Shia militants retake control of a Sunni town

Rasa - Iraqi soldiers backed by Shia militiamen retook control of a Sunni town seized previously by Islamic militants, said an Iraqi official and state-run TV.

News ID: 1498

Date: 28 October 2014 - 01:24

RNA - The provincial official said that government forces entered Jurf al-Sakhar, which fell to Isis in late July. Colonel Muthana Khalid, a spokesman of the Babil provincial police, said the battle for the town left dozens of militants dead or wounded.

“Our soldiers raised the Iraqi flag over government offices and buildings in the town. It is another victory achieved against the terrorists,” Colonel Khalid said.

The town, 50km south of the capital, is part of a predominantly Sunni ribbon that runs just south of Baghdad.

State-run TV showed footage of Iraqi soldiers walking near Jurf al-Sakhar police station and the municipal building. Also, explosive experts were shown detonating some roadside bombs planted by the insurgents in order to delay the advance of the Iraqi forces.

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