Iraqi govt forces recapture key towns from IS militants

Iraqi government forces have said that they have recaptured key towns from Islamic State militants in Iraq that include Zumar in the north and Jurf al-Sakhar, just south of Baghdad.

On Sunday, government forces retook four villages near a mountain ridge in a campaign wherein the forces are struggling to make advances against Sunni Islamist insurgents.

According to Stuff.co.nz, Iraqi officials said that Sunni insurgents have been moving fighters, weapons and supplies from western Iraq through secret desert tunnels to Jurf al-Sakhar.

Security forces launched an attack on Saturday on areas around the Himreen mountains, a hotbed of militant activity 100 km south of the oil city of Kirkuk.