IRAQI troops fought street-by-street against Islamic State (Isis) yesterday as the government tried to retake Tikrit.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced that his forces had taken areas in the south and west of the city and would soon control it all.

But local commander Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi said that soldiers were still about 300 yards from the city centre.
As the Star went to press, reports as to how much of Tikrit was in government hands varied widely.

Isis seized Tikrit last summer in its lightning advance across northern and western Iraq.

Taking it back from the terror group is seen as a major step on the road north to Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, which is also in Isis hands.

Iranian advisers have been providing significant support since the Tikrit offensive began on March 2, arming and training Iraqi Shi’ite militias.

Militiamen make up over two-thirds of the force fighting Isis in Tikrit.