The Islamic State (IS) has reportedly launched a major offensive in the southwest of Irbil in the Kurdish region of Iraq, Kurdish officials said.
The offensive began on Tuesday night and continued at close quarters hours after the first assault was launched by the IS at about 9 p.m. local time, reported the CNN.
A Kurdish source said that a "big attack" was taking place near the towns of Gwer and Makhmour. The two towns are about 45 kilometers from the Kurdish capital of Irbil.
Another Kurdish official said that the IS launched attacks on Kurdish positions from several directions.
The official added that the U.S.-led coalition aircrafts were present in the area but could not hit IS units due to the close proximity of the two sides on the ground.