IS readies for last stand at Tikrit but ‘expands’ to Nigeria

Iraqi leaders are confident that victory — which would arguably be Iraq’s biggest one against the Islamic State militants — is only a matter of time. No one involved has provided casualty figures since the start of this latest and largest operation to retake Tikrit, which has been in IS hands since June. But dozens of bodies are being driven south to Baghdad and the Shiite holy city of Najaf almost every day and, while government forces have had the upper hand, IS has done damage with suicide car bombs, booby traps and snipers. Analysts say the battle for Tikrit is also a key test of how well the regular army can work with the myriad of militia groups and prevent reprisals against Sunnis.

Now we are moving to the second phase of our plan. We are very keen for our losses to be as low as possible. Time is on our side, we have the initiative.

Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi to reporters in Salaheddin province, of which Tikrit is the capital.

Meanwhile, the jihadist group is experiencing a morale boost after formally accepting the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram into the fold. IS also released a video in which eight men — suspected of spying for a Syria-based rebel group opposed to IS, supplying intelligence to the Iraqi forces, and torturing an IS member — were beheaded.

We don’t want to be rushed because we want to avoid casualties. Tikrit is sealed off from all sides.

Staff Major Gen. Bahaa al-Azzawi

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