Iraqi Forces Regain Islamic State Stronghold

Iraqi forces successfully pushed Islamic State militants from their terrorist stronghold near a U.S. military base in Iraq on Friday, officials reported.

The forces successfully pushed the militants from the town of al-Baghdadi, located near a military base where U.S. troops are training with about 800 Iraqi troops.

The U.S. military said in a statement Friday that Iraqi troops, along with the aid of local tribes, successfully reclaimed three bridges leading to the town, as well as a police station.

"Iraqi Security Forces and Tribal Fighters from the Anbar region have successfully cleared Al Baghdadi of [ISIS], retaking both the police station and three Euphrates River bridges," the U.S.-led coalition fighting to defeat the Islamic State said in a statement.

"In addition to airstrikes, the coalition supported the operation with surveillance assets and advise and assist teams who provided operational and intelligence assistance to Iraqi Security Force Headquarters Elements, which helped to enable them to successfully conduct the offensive operation," the statement added.

The town has reportedly been held by the Islamic State since last September. Both U.S. and Iraqi forces have been trying to regain control of the town due to its close proximity to the military training base.

The base has previously been the target of Islamic State attacks, with militants from the terrorist group attempting to suicide bomb the Ain al-Asad airbase back in February. The militants reportedly attempted to gain access to the base by dressing as Iraqi Army soldiers, but were apprehended by security personnel before posing any threat to those training at the base.