Kurdish forces recapture oilfields from IS militants in northern Iraq

The Mosul dam has also reportedly been regained by Iraqi and Kurdish forces

Kurdish forces claimed that they have recaptured oilfields from Islamic State (IS) militants in northern Iraq near Mosul.

The area has been under IS militants recently after they started capturing large swathes of Iraq and Syria.

Iraqi and Kurdish forces, backed by US airstrikes, have regained some control over the area including the important Mosul dam.

Around 1.2 million Iraqis have fled from their homes due to violence in northern Iraq.

According to the BBC, Yazidis and Christian minorities in the area have been entirely removed by the extremist group.

Shia Iraqis have also been forced to flee since the IS does not consider them true Muslims.