Iraq: Iraq army retakes town of Makhmur from Islamic State militants ahead of planned offensive for Mosul
The Iraqi army recaptured the town of Makhmur from Islamic State militants as part of the military’s overall plan to neutralize the insurgent stronghold of Mosul, officials said Monday.
Coalition forces targeted militants in the town with airstrikes, local media reported Monday.
“The coalition forces did not participate in strikes inside the village but conducted airstrikes against the [Islamic State] militants when they escaped the village,” Iraqi officer Amin Shekhani said.
Shekhani told Rudaw that 123 families were believed to be inside the village, with 25 militants from the group also identified as Daesh, ISIS and ISIL.