Iraqi Army forces fight off ISIL in N Iraq

Military forces in Iraq have managed to retake control of a village in the north of the country from the Takfiri ISIL group.

Army troops took control of the Maleha village in Salahuddin Province after heavy clashes with the Takfiri militants there.

Fighting, however, is still underway between Iraqi forces and the terrorists for the control of the oil-rich town of Baiji. The town is located on a main road to the northern city of Mosul, which is being controlled by the ISIL militants.

The liberation of the town can choke off the militants’ supply lines. Iraqi forces have so far managed to prevent the terrorists from capturing the town’s refinery, which is the largest in the country.

The ISIL terrorists control large areas of Syria and Iraq.

A US-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes on ISIL positions in Iraq and Syria, but the air raids have so far failed to dislodge the terrorists.

Speaking on Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the recent military gains against the ISIL Takfiri militants have been achieved by Iraqi forces and not through US airstrikes.

The Iraqi premier said the recent gains were made thanks to the effective coordination between security and intelligence forces, the air force, and volunteer fighters.

On Wednesday, Iraq’s Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari voiced opposition to the presence of foreign military forces on the country’s territory for the purpose of battling the terrorist group. He, however, said Baghdad would accept training from abroad for its soldiers.