Commander: Iraqi Army Inches Away from Final Victory in Tikrit

Iraq’s final victory against the ISIL terrorist group in the city of Tikrit is imminent, a commander of popular forces stated on Monday.

“All obstacles impeding our full control over Tikrit have been removed and the final victory is very near,” Iraqi popular forces commander Abu Taysir al-Moussavi said.

He noted that the battle over Tikrit is moving ahead on a normal course and in favor of the army, and said, “The Iraqi army and popular forces have made remarkable advances, which have become a source of pride and honor for Iraq’s people.”

Al-Moussavi thanked the Iraqi security and popular forces for their all-out fight against the ISIL, and said, “The (Iraqi) security forces have left nowhere for ISIL terrorists to escape and have liberated a sum of 3,000 square kilometers of Salahuddin province from ISIL control so far.”

Iraqi military forces, backed by Shiite and Sunni volunteer fighters, have won control over 95 percent of Tikrit after inflicting hefty losses on the ISIL.

Some 30,000 Iraqi troops and thousands of allied Shiite and Sunni militias have been involved in a week-long operation to recapture Tikrit and other key towns and villages in the Northern part of Salahuddin province from the ISIL militants.