Battle Map Update: Iraqi Army Encircles ISIS at Tikrit

he Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) have officially encircled the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) at the imperative city of Tikrit in the Salahiddeen Governorate after ten days of non-stop fighting with the latter.

One day after capturing the vital towns of Al-Dour and Al-‘Alam, the ISF was able to advance to Tikrit General Hospital, where they took control of this ISIS stronghold following a morning of fierce clashes.

The ISF advance did not stop there, the latter entered downtown Tikrit for the first time since ISIS took control of the city before they pulled back to regroup.

As of Tuesday evening, the ISF and their allies have taken control of all axis points to the city of Tikirt; this leaves the entrenched ISIS militants without a route to withdraw.

On the Karma front in east Al-‘Anbar, ISIS suffered a severe blow at the village of Al-Qanatir after ISF contingents stormed this area and declared complete control on Tuesday morning,

The Karma offensive is one of the ISF’s key battles, as the city itself has been a long-standing ISIS stronghold for years.

According to the Iraqi Minister of Defense, 101 ISIS militants have been killed since the ISF launched “Operation Najim Al-Sudaani” in east Karma.