Iraqi forces have seized large areas of the city of Tikrit from ISIS militants after more than a week of fighting, government officials said Tuesday. With the support of Shia militias, Iraqi troops were able to enter Tikrit, the Sunni Arab hometown of former dictator Saddam Hussein, and retake central buildings including the provincial council and governor’s office, The New York Times reports, citing officials of the Salahuddin province. The offensive is so far the biggest government operation against the self-declared Islamic State, involving more than 30,000 troops. Officials said they believed the jihadis had started to withdraw but security forces were proceeding with caution in case of roadside explosives.
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