Iraqi Forces Retake Areas in the Suburbs of Tikrit

One day after the start of a multi-faceted attack by Iraqi forces to reclaim the city of Tikrit from the Islamic State, Al Jazeera reports the capture of several towns and villages leading to Tikrit by Iraqi forces. According to this report, Iraqi forces have not yet entered the city of Tikrit, and clashes are ongoing on the outskirts of the city. It is also reported that the leader of the Islamic State (formerly ISIS) was killed in southern Tikrit during these clashes, and other ISIS officials are said to have fled to the surrounding mountains. On the other hand, AFP reports that on the second day of this attack, the advance of Iraqi forces into the city has slowed due to the heavy use of snipers and explosive traps by ISIS. The Iraqi government began a three-pronged attack towards Tikrit on Monday, March 2, which includes Shiite militias and Sunni tribal forces; the total attacking force is reported to be 30,000. The Sunni-majority city of Tikrit, the birthplace of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, located 150 kilometers north of Baghdad, fell to ISIS last summer simultaneously with Mosul. Tikrit, the center of Salah al-Din province, is located on the banks of the Tigris River and had a population of about 260,000 before being captured by ISIS; reports indicate that most residents of Tikrit have now fled the city. Meanwhile, an Al Jazeera reporter cites fighters involved in the battles about the 'significant presence of Iran' in these conflicts. Al Jazeera reports that Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is present at the site and is leading the battle alongside the Iraqi army and Iranian-backed militias. Iraqi and Iranian sources have also reported in recent days about Qassem Soleimani's presence in Salah al-Din province for 'coordinating' the battles. Reuters also reports that Qassem Soleimani is stationed 55 kilometers from Tikrit in a village called 'Albu Riyash,' which was taken from ISIS two days ago, and is overseeing operations on the eastern front from that location. The U.S. Department of Defense reported on Monday that the coalition's air force against the Islamic State, which has conducted numerous bombings in various regions of Iraq and Syria, is currently refraining from bombing in Tikrit. Reuters notes that this may be related to the 'significant' presence of Iran in the Tikrit battle.