(VOVworld) - Iraqi security forces on Saturday fought Islamic State militants near the city of Mosul and liberated four villages, while the troops repelled two IS attacks in south and west of the city.

Soldiers of the Iraqi Special Operations Forces, on an armored vehicle, flash the victory sign at a checkpoint in Bartalla, east of the northern city of Mosul, on December 3, 2016. (Photo: AFP)

Lieutenant General Abdul-Amir Yarallah from the Joint Operations Command (JOC) said in a statement that the army's 16th infantry Division fought the IS militants in north of Mosul and freed the villages of Qara-Tappa, Kori Ghriban, Darawish and Abu Jarbou'a after driving out the extremist militants. The statement said this success will pave the way for government forces to advance to Mosul from the northwest.