Iraqi soldiers retook a village from ISIS on Tuesday, linking forces along the Tigris River in preparation for a siege on ISIS stronghold Mosul, Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi said.
"Forces from the 9th Armoured Division and the counter-terrorism service liberated Ajhala village north of Qayara base," Obeidi said on Twitter.
"Our heroes arrived at the riverbank and made contact with Nineveh Liberation Operation units," he added, referring to troops who had set out from Makhmour, 25 km east of the Tigris, in March.
Military forces continue to hunt out hidden terrorists in the area.