Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga troops, backed by coalition airstrikes, are set to retake the oil-rich Kirkuk province a day after launching an offensive against the Islamic State (IS) in the city.
The troops started advancing along a frontline south-west of the provincial capital on Monday, reported the BBC.
Their control over Kirkuk, consolidated when Iraqi army fled an IS advance last year, came under fresh attack from the IS this year.
The terror group has also sent troops to thwart an Iraqi offensive on the city of Tikrit.
Both Kirkuk and Tikrit are seen as IS' major strongholds east of the Tigris river.
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