Shia fighters joining forces with the Iraqi army have managed to seize back control of one of the country’s largest dams from the Takfiri terrorist ISIL group.
Army commanders and Shia Badr fighters led the operation to retake the Adhaim dam in northeastern Iraq, Press TV reports.
"Thanks to the mujahedeen of the army and Badr, we have taken control of the site and have cleared it completely," Badr commander, Kadhem Husseinawi, said.
The operation began with the capture of two of the four villages near the dam from the ISIL, with the other two being seized afterwards.
It involved mortar fire and strikes by helicopters as well as jet fighters and saw pro-government forces seizing at least 10 vehicles, including Humvees and armored personnel carriers, and destroying four others.
Iraqi army forces have also broken the siege on the country’s main oil refinery in restive Salahuddin Province where security forces are fighting the ISIL terrorists.
The refinery located near the city of Baiji in the country's north had been under the siege of the ISIL militants for months. It produces some 300,000 barrels of oil per day, meeting a great portion of the country’s demands.
The ISIL terrorists hold control of large areas across eastern Syria as well as northern and western Iraq.
The militants have been carrying out horrific acts of violence, including public decapitations, against Iraqi communities such as Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians.