Iraqi Army

Mosul offensive: Haider al-Abadi announces 'near victory' even as Islamic State puts up a strong resistance

The struggle to liberate Mosul from the Islamic State is about to come to an end with Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi announcing that "it's a matter of a few days".

Iraqi forces continue its offensive against Islamic State; thwart 200 fighters from escaping to Syria

Iraqi forces have thwarted an attempt by around 200 Islamic State fighters to flee their bastion of Tal Afar towards Syria, west of the city of Mosul, a security spokesman said on Monday.

Iraq: Islamic State 'summarily executed' 13 civilians, says Human Rights Watch

Islamic State group fighters "summarily executed" 13 civilians after villagers rose up against them at the start of the Iraqi army's offensive to retake Mosul, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday.

IS recaptures Palmyra after nine months of fighting with Syrian Army

The Islamic State militant group has recaptured Syria's ancient city of Palmyra, just nine months after losing it to the government forces, a monitor group has reported.

Iraqi army drops leaflets over Mosul as warning sign of offensive reaching its final stage

The Iraqi army dropped tens of thousands of leaflets over Mosul before dawn on Sunday, warning residents that an offensive to recapture their city from Islamic State was in its final stages of preparation, according to a military statement in Baghdad.

British family fears missing son could be IS attacker

A British family said their missing son could be the suicide bomber of the Islamic State (IS), who is responsible for an attack in Iraq, BBC reported.

Iraq on a mission to retake northern Baghdad; deploys scores of security personnel to counter IS

Thousands of Iraqi security personnel launched an operation on Tuesday aimed at retaking areas north of Baghdad from the Islamic State jihadist group, officials said.

Iraq begins preparations to take back Mosul, deploys thousands of troops to nearby military base

The initial aim is to completely sever IS supply lines between Mosul and areas farther south including Hawijah in Kirkuk province and areas near Baiji in Salaheddin, the officer said.

Iraq: Germany to send rifles, tank busters to aid Kurds

Germany will send high-end rifles, tank-busting weapons and armored vehicles to aid Kurdish fighters battling Islamic extremists in Iraq, officials said.

Jubilant Iraqi forces break two-month ISIL siege of northern town

Iraq's security forces backed by Shi'ite militias on Sunday broke the two-month siege of Amerli by Islamic State militants and entered the northern town, officials said.