ISIS fighters are continuing to expand across the area north of Baghdad, and have moved into the Diyala Province, where they fought there way onto an army base near Muqdadiya.

The base is one of the last Iraqi military positions in the north, and while they confirmed part of it is now under ISIS control, they insist they will retake the area soon.

The loss of the base would give ISIS a foothold on yet another key northern highway, heading into Baghdad by way of Baqubah. ISIS has been steadily encircling Baghdad in recent weeks.

Another northern battle continues at the Baiji Refinery, where Iraq is conceding that the remaining troops are surrounded. Though reports had initially put the remaining Iraqi troops in Baiji at just 75, the Iraqi government is contesting that, claiming that the troops are surrounded, but that there are 1,500 “counterterrorism forces” in the single building they still hold.