Kurdish forces retake village in ISIS hands for a year, base for its attacks

DAQUQ, Kurdistan Region  - Kurdish forces scored another victory against the Islamic State group (ISIS) on Wednesday, capturing a village that had been in ISIS hands for a year and the base for its mortar attacks on Kurdish areas.

Peshmerga officials said that 10 militants were killed and three wounded in the assault to recapture the village of Albu Najim in the Daquq district, which is about 40 kilometers south of Kikuk city.

It was liberated after a massive military campaign launched in rural areas held by ISIS in  Daquq.

The Peshmerga and counter-terrorism forces, together with fighters of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), launched a three-pronged assault to re-take the village, overcoming litters of landmines on the roads and outskirts.

The village had been the base for ISIS mortar attacks on Kurdish areas around Kobain and Zankr, mainly populated by Kakai Kurds.

The Peshmerga have vowed to recapture 10 other nearby villages.