Kurdish peshmerga forces advance on IS

This is one of the Peshmerga fighters front lines.

These Kurdish forces have made modest advances against Islamic State here in the Zumar region, which is around 60 kilometres from Mosul.

It was specifically the US support from the air that helped bolster these Kurds.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) COMMANDER OF THE PESHMERGA FORCES IN THE REGION ZAEEM ALI SAYING:

''In coordination with the airforce, we told them - the U.S. airforce - we told them we have an operation in this area and we gave them the coordinates. And they helped us and their support was very good. We were satisfied. It was very effective during our troops' push.''

Destroyed homes and burnt out vehicles are evidence of the battle. In all just 10 kilometres of land was reclaimed from Islamic State.

IS now stretches across large swathes of Iraq and Syria.

The pressure is on for western states to do more. In Paris leaders from 30 countries including the Arab governments have pledged their