Iraqi security forces have been making progress as a major offensive continues to seize more ground around the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, the last stronghold of the Islamic State militants in Iraq. The Iraqi army freed the town of Hamdaniyah, some 40 kilometers southeast of Mosul and the nearby Christian village of Karamlis on Saturday.

Iraqi special units earlier this week also captured the Christian village of Bartella. The Iraqi army has begun an operation to take Qaraqosh, a Christian town about 20 kilometers southeast of Mosul, while having fierce clashes in Kirkuk for a second day. At least 46 people were killed after Islamic State launched a major attack on the city's police stations and a power plant.