Iraq forces in major offensive on IS-held town

Bashir: Iraqi forces launched a final assault Saturday to retake the Turkmen majority town of Bashir from the Islamic State jihadist group, Kurdish authorities said.

Pressure for an operation to retake the town had grown in March after IS launched a chemical attack from Bashir on the nearby town of Taza that killed at least three children.

"Bashir village is surrounded and 80 percent has been cleared," the Kurdistan Region Security Council said on social media.

It said the push was launched at 0300 GMT to attack Bashir from the northern, eastern and southern sides.

Turkmen units from Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) militia umbrella group, which announced an operation to retake the town earlier this month, were also taking part.