At least 35 people, including 28 Daesh militants were killed Thursday in two separate attacks in Iraq’s northern province of Saladin, army sources said.
The 28 Daesh militants were killed in Iraqi air force and U.S.-led international coalition airstrikes on Tikrit, an Iraqi army officer said.
Separately, seven people were killed in an improvised explosives device blast at a home in Is-haki town south of Tikrit, the officer added.
“The international coalition is supporting the action against Daesh by air. Also, al-Hashid al-Shaabi commanders are getting advice from Iran,” Ahmed el-Karim, Saladin province’s council chief, said.
Karim, however, said there were no Iranian soldiers on the ground in his province.
Meanwhile, the second stage of Tikrit’s operation against Daesh has been discussed between Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, Minister of Defense Halid al-Obaidi and General Talib Shugati, according to Iraq’s Ministry of Defense statement. Iraqi forces’ plan to retake Tikrit would be a step forward in seizing Mosul, Daesh’s largest stronghold in Iraq.
