Irbil, Iraq (CNN)After hours of heavy fighting, Kurdish fighters in Iraq have repelled an assault by ISIS fighters southwest of Irbil, Kurdish officials said. Kurdish commanders say ISIS fighters had threatened to overrun Kurdish defensive positions in the area for a while, and the two sides were so close that airstrikes were not possible. But by 3 a.m. local time Wednesday, the Peshmerga had succeeded in forcing ISIS back, allowing airstrikes to begin. The commanders said about 40 ISIS fighters were killed, and Kurdish forces suffered several casualties. They said airstrikes contributed to the ISIS deaths. ISIS launched the major assault from several directions Tuesday night near the towns of Gwer and Makhmour.
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Kurdish commanders say about 40 ISIS fighters were killed
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Fighting raged for hours between ISIS and Kurdish fighters near Irbil, Iraq
The towns are about 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Irbil, the @placeholder capital.