Islamic State attacks Kirkuk as Iraqi forces push on Mosul

By Michael Georgy QAYYARA, Iraq (Reuters) - Islamic State launched a major attack on the city of Kirkuk on Friday as Iraqi and Kurdish forces pursued operations to seize territory around Mosul in preparation for an offensive on the jihadists' last major stronghold in Iraq. Islamic State's assault on Kirkuk, which lies in an oil- producing region, killed 18 members of the security forces and workers at a power station outside the city, including two Iranians, a hospital source said. Kirkuk is loc