Iraqi Kurdish leader visits town recaptured from IS Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani visited the Iraqi town of Bashiqa to meet Muslim, Christian and Yazidi religious leaders. Kurdish forces recaptured Bashiqa from the Islamic State group on November 8, one of final steps in securing the eastern approaches to jihadist-held Mosul. Iraqi Kurdish forces played a role in the early days of the Mosul operation, but said after recapturing the town of Bashiqa to the city's east that their offensive participation in the battle is over. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES