Tehran, YJC. Iraqi forces are engaged in fight with Islamic State on Wednesday in northern Tikrit, which officials described as ISIL’s last stronghold in the city.
As military officials are hoping victory in a month-long
battle, state television said Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi was visiting the
city, which the ISIL militants captured last June as they seized most of Iraq's
Sunni territories.
Security forces, backed by volunteer forces, were fighting
to clear the last ISIL stronghold, the northern neighborhood of Qadissiyah,
Interior Minister Mohammed al-Ghabban told reporters in the city.
"Most of Tikrit today is liberated, only small parts
remain (outside our control). We will give you the good news in the next few
hours after eliminating the pockets that are still in the city," Ghabban
said.
The city's streets were completely abandoned, and buildings
scarred by gunfire.
In the meantime, Western media accuse Iran of interfering
with developments in Iraq.
But Iran denies the claims and maintains that it only helps
the neighbor country with military knowhow through advisors.