Iraqi government forces and Shiite militias seized control of the strategic town of Jurf al-Sakhar near Baghdad from the Islamic State group Saturday and Kurdish fighters made gains in the north after heavy coalition airstrikes against the Sunni militants.
Iraqi troops and their Shiite allies broke the grip of the Islamic State in Jurf al-Sakhar after months of fighting against insurgents determined to march on the capital.
"Our forces with the support of the volunteers are in total control over Jurf al-Sakhar now and the terrorists fled to the southwest areas of the town," a spokesman for security forces there said.