The Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) offensive in the Salahaddeen Governorate has experienced significant success in the strategically imperative cities of Tikrit (provincial capital) and Baiji (north of Tirit), as Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham forces continue to suffer losses all around the province. Earlier today, the ISF reported the capture of Qasr Al-Durr located 2 km west of the city of Tikrit, after violent clashes over the last 3 days in this area.
In Baiji, the ISF made huge strides near the city-center, capturing vital building blocks on Main St., while killing scores of ISIS militants in the process. Also in Baiji, the ISF captured the Industrial Area from ISIS militants earlier today. According to an ISF military source, 48 ISIS militants were confirmed killed-in-action by the Iraqi Army at the Industrial Area.
With the Baiji Refinery on the verge of ISF control, ISIS is facing a flank from the north and south due to their loss of Tikrit-Baiji Road.. However, not all the news from Baiji has been uplifting for the ISF; yesterday, the British ISIS militant, Abu Sumaya Al-Britani, carried out a suicide operation that killed Major Gerneral Faysal Al-Zamali. Despite this, fighting is still ongoing in Baiji, but if ISIS loses control of this city; it could spell bad news for their fighters in Tikrit.
According to the Iraqi Minister of Defense, the offensive to liberate Al-Heet from ISIS militnats in the Al-Anbar Governorate has begun. Earlier today, the ISF backed by local militias captured an ISIS weapons depot in the eastern sector of the city, seizing a large cache of the latter’s military supplies. The offensive in Al-Heet is supposed to be part of the ISF’s counter-offensive in the predominately ISIS-controlled Al-Anbar Governorate.
