Peshmerga seize Iraqi town after repelling IS militants

Iraqi Kurdish security forces, known as peshmerga, have reportedly seized control of the northern Kurdish town of Makhmur in Erbil province following three days of fierce clashes with insurgents affiliated with the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) militants. Peshmerga forces shelled the militant group's positions throughout Sunday during a ground operation against the militants, according to the information obtained by Anadolu Agency. Kurdish offensives, which were supported by other armed Kurdish groups including Kurdistan Workers' Party and Syria-based Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG), forced IS militants to withdraw from the town after suffering heavy casualties and leaving their vehicles and equipment behind. Peshmerga forces later held a parade to celebrate the victory. Makhmur, north of Mosul and close to the border with the autonomous Kurdish region, was attacked repeatedly on Thursday before being captured. The town is home to 12,000 Turkish Kurds.