Iraqi Forces Launch Operation to Retake Tikrit

Iraqi army forces, Shia militias, and several Sunni tribes have begun their operation to reclaim the city of Tikrit from the Islamic State group starting Monday, March 2. Tikrit is the birthplace of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, which fell to the Islamic State forces last summer, simultaneously with the city of Mosul. According to France Press, about 30,000 Iraqi army troops, counter-terrorism forces, police, Shia militias, and Sunni tribes opposed to the Islamic State, with the support of the Iraqi air force, have launched the attack on Tikrit. This operation is considered the largest operation of the Iraqi army to reclaim one of the cities that has been captured by the Islamic State so far. France Press reports, citing an Iraqi army commander, that military forces are advancing towards Tikrit from three directions. The Iraqi army and their supporting forces are trying to prevent the escape of Islamic State forces by moving along the roads leading to Tikrit. While no international media or the Iraqi government has reported the liberation of Tikrit, the Fars news agency, close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported the 'arrival' of Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran, in the city. The report added that Mr. Soleimani entered the city to 'supervise and advise Iraqi field commanders.' Haider al-Abadi, the Prime Minister of Iraq, issued an order for the liberation operation of Salah al-Din province in northern Baghdad on Sunday, March 1. Samarra and Tikrit are the largest cities in this predominantly Sunni province of Iraq. Iraqi soldiers, with the support of American aircraft, recently succeeded in regaining control of the city of Baiji near Tikrit. Tikrit is considered a strategic point for advancing towards Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq, which is currently under the control of ISIS. Previously, the United States Central Command had announced that it expected Iraqi army forces to begin operations to reclaim the city of Mosul from the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, before the end of spring 2015.