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Iraqi army, Peshmerga kill 300 militants, secure 17 villages

The Iraqi army
The Iraqi army
IRBIL, Oct 23 (KUNA) -- The Iraqi army and the Kurdish Peshmerga forces have continued their advance in the seventh day of the Mosul battle, killing hundreds of the so-called Islamic State (IS) militants and regaining control over 17 villages.
The head of the joint operation command Brigadier Yaha Rasol stated that the Iraqi forces have wrestled control of nine villages and killed about 300 IS militants.
The advancing forces have also defused dozens of booby-trapped vehicles and improvised explosive devices and seized a large amount of weaponry and ammunition, he said.
He added that the Iraqi forces are now carrying out mop-up operations in the recaptured villages.
In the meantime, the Peshmerga announced that they have retaken eight villages near Bashiqa, an IS-held town northeast of Mosul, and killed dozens of IS militants, including five senior figures.
The Kurdish forces have also destroyed several explosive-laden vehicles and motorbikes, it stated, noting that they have driven IS militants out of an area estimated at 100 km.
Peshmerga fighters are now nine kilometers away from Mosul neighborhood, it stated. (end) sbr.ibi