U.S. commandos are reported to have taken part in an operation to free Kurdish hostages in northern Iraq.

Details are sketchy, but Iraqi officials quoted by The New York Times said the operation involved American helicopters, Kurdish and American special operations forces, and airstrikes.

Kurdish fighters have had some success in pushing Islamic State fighters out of areas in northern Iraq with the backing of airstrikes from the U.S.-led coalition that has been operating for more than a year.

U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Joseph Dunford visited the region this week as part of a trip aimed at assessing the fight against IS militants.
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