IRAQI troops liberated a Christian-majority town east of Islamic State-held Mosul yesterday as more forces joined the fray.

Soldiers, including the elite Counterterrorism Forces unit which is fresh to the fight, drove the apocalyptic death cult from Bartella, just nine miles from the northern city.

Isis sent nine suicide car bombs against the troops, one of which hit an army vehicle, wounding five soldiers. The rest were destroyed before they could reach their targets.