Iraqi army reaches center of Tikrit

[Bleipriester]

The Iraqi army has completely encircled the last ISIS terrorists in Tikrit and the full liberation of the city is just a matter if (short) time.

Isil jihadists flee as Iraqi forces storm into Tikrit - Telegraph

 

[Bleipriester]

Despite an overwhelming majority, the Iraqi army was unable to clear the center from ISIS terrorists so far. Meanwhile, ISIS is planting more IEDs.

"But the militias and soldiers have been unable to uproot the militants from the city center, where a few hundred Islamic State insurgents have been holed up for the past week protected by landmines, suicide bombers and snipers.

The recent frustrations don’t bode well for future battles. Tikrit is widely seen as a test of Iraq’s ability to push the Sunni extremist group out of its de facto Iraqi capital of Mosul later in the year.

Iran-backed Shiite militia leaders had touted their early rapid advances around Tikrit as validation of Baghdad’s decision to launch the Tikrit offensive without the benefit of U.S. airstrikes or help from Kurdish fighters."
Iraq s Battle to Take Back Tikrit Slows - WSJ
ISIS plants IEDs to fend off Iraqi Army advances in Tikrit MSNBC

 

[Bleipriester]

"Iraqi government troops, with the help of volunteer forces, are pushing ahead with their operation to retake full control of the northern city of Tikrit from Takfiri ISIL terrorists, Press TV reports.

The Iraqi air force is covering the troops with airstrikes against ISIL amid advances by the ground forces toward the hospital of Tikrit, which has turned into a stronghold for the militants.

“We will liberate Tikrit. Now we are at the eastern axis. We also have forces at the Tikrit University. ISIL are stuck in the middle and have nowhere to go. Hopefully, we will liberate more areas,” an Iraqi police officer (shown above) told Press TV.

Meanwhile, another fighter with Iraqi police forces in the city expressed hope that the anti-ISIL operation, which started in early March, would continue successfully “until liberating [the city] of Mosul.”

Tikrit is currently under a complete siege, which has left the ISIL militants paralyzed and trapped inside the city.

The city, which fell to ISIL in June 2014, has a strategic position as it sits on the road to the ISIL stronghold Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, situated some 400 kilometers (248 miles) north of Baghdad.

The ISIL terrorists have been engaged in crimes against humanity in Iraq and Syria."
syriatimes.sy - Iraqi Forces Making More Advances in Battle for Tikrit