Iraqi soldiers backed by volunteer fighters have retaken an airport in the Iraqi town of al-Dour, southeast of the strategic city of Tikrit, from Daesh.
The liberation of the airport took place on Thursday as the army as well as Shia and Sunni volunteers pushed ahead with their major offensive against the terrorists in Salahuddin province where they have already managed to liberate 97 regions and districts from Daesh over the past few days.
The Iraqi soldiers along with the volunteer forces are advancing toward the Daesh stronghold of al-Dour, a small town some 19 kilometers (12 miles) away from Tikrit, which had already been encircled by the Iraqi forces.
Some volunteer groups have told the Arab news channel, al-Mayadeen, that they have found Israeli communication and spy equipment used by Daesh in the liberated area of the town.
Iraqi army soldiers backed by Shia fighters are tightening the noose around the Daesh-held city of Tikrit, located on the Tigris River in the east. According to provincial officials, Iraqi forces are expected to reach Tikrit late on Friday.
On Wednesday, the forces advanced towards the city, which fell to Daesh following their lightning advance into Iraq from Syria in June 2014.
The army’s operation to liberate the city is being conducted from five directions so Daesh could neither escape nor strengthen their defenses.
According to Iraqi media, a number of villages and oil fields near the city, which is the birthplace of Iraqi former dictator, Saddam Hussein, have been retaken.
Reports said that the Ajil and Alas oil fields were recaptured along with the nearby village of al-Maibdi, situated on the road between Tikrit and Kirkuk.
Since the operation began on Monday, some 30,000 forces have been approaching the city with air support from Iraqi jets and helicopters.
