Special to WorldTribune.com

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Kurdish forces have reported significant progress in the war against Islamic State of Iraq and Levant.

The Kurdish Regional Government said security forces were moving toward ISIL headquarters in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. The Kurds said the forces fired rockets into Mosul for the first time since the ISIL capture of northern Iraq in June 2014.

“This struck great fear into the hearts of the terrorists,” the Kurdistan Democratic Party said.

In a statement on Jan. 24, KRG’s Security Council said 21 ISIL senior fighters, including the commander of special forces, were killed in the Kurdish rocket attack. The Kurds said 20 BM-21 Grad rockets were launched from positions 20 kilometers north of Mosul.

Kurds have reported advancing against ISIL positions around Mosul. KRG has urged Baghdad to send the Iraq Army for a major attack on the Mosul area.

The U.S. military has confirmed Kurdish progress against ISIL. In a statement on Jan. 24, the military said Kurdish forces, backed by U.S.-led air strikes, were ready to capture additional territory from ISIL around Mosul. ISIL was said to have deployed up to 30,000 fighters in northern Iraq.

“Forces from the Iraqi Kurdistan Region seized ground formerly held by the enemy, including a critical road junction that ISIL was using to resupply their stronghold in Mosul,” the U.S. military statement said.

  Kurds advance, launch rocket attacks against ISIL in Mosul, WorldTribune.com