The Iraqi army killed tens of Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists in fierce clashes in Babel province, and repelled militants’ attack on Baghdad.
The security forces killed 23 militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Al-Mavilaheh and Al-Fazeliya regions in Babel province.
Meantime, the Iraqi army thwarted the militants’ attack on the Southern parts of the city of Baghdad.
On Saturday, a senior military spokesman announced that the Iraqi army killed the top commander of the ISIL in Tikrit.
“The slain terrorist was in charge of the ISIL’s military affairs, and was killed in Northern Tikrit, the capital of Salahuddin province,” the spokesman for the Iraqi armed forces Major General Qassem Atta said on Saturday.
On Saturday, Al-Mayadeen TV channel reported that Iraq’s army advanced towards the volatile Tikrit city from four directions as it was marching towards rebel-held regions in the North.
Iraq’s army forces later yesterday captured Tikrit, the capital of Salahuddin province, in cooperation with numerous units of the special forces.
The Arabic-language report said that the Iraqi army used a large number of tanks during the operations to free Tikrit and was supported logistically by the air force.
Commander of Iraq’s anti-terrorism forces announced on Thursday that the special forces have started cleansing operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Tikrit, Samara and Biji.
