adj. causing to be unable to work in the usual or desired way