One week after the offensive to capture Mosul city was launched, coalition forces are pressing against ISIL's last stronghold in Iraq. Kurdish fighters Sunday said they have taken the town of Bashiqa northeast of Mosul.

The capture of Bashiqa, if confirmed, would remove one more obstacle on the road to the northern city. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said their artillery is supporting Peshmerga forces in the area.

Meanwhile, the interior minister of the Kurdish regional government said forces have advanced to within five kilometers of the city. ISIL had staged attacks in Kirkuk and near Baghdad, apparently aimed at distracting coalition forces.