Iraqi military backed by armed volunteers held back militants and gained back some territory on Saturday, wresting the momentum from the ISIL terrorists.

"Our security forces have regained the initiative to launch qualitative operations on various fronts over the past three days and have achieved remarkable victories with the help of volunteers," said Major-General Qassim al-Moussawi, spokesman for the Iraqi military's commander-in-chief.

"We have regained the initiative and will not stop at liberating Mosul from ISIL terrorists, but all other parts," he said, mentioning Iraq's second main city in the far north seized by the terrorists on Monday.

A spokesman for Iraqi counter-terrorism forces said warplanes bombed a meeting of the outlawed Baath party leadership in Diyala province, killing 50 members including the son of Ezzat Ibrahim al-Douri, once a member of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's ruling circle.

RA/SHI