Salaheddin

Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) fighters blew up a key bridge on Oct. 3 in Iraq's Salaheddin province as they retreated in the face of an offensive by pro-government forces, officials said

Iraqi forces broke through to the jihadist-besieged ethnic Turkmen town of Amerli Aug. 31 where thousands of people have been trapped for more than two months with dwindling food and water supplies.

Iraq's premier vowed June 18 to "face terrorism" and insisted security forces had suffered a "setback" rather than defeat, as militants pressing a major offensive attacked the country's largest oil refinery.