Iraq: Shiite militias fight IS in Balad Shiite militias continued to fight jihadists from the Islamic State group around Balad, north of Baghdad. Iraqi security forces, backed by Kurdish troops, Shiite militias, Sunni tribesmen and a US-led campaign of air strikes, have managed to regain some ground from IS. But significant territory, including three major cities, are still controlled by the brutal jihadist group.IMAGES