Kurdish Peshmerga take full control of Bashiqa, Iraq, from Islamic State

BASHIQA, Iraq, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Kurdish Peshmerga forces in Iraq on Monday said the town of Bashiqa, near Mosul, is under its full control after battle against the Islamic State.

Bashiqa is about 8 miles northeast of Mosul in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. Rudaw reported Bashiqa was freed from Islamic State control soon after municipal government and Kurdistan Democratic Party branch buildings were freed.

The offensive was being helped by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes, which played an important role in Bashiqa, Kurdish Peshmerga Cmdr. Kaka Hama said. Kurdish officials said there were dozens of IS militants inside Bashiqa.

Several Islamic State suicide attacks -- mainly car bombings -- were repelled by the Kurdish soldiers.

There were an estimated 5,000 IS militants in Mosul prior to the start of Iraq's offensive to recapture the city on Oct. 17. Mosul is considered one of the most important battles in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq, as it is considered the militant Islamist group's last major stronghold in the country.