Iraqi officials say troops have recaptured a key village outside the Islamic State group-held city of Mosul after days of heavy fighting. Lt. Col. Mohammed al-Wagaa of the Iraqi army said troops retook the village of al-Nasr, near the Tigris river, on Monday, after destroying six suicide car bombers that had tried to attack them. He says a Sunni tribal leader, Sheikh Faris al-Sabawi, was killed by an IS group sniper who stayed behind in the village. Mukhlis al-Habi, a Sunni militia commander, confirms the killing of al-Sabawi, who commanded hundreds of Sunni fighters and received aid from the Baghdad government. The Iraqi army, along with pro-government militias, launched an offensive last month aimed at retaking Mosul, the country's second largest city, which was captured by IS group in the summer of 2014. Their progress in villages outside the city has been slowed by roadside bombs and other booby traps. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/198744.aspx
