Iraqi Army, Popular Mobilization Forces Enter Tikrit

Local Editor

The Iraqi army and the popular mobilization forces entered Tikrit on Wednesday, stepping up a military operation to regain the northern city from the Takfiri group, ISIL.

Al-Manar correspondent in Iraq reported that the army and the popular mobilization managed to take control of al-Hayakel area in the west of Tikrit, after advancing in al-Qadisiyah neighborhood (also in the west).


AFP news agency confirmed the army entered the city, citing a major general, who said that battling "to cleanse the neighborhood of Qadisiyah" in Tikrit.

"We were able to control Tikrit military hospital, which is close to the centre of the city," the hometown of executed dictator Saddam Hussein, he said on condition of anonymity.

"But we are engaging in a very delicate battle because we are not facing fighters on the ground, we are facing booby-trapped terrain and sniper fire.

The operation started early on Wednesday following preliminary shelling and extensive bombardment, our correspondent said.

The Iraqi army and the popular mobilization forces have been engaged in a massive operation in Salahuddin province, of which Tikrit is the center. The operation aims at driving the Takfiri group ISIL, out of the province.

Source: Al Manar TV	11-03-2015 - 09:28 Last updated 11-03-2015 - 16:11

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Iraqi government troops, backed by Shia and Sunni volunteer forces, are pressing ahead with their battle against ISIL terrorists, as they close in on the strategic city of Tikrit. The joint forces have already launched an offensive at the eastern side of Tikrit. They're preparing to launch more attacks from other fronts in an effort to surround the city that's the capital of Salahuddin province. The Iraqi army and volunteer forces have cleared a number of areas from ISIL terrorists on their way to liberate Tikrit. One of those areas is the town of Al-Alam. Tikrit fell into the hands of ISIL in summer. The military campaign to take it back began last Monday. The liberation of the city will pave the way for recapturing Mosul, ISIL's main

The joint forces have already launched an offensive at the eastern side of Tikrit. They're preparing to launch more attacks from other fronts in an effort to surround the city that's the capital of Salahuddin province. The Iraqi army and volunteer forces have cleared a number of areas from ISIL terrorists on their way to liberate Tikrit. One of those areas is the town of Al-Alam. Tikrit fell into the hands of ISIL in summer. The military campaign to take it back began last Monday. The liberation of the city will pave the way for recapturing Mosul, ISIL's main stronghold in Iraq.

Now the advances of the Iraqi army in Tikrit have not been free from casualties on the part of the journalists covering the developments there. A Press TV cameraman has been injured in a mortar attack near Tikrit. This came after Press TV’s field reporter in Iraq Rahshan Saglam said she had received a death threat from the supporters of ISIL terrorists. We were earlier joined by Rahshan who gave us more details of the dangers journalists are facing there.


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