Islamic State mounted a major offensive Wednesday, striking multiple sites in northern Iraq, but Kurdish Peshmerga forces backed by U.S. and coalition air support were able to rout the group in a counterattack that left more than 200 Islamic State militants dead, U.S. defense officials said. Using car bombs, suicide bombers, small arms and even bulldozers, Islamic State conducted a surprise attack against Peshmerga forces in four locations around Mosul late Wednesday, according to U.S. military officials here. It was one of the largest attacks of its kind since Islamic State arrived in Iraq last year, they said. U.S. military officials have said in the past that Islamic State was unable to mount large-scale attacks, such as the one it pressed on Wednesday. While the attacks demonstrated that Islamic State maintains that ability, they also showed how determined Peshmerga forces are in responding, officials said. Col. Steve Warren, […]