Daesh has heavily mined the approaches to Mosul, and Iraqi forces have had to contend with roadside bombs, snipers and suicide truck bombs as they move closer to the city. Gen. Khattab Omer of the Kirkuk police said at least 80 people were killed in the assault, mainly Kurdish security forces. Omer said Kurdish security forces recovered the bodies of 56 militants who took part in the attack. Iraqi Kurdish security forces detain a suspected member of the Daesh group as they patrol the eastern suburbs of Kirkuk. It is the largest operation undertaken by Iraqi forces since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and is expected to take weeks, if not months.

Source: thestar October 22, 2016 14:05 UTC