Iraqi forces kicked off operations to liberate the district of al-Sharqat in Salaheddine province on Tuesday (September 20th) and have so far liberated five villages from the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL), the Ministry of Defence said.
"Iraqi forces have liberated five villages around al-Sharqat and killed a large number of terrorists hours after the liberation operations kicked off, with aerial support from the international coalition," ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasul told Diyaruna.
"The liberated villages are al-Jasma, al-Maslahiya, al-Talul, al-Zawya and al-Nasiya, north and south of al-Sharqat," he said, noting that the army and supporting forces continue to make progress towards the central town area.
