Kurdish Peshmerga forces in Iraq on Monday said the town of Bashiqa, near Mosul, is under its full control after battle against the ISIL.

Bashiqa is about 8 miles northeast of Mosul in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. Rudaw reported Bashiqa was freed from ISIL control soon after municipal government and Kurdistan Democratic Party branch buildings were freed.

The offensive was being helped by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes, which played an important role in Bashiqa, Kurdish Peshmerga Cmdr. Kaka Hama said. Kurdish officials said there were dozens of ISIL militants inside Bashiqa.

Several ISIL suicide attacks — mainly car bombings — were repelled by the Kurdish soldiers.

There were an estimated 5,000 ISIL militants in Mosul prior to the start of Iraq’s offensive to recapture the city on Oct. 17. Mosul is considered one of the most important battles in the fight against the ISIL in Iraq, as it is considered the militant group’s last major stronghold in the country.

Source: AFP