After an intense battle that has lasted several weeks, the Iraqi army aided by Shiite militias have managed push ISIL out of downtown Tikrit. This development comes as ISIL ordered its troop in several sectors of the city to effect a tactical retreat in order to escape coalition airstrikes as well as preserve their military resources. At the moment, the Iraqi army controls the government building as well as the Republican Palace in central Tikrit while ISIL controls the Northeastern and Eastern edges of the city. However, some reports indicate that ISIL fighters have re-entered the Republican Palace and are currently engaged in battles against the troops currently holding the palace.
ISIL fighters are still fighting Iraqi troops and their Shiite allies in various neighborhoods of Tikrit. ISIL has also redeployed their heavy artillery away from the city in order to protect them from coalition airstrikes. Nonetheless, suicide bombers alongside car bombs are still wreaking havoc in the city as ISIL snipers take out exposed troops.
Intelligence reports indicates that ISIL top leadership are currently contemplating total tactical retreat from Tikrit in order to re-organize and then launch a fresh offensive to recapture the city from the Iraqi army as well as expel the Shiite militias who are presently digging in within the city.
