Iraqi forces pursue battle to retake Tikrit from ISIL militants
- 9 years ago
Iraqi soldiers and Shi’ite militiamen are pursuing efforts to retake Tikrit, the hometown of fallen dictator Saddam Hussein, now a stronghold of ISIL Islamist militants.
Although backed by Iraqi military airstrikes, the advance has been slowed by roadside bombs and snipers deployed by the jihadists.
But those on the government side remain confident of victory.
“With the resolution of the heroic fighters, God willing, we will liberate Tikrit and its suburbs as quickly as possible,” said Shi’ite militia fighter Hani Salih.
“And when we liberate Tikrit, we will head on to liberate Mosul.”
The pace of progress now will indeed affect plans to recapture Mosul further north, ISIL’s biggest prize in Iraq. It is thought an assault to retake that city could begin as early as next month.
An Iranian military commander is said to be partially coordinating the current offensive, involving some 30,000 men, hailed as the biggest such assault since ISIL seized huge swathes of Iraq last sum
Although backed by Iraqi military airstrikes, the advance has been slowed by roadside bombs and snipers deployed by the jihadists.
But those on the government side remain confident of victory.
“With the resolution of the heroic fighters, God willing, we will liberate Tikrit and its suburbs as quickly as possible,” said Shi’ite militia fighter Hani Salih.
“And when we liberate Tikrit, we will head on to liberate Mosul.”
The pace of progress now will indeed affect plans to recapture Mosul further north, ISIL’s biggest prize in Iraq. It is thought an assault to retake that city could begin as early as next month.
An Iranian military commander is said to be partially coordinating the current offensive, involving some 30,000 men, hailed as the biggest such assault since ISIL seized huge swathes of Iraq last sum