In Iraq, at least 24 people have been killed, after ISIL militants launched a series of attacks on the government-controlled northern city of Kirkuk.
The Iraqi ministry of defense says multiple suicide bombers struck at least seven locations across the city. 18 people, including two Iranians, were killed in one single attack on a power station. The ministry says government forces drove back the militants after fierce battles.
Authorities later declared a curfew on the city. The assaults appear to be an ISIL attempt to divert attention from the government's offensive on Mosul, the extremist group's last major stronghold in the country.
From sunrise to sunset - security forces fought ISIL militants in Kirkuk, an ethnically divided city to the south of Mosul under Kurdish control.
Thirty to forty ISIL terrorists launched surprise predawn raids on multiple locations across the city. Dozens of people were killed, including 12 militants and scores more were injured. Many were rushed to hospitals in Erbil.
Three suicide bombers killed sixteen people at a power plant north of Kirkuk, while a journalist was shot dead by sniper fire in the city.
At least five suicide bombers struck government targets in the city, including the main police headquarters.
Gunfire and explosions echoed across Kirkuk throughout Friday forcing residence to take cover.
Smoke was also seen bellowing into the sky as local TV channels streamed the siege live.
Roads to and from Kirkuk were closed and a total curfew was slapped on the city, but some residences reportedly grabbed arms to help hunt down the militants in their town.
Come night fall, security forces were still fighting militants holed up in one of the city's hotels and abandoned building.
Many possible motives for the attacks are being debated from ISIL wanting to free hundreds of militants imprisoned in the city, to wanting to blow up Kirkuk's vast oil wells.
And while neither of those objectives were achieved, the apparent effort to divert thousands of security forces closing in on them in Mosul has.
