BAGHDAD, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces launched an operation against the Islamic State (IS) extremist militants and retook control of four villages on Saturday in south of the major IS stronghold in Mosul, the capital of Iraq's northern province of Nineveh, a military senior official said.
The security forces, backed by heavy support from the U.S.-led coalition aircraft, started their advance late on Friday night against the IS positions in villages scattered at the western bank of Tigris River near the militant-seized town of Qayyara, some 50 km south of Mosul, Major General Najim al-Jubouri, commander of Free Nineveh Operations Command, told Xinhua.
After hours of heavy clashes with the extremist militants, the troops managed on Saturday morning to recapture the villages of Imam Gharbi, al-Mreir, al-Tal'ah and al-Bazajlah, leaving more than 57 IS militants killed, including seven suicide bombers, Jubouri said.
"The international coalition aircraft conducted more than 30 airstrikes against the IS positions and destroyed at least seven of their vehicles," Jubouri added.
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