A local security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Monday that Peshmerga fighters foiled ISIL attacks on Qaryat al-Aziziyah, Atshaneh and al-Marra villages, located 35 kilometers (21 miles) south of the provincial capital, Kirkuk, late on Sunday, Iraq’s al-Sumaria satellite TV network reported.
The source added that ISIL had brought reinforcements from Hawijah town, located 282 kilometers (175 miles) north of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, to support its attacks on the villages, noting that ISIL Takfiris escaped to the town of Qaryat al-Rashad town, located roughly 70 kilometers (43 miles) west of Baghdad, after being defeated.
On Saturday, Iraqi government forces managed to secure areas surrounding the Baiji oil refinery in the northern province of Salahuddin, and enter the site following heavy clashes with the ISIL Takfiri terrorists.
Iraqi troops, backed by pro-government Popular Mobilization units, liberated the towns of al-Malha and al-Mazraah, located 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) south of Beiji oil refinery, on April 17, killing at least 160 ISIL terrorists in the process.
ISIL launched an offensive in Iraq in June last year and took control of Mosul, the country’s second-largest city, before sweeping through parts of the country’s heartland.
/275, 149
