In Iraq, Kurdish fighters exchanged heavy fire with Islamic State terrorists today as they advanced from two directions on a town held by the group east of the city of Mosul. The early morning offensive to reclaim the town of Bashiqa is part of the broader push to drive IS out of Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city and the terrorists' last major urban stronghold in the country. Bashiqa, which is believed to be largely deserted except for dozens of IS fighters, is about 13 kilometers northeast of the edge of Mosul and about 20 kilometers from the city center.