Iraq’s ministry of defence said its country’s forces have dislodged ISIL fighters from 16 villages east of Baghdad,suggesting almost all of the Diyala province is back under government control.<br /><br />Iraqi troops say they hope to retake the entire province before this weekend’s Eid festival.<br /><br />A ministry statement said more than 100 ISIL militants were killed during the operation.<br /><br />Meanwhile in the north, Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga troops have launched a three-pronged attack against ISIL fighters in Mosul, Rabia and Kirkuk.<br /><br />British media reports said the Peshmerga are not able to advance against militants who still occupy many villages around a key battlezone in Mosul. They say a bigger ground offensive will be needed.<br /><br />A senior Kurdish officer said the Peshmerga are fighting in the centre of Rabia and, supported by airstrikes, they have resumed attacks on villages south of the oil city Kirkuk.
