Iraqi forces eliminate 90 ISIL terrorists: Reports

Iraqi military forces have reportedly killed more than 90 Takfiri militants from the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) near the northern city of Mosul.

The ISIL terrorists were eliminated during their repeated attempts to take control of Baiji refinery in Salahuddin Province, north of the capital, Baghdad.

According to military sources, the key oil facility is currently secured by the army’s anti-terrorist units, which are supported by volunteer forces.

Iraqi authorities confirmed the killing of three top ISIL commanders during the army offensive in Baiji while rejecting media reports that the Takfiris have taken control of the country’s second largest dam in the western city of Haditha.

However, the terrorists are said to have captured three regions on Haditha’s outskirts.

Meanwhile, a large number of ISIL militants were killed in the flashpoint province of Diyala, the army said, adding that the fatalities were mainly caused by improvised explosive devices and mines planted on a key road in the eastern province.

Meanwhile, Iraqi forces reportedly retook the Al-Alam district south of Tikrit from the militants on Thursday.

Over the past days, heavy clashes have been underway between Iraqi armed forces and the ISIL terrorists, who have threatened to spread their acts of violence to Baghdad and other cities. However, their advance has been slowed down as Iraqi military forces along with volunteer forces have begun engaging the terrorists on a number of fronts, pushing them out of several areas they had earlier overrun.