Iraq forces kill 75 ISIS insurgents in last 72 hours

At least 75 militants belonging to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)

were killed during the operations in Al-Anbar in the last 72 hours.

According to the Anadolu Agency, spokesman for the Iraqi army's Joint Operations Command (JOC) Yahya Rasul said the joint forces of Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi fighters neutralised 75 terrorists in the last ISIS stronghold, Al-Qaim district in the western city of Anbar, since the operation began on Thursday.

Iraqi forces have taken hold of a wide area, including nearby villages and essential institutions, according to Rasul.

Last week, Iraqi forces took control of the last district in the oil-rich province of Kirkuk.

Battling Kurdish Peshmerga fighters for over three hours, the Iraqi Army gained control of Altun Kupri district, also known as Perde in Kurdish.

US-trained Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service units, Iranian-backed Popular Mobilisation and Federal Police were involved in the takeover operation.

Altun Kupri is located on the banks of the Zab river.

It was not immediately clear whether there had been any casualties in the fighting.