OUTSIDE MOSUL, Iraq — Iraqi security forces have seized hundreds of weapons, tanks, and military trucks that ISIS forces seized from them more than two years ago, Pentagon sources confirmed late Friday.

The operation to steal back stolen military equipment began last week, as Iraqi army units moved into dozens of villages outside the country's second largest city, Mosul, in an effort to recover American-made equipment stolen in 2014 that is still unaccounted for at US military consolidated issue facilities.

In Hamdaniya, ISIS militants mounted fierce opposition in an 8-hour firefight using their M1A1 main battle tanks, Humvee trucks, M16 and M4 rifles, and M2 .50 caliber machine guns, though Iraqi forces were able to maneuver into blocking positions around the city with their M1A1 main battle tanks, Humvee trucks, M16 and M4 rifles, and M2 .50 caliber machine guns.