Middle East...:Iraqi Forces, Popular Volunteers Advances int...

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Iraqi Forces, Popular Volunteers Advances into Tikrit

Local Editor

Iraqi security forces and Popular groups took the center of a town on the northern edge of Tikrit from "ISIL" Tuesday as they closed in on Saddam Hussein's home city.

Al-Alam is the last "ISIL" stronghold that needs to be cleared before government forces and militiamen can enter the city of Tikrit itself, which has been under militant control since last summer.

Military commanders said "ISIL" militants were still holding out in houses in the northern section of al-Alam, but the army had retaken the town center and were preparing for street fighting to seize the rest.

"Snipers and booby traps are slowing our advance to completely control all parts of the town," said army captain Wisam Ibrahim, speaking from al-Alam.

"We're waiting for the army helicopters to secure the way for a smooth advance for the troops," he said.

According to reports, the streets of Tikrit have been covered with dead bodies of the "ISIL" terrorists. Some of the terrorists were killed by the Iraqi forces, while others were executed by their fellow Takfiris for fleeing the battle.

In a statement, the Tikrit tribesman have announced that they too are participating in the fight to push out the Takfiris from Tikrit.

Iraqi warplanes conducted several airstrikes on "ISIL" militants in Tikrit.

The battle for Tikrit its aftermath will inform any plans to move further north and recapture Mosul, the largest city under "ISIL" rule.

The campaign to retake Tikrit, which began one week ago, is the biggest since "ISIL" swept across the north last year, and the government hopes it will reverse the militants' momentum.

"ISIL" has sent reinforcements to Tikrit from other parts of its self-proclaimed caliphate further north, where it came under attack Monday from Kurdish forces around the oil-rich-city of Kirkuk.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team