Joint Iraqi forces push into Islamic State-held Tikrit 이라크 군, 티크리트 진입 성공…IS 격렬

Iraqi security forces are continuing their offensive against Islamic State militants, as they make crucial gains to retake the city of Tikrit For more, we turn to Paul Yi at the News Center Paul, what′s the latest update from the front-lines there? Well, there′s been reports of heavy rocket and mortar fire as Iraqi troops backed by Shia militia are trying to reach the center of Tikrit And though they′ve facing tough resistance, all indications by officials say the momentum is in their favor If they are successful in this landmark military operation,… it will be a psychologically important victory but also mark the next step in ousting I-S militants from region Arirang′s Kim Min-ji reports Iraqi security forces and militias pushed toward major landmarks in the city of Tikrit on Wednesday, in their biggest offensive so far against the group that calls itself Islamic State Joint Iraqi forces raised the national flag above a military hospital, one of the latest installations retaken from the militants Soldiers took out snipers and had to defuse roadside bombs and booby-trapped buildings Citing the head of a key paramilitary force, CNN reports that government troops are now in control of 75 percent of the city Tikrit, the hometown of former dictator Saddam Hussein, was seized by Islamic State militants last June in a lightning advance The military offensive that began early this month, includes a combined force of up to 30-thousand troops If Iraqi forces regain full control of the city, it will give them the momentum to retake the Islamic State-held city of Mosul, which is ten times bigger than Tikrit In an apparent retaliatory move, Islamic State militants launched a fierce assault in the western Iraqi city of Ramadi It involved more than a dozen suicide car bomb attacks Kim Min-ji, Arirang News