Kurdish forces retake north Iraqi town from Islamic State -security sources

ARBIL, Iraq, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Kurdish regional forces retook the northern Iraqi town of Zumar and several nearby villages from Islamic State insurgents on Saturday, security sources said.

A Kurdish intelligence officer in Zumar said peshmerga forces had advanced from five directions in the early morning after coalition air strikes on Islamic State positions. The Kurdish forces encountered fierce resistance before prevailing.

Islamic State's capture of large expanses of northern and western Iraq and neighbouring Syria has caused international shock and U.S.-led air strikes began in August in support of regional ground forces to try to reverse the jihadist advance.