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Iraqi forces seize strategic town near Mosul from IS terror group

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said the victory marks an “important step” on the road to Mosul.

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Iraqi Defense Ministry in a statement said warplanes launched airstrikes southeast of Mosul’s Al-Hadar district, killing twelve militants and destroying an ammunition depot.

Qayyarah lies on the western bank of the Tigris river, about 60 kilometers (35 miles) south of Mosul, the Islamic State (ISIS) group’s last major urban stronghold in Iraq.

The vote of confidence followed accusations of corruption against al-Obeidi, The Washington Post reported.

Backed by USA -led airstrikes, Iraqi forces have managed to retake most of the territory seized by Daesh since 2014.

According to the Iraqi constitution, a vote of no confidence from means the minister “is considered resigned from the date of the decision”.

Obeidi’s downfall is the latest development in a bitter feud that erupted this month with rival Sunni politician Salim al-Juburi, who is the parliament speaker. He denies the corruption allegations.

Qayyara governor Saleh Hassan earlier told Anadolu Agency Iraqi troops had managed to retake 80 percent of territory in the district.

“The coalition remains focused on our mission to defeat Daesh by supporting ISF as they continue the campaign to liberate the country”, Dorrian said on Twitter, using a local acronym for the extremist group.

Anderson says the Kurds will secure the northern and eastern flank around Mosul as non-Kurdish forces clear the city.

Unity in Iraq’s Sunni camp is seen as key to preparing an offensive against Mosul.

ISIS has suffered a string of setbacks in Iraq and the “caliphate” it proclaimed two years ago has been shrinking steadily for a year.

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The Iraqi military media cell announced that 12 ISIS militants were killed in global coalition airstrikes to the south of Mosul city.

Iraqi Defence Minister Khaled al Obeidi speaks to the media at an Iraqi army base in Camp Taji in Baghdad