Iraqi forces make advances near Tikrit
BAGHDAD: Iraqi security forces and Shiite militia fighting the Islamic State took control of the center of a town on the southern outskirts of Saddam Hussein’s home city Tikrit on Sunday, security officials said.
Sending in more troops and fighting fierce clashes, the army and militiamen were still struggling to drive out Islamic State militants entrenched in buildings in the western section of the town of Al-Dour, officials said.
Military commanders said the army and militia, known as Hashid Shaabi (Popular Mobilization) units, launched another offensive late on Saturday to break into the center of Al-Dour.
By Sunday they had succeeded in recapturing the central area where government headquarters are located, but Islamic State insurgents were still holding positions in the west.
“Daesh snipers are still targeting our troops from some of the high buildings. We should be able to take them out with helicopter attacks this evening,” said Ahmed Al-Yasiri, a Hashid Shaabi leader fighting in Al-Dour. Daesh is the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.
Officials said security forces and Shiite militia fighters had also captured about third of the village of Albu Ajil south of Tikrit — hometown of the executed Sunni president.
Some Albu Ajil residents were accused by authorities and Shiite militia groups of taking part in the killing of soldiers from the nearby Speicher army camp when Islamic State fighters overran Tikrit and northern Iraq last June.
Shiite militia fighters have described the advance on Albu Ajil as revenge for the Speicher killings, although militia leaders say all civilians in the Sunni region will be well treated.