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Iraqi Forces Close to Recapturing Tikrit

CBN

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Iraq's interior minister said the city of Tikrit will be recaptured from ISIS "within the coming hours."

"Most of Tikrit today is liberated, only small parts remain," Interior Minister Mohammed al-Ghabban told reporters on Wednesday. "We will give you the good news in the next few hours after eliminating the pockets that are still in the city."

Al-Ghabban said the government hopes to restore normalcy to the city as soon as possible, with the government helping displaced residents to return to their homes. He also said a civil defense unit will search the city for roadside bombs and car bombs.

Security forces are battling the last remaining pockets of jihadists in northern Tikrit and anticipate regaining full control by Thursday.

The United States launched airstrikes on Tikrit last week at the request of the Iraqi government. Recapturing the city would be the biggest win so far for Iraq's government.

Tikrit lies on the road connecting the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, to its second-largest city, Mosul, which remains under control of ISIS.

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