breaking news out of iraq tonight. militants believed to be isis extremist fighters taking more territory regaining control of the refinery in baijii, and gaining ground in parts of the kurdish north. arwa damon witnessed the fighting there. >> reporter: the battle lines drawn but for over a week, not crossed. then came the isis assaults. they came at us from three directions, colonel ahmed tells us. the battle lasted for six hours. in the distance, an iraqi iraqi military vehicle commandeered by isis. the intersection at this combat outpost is protectinging is increw credibly strategic. saddam hussein's hometown. to the north, the oil rich city of kirkuk. sewell i ma nia to the east and then to the south, a two-hour drive, a straight shot to the capital.