TEMPO.CO, Baghdad - Iraq has launched a large-scale military operation to take back the strategic province of Salahuddin, which includes Tikrit.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abbadai arrived in the northern city of Samarra on Sunday to oversee the military operation and vowed to free the province "from the tyranny of the terrorists."
Al Jazeera reported that thousands of government troops, fighters from Shia militia and Sunni tribes had gathered around Samarra to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) strongholds near the Tigris River.
Iraqi military also told Reuters news agency that around 2,000 Shia militia fighters have arrived near tikrit in preparation for the major operation.
Salaheddin Governor Raed Salahuddin, last week said that 5,000 fighters from the security forces and Hashid Shaabi militia, which was formed last year with Iranian support, to join the military operation.
"This is one of the biggest military operations that will eventually proceed to take back Mosul," Al Jazeera's Jane Arraf said. "This is not expected to be an easy fight," she said.
AL JAZEERA | CHOIRUL
