DHAKA: Iraqi security forces have retaken most of the town of Jurf al-Sakhar near Baghdad from Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (IS) militants, the biggest gains in months of fighting for the strategic area.

Senior local officials said on Saturday, reports The Straits Times.

Full control of the town could allow Iraqi authorities to prevent the Sunni insurgents from edging closer to the capital and maintaining connections to their strongholds in western Anbar province as well as infiltrating the mainly Shia south.

‘We have managed to push out Islamic State terrorists from the town of Jurf al-Sakhar today and now we are raising the Iraqi flag over the government offices,’ provincial governor Sadiq Madloul said.

BDST: 2154 HRS, OCT 25, 2014