ERBIL, Iraq
Iraq's defense ministry claimed Tuesday that its army has launched operations against Sunni rebels to regain control of Tikrit – the hometown of former dictator Saddam Hussein.
Baghdad's security forces are claiming to have removed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – ISIL – militants in an operation called 'Sharp Sword'.
Clashes have continued between the Iraqi army and ISIL in the southern part of Tikrit, according to an AA reporter.
Tikrit's governor has said local forces were able to control the city within two hours after the operation. The governor said that "most armed groups have started to leave the streets of the Tikrit".
Iraq has seen a significant increase in sectarian violence between Sunni and Shia Muslims since June, when a coalition of armed opposition groups led by ISIL took control of large swathes of the country's predominantly Sunni provinces.
The latest wave of insurgency began when militants captured the city of Mosul on June 10 and soon afterwards took control of a number of other key cities and towns including Tal Afar, Fallujah and Baiji.
www.aa.com.tr/en
