Iraq army troops flush out militants from Tikrit

Iraq’s government soldiers backed by thousands of volunteers have gained the upper hand over Takfiri militants in the northern city of Tikrit, security sources say.

This comes after the government forces flushed out al-Qaeda-linked militants from most parts of Tikrit, the capital city of the restive Salahuddin Province.

Iraqi security officials say the army is now in control of the city’s military base where it has stationed its troops.

The volatile city fell into the hands of militants earlier this month after they overran Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city.

In another development, up to 10000 people have fled a mostly Christian town, north of the country after it was shelled by militants from the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

The ISIL terrorists have also abducted 20 members of police and army in the town of Sharqat in Salahuddin.

This comes as government troops are said to be gearing up to attack other towns held by the ISIL terrorists.

The Iraqi military has inflicted heavy losses on Takfiri militants across several parts of the crisis-hit country.

Over 90 Takfiri militants are killed during repeated attempts to seize the Baiji refinery.

The Iraqi Air Force also bombed the ISIL vehicles and their hideouts in Anbar Province. A militant base was also demolished there.

Iraq’s armed forces along with tribal groups from Diyala have also started a massive operation against the ISIL terrorists in the region.

Elsewhere in Baghdad’s western suburb of Amriya, Iraqi government forces managed to disband a terrorist cell.

Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has recently said Baghdad’s air and ground forces will turn the tide against the ISIL and its associated militant groups within days. Al-Maliki has vowed that the country’s security forces would confront the foreign-sponsored militants.