article_snippet: The extremist group has established a firm foothold in what was once an oil-rich Kurdish stronghold of Kirkuk.
article_snippet: ISIS has been preparing a new base for ISIS deadly operations in Hawija as the United States train Iraqi troops for an invasion to retake Mosul, the International Business Times reports.
article_snippet: Since ISIS first invaded Baghdad in June 2014, Baghdad progressively conquered neighbouring villages until Baghdad gained enough support from locals to establish Baghdad new headquarters there.
article_snippet: Over the last nine months, Baghdad main base in Iraq has been in Iraq's second-largest city Mosul which Baghdad took over last year.
article_snippet: Baghdad has offered Islamic State a military advantage due to Baghdad proximity to the Syrian border, which allows the Syrian border, which allows them to smuggle both weapons and soldiers to smuggle both weapons and soldiers.
article_snippet: But a US-led coalition has attacked Iraq's second-largest city Mosul with airstrikes for many months - targeting ISIS convoys and weapons stores.
article_snippet: The Americans are now training over 20,000 Iraqi soldiers to retake Iraq's second-largest city Mosul from Islamic State's deadly grip, US Cnetral Command has revealed.
highlights_snippet: ISIS are preparing to move headquarters there from stronghold in Mosul .
  
highlights_snippet: US is currently training Iraqi soldiers to retake the northern-Iraqi city of Hawija .