Iraqi military recaptures vital Isis stronghold of Hawija (Photo: AFP/TTXVN)

The town of Hawija and surrounding area were declared freed from the jihadists' rule for the first time since 2014. Joint operations commander, Lieutenant-General Abdul Ameer Rasheed Yarallah said a total of 196 militants were killed and 96 villages around the town were liberated during the fighting. US-backed Iraqi government troops and Iranian-trained Shia militias known as the Popular Mobilisation Units began the offensive on 21 September. The UN have estimated 78,000 people were trapped in Hawija and surrounding villages while under Isis control. Thousands of civilians braved mines, Isis sniper fire and US-led coalition air strikes to flee the fighting.