Iraqi troops foil ISIL attack on northern city

Iraqi government troopers have managed to thwart an offensive by members of the Takifiri ISIL militant group on a city in the country’s conflict-ridden western province of al-Anbar. 
Local police chief Aref al-Janabi said security forces on Tuesday repelled an attack by ISIL militants on the city of Amiriyah, located about 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of Fallujah, Iraq’s al-Sumaria satellite TV network reported.
Janabi further noted that Iraqi soldiers have inflicted heavy losses on the ISIL, and the extremists have found it impossible to break through the fortification line as the Iraqi forces have gained full control over the area.
On Monday, Iraq’s Ministry of Defense released footage of the army’s airstrikes and helicopter attacks against the ISIL positions in the strategic northern city of Tikrit, located 140 kilometers (86 miles) northwest of the capital, Baghdad.
The attack came a day after the commander of the Iraqi volunteer forces, Hadi al-Ameri, said that Iraqis do not need the US airstrikes in their operation to liberate Tikrit.
The army’s offensive marked the resumption of the Tikrit operation a week after Iraqi officials had announced its temporary halt to allow civilians to leave the embattled city.

Iraqi Shia volunteer fighters prepare to attack ISIL militants at Camp Speicher, the front line in Tikrit, Iraq, on March 12, 2015. (© AP)
 

"When we see that the time is right for the Tikrit alliance, we will storm in as quickly as possible," said Iraq’s Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi, adding, "Tikrit is under full siege. We are taking caution to not take any losses and to protect civilians in the city."
Tikrit, the birthplace of former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, was seized by ISIL in June last year.
The city’s recapture is crucial for the Iraqi army in its quest to take control of the country’s second-largest city, Mosul, situated some 400 kilometers (248 miles) north of Baghdad.