baghdad iraqi force shi ite paramilitaries capture air base islamic state monday army say gain strategic foothold north country push toward town hawija iraq launch offensive september 21 dislodge islamic state hawija lie west oil city kirkuk one two areas country still control militant group iraqi army commanders say rashad air base around 30 km 20 miles south hawija use militants train camp logistic base militants take control air base iraqi army collapse 2014 face islamic state offensive quick rehabilitation work air base play key role iraqi force allow helicopters transport soldier arm future operation maintain security north say army lieutenant colonel salih yaseen air base help put end terrorists pocket hide mountainous areas near kirkuk remove possible threat energy facilities oilfields hawija north baghdad stretch land along syrian border west iraqi capital last stretch territory iraq still hand islamic state islamic state self-declared caliphate effectively collapse july u.s.-backed iraqi force capture mosul group de facto capital iraq grueling nine-month battle iraqi force seize air base islamic state near hawija