Iraqi army in full control of Tikrit

Iraqi armed forces have regained full control of the northern city of Tikrit during a major offensive against Takfiri ISIL militants.

Al-Iraqiya television network reported on Tuesday that the army succeeded in recapturing the strategic city after the Iraqi air force pounded the main ISIL strongholds in Tikrit, located 140 kilometers (87 miles) northwest of the capital, Baghdad.

Reports also said that the headquarters of the ISIL terrorists’ leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was targeted.

Efforts to retake Tikrit, which fell on June 12 to the ISIL militants, were launched two-and-a-half weeks ago.

The army said its forces killed scores of militants during the operation to free Tikrit.

According to Iraqi media sources, government troops are currently carrying out clean-up operations to flush out the remaining Takfiris.

Iraqi forces retook Awja, the birthplace of slain Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, earlier in July.

The crisis in Iraq escalated after Takfiri ISIL terrorists took control of Mosul on June 10, which was followed by the fall of Tikrit.

The ISIL has announced a so-called caliphate in the swathes they have overrun in Iraq.