STRIKING BACK

Iraqi Forces Make Gains Against ISIS

In two separate areas.

Iraqi security forces have regained control of a town south of Baghdad, Jurf al-Sakhar, according to Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. In a post on Facebook, al-Abadi saluted the Iraqi forces and said they “have inflicted a strong blow to the terrorist organization ISIS.” Farther north, Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces liberated the town of Zumar and its surroundings, according to Iraqi state TV. “Zumar is controlled by the Peshmerga forces. ISIS completely evacuated it,” a Peshmerga commander told Kurdish news agency Rudaw. Peshmerga forces also wrested control of 10 villages around Zumar back from ISIS and killed 81 ISIS fighters.