Commander says soldiers will retake Tikrit from ISIS in one week

A commander of the Iraqi forces has disclosed to journalists that they will recapture the city of Tikrit from Islamic State (IS) within a week.

The head of a Shia militia brigade, fighting alongside government forces, said that IS militants still held about 70% of Tikrit’s town centre.

The Shia leader expressed optimism that Tikrit would be ‘liberated,’ even if it required street-to-street fighting.

Soldiers and militiamen have reportedly retaken key sites, including a Police headquarters and a hospital.

Muain al-Khmdy, a commander of the Iranian-backed Badr Brigade, said that pro-government forces would surround IS-held areas of the city and then attack, aiming to drive IS fighters from their location.

The pro-government force ranged against them includes about 3,000 Iraqi troops with 20,000 Shia militiamen and a much smaller force of Sunni tribesmen.

Earlier, Iraqi Defence Minister, Khaled al-Obedi stated that recapturing Tikrit could be a turning point in the battle against IS.

The Defence minister described the city as a stepping stone to other IS-held territory, including Mosul – the country’s second largest city.