29 ISIL gunmen killed in Diyala

"Since Thursday, the army has killed 29 ISIL gunmen and destroyed three vehicles loaded with machine guns during an operation to recapture villages and towns from the terrorist group," Diyala army commander Lt. Gen. Abdul Ameer al-Zaidi said at a press conference .

The army has freed al-Safra, al-Wihda and al-Majara villages in the Himreen Mountains and is advancing on Amerli in an effort to break ISIL's siege on the city, al-Zaidi added.

ISIL has not yet stormed Amerli due to fierce resistance on the part of residents and the security forces, he said.