Iraq resumes operations to retake Tikrit from ISIS

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi on Wednesday announced that Iraqi forces are preparing to resume military operations to retake the city of Tikrit in Salahuddin province, from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Anadolu agency reported.

Iraqi forces and allied Shia militiamen stopped their advance towards Tikrit ten days ago to regroup and develop military strategies, according to statements by several military commanders.

Abadi said in a televised speech: “We announce today that we will cleanse every inch of the land of Iraq and that Daesh [ISIS] has no longer a foothold in Iraq. We announce in front of our people and to the world that we’re going to see the last chapter of operation to liberate Salahuddin province.”

Earlier this month, Iraq began a military campaign with the participation of 30,000 soldiers, policemen and allied Shia and Sunni militiamen to expel ISIS militants from Tikrit.

Over the past few weeks, Iraqi forces regained control over the towns of Dour and Al-Alam, near the city of Tikrit in Salahuddin province, as well as dozens of villages in the area.

At Iraq’s request, the United States recently began conducting airstrikes against ISIS militants in Tikrit to support Iraqi ground forces in their offensive to retake the city.