ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Iraqi joint forces have announced they are preparing to attack Tikrit, finally commencing a long-awaited offensive to recapture the ISIS-held city. Droves of citizens are reportedly leaving Tikrit in anticipation of the attack which the Iraqi Army said on Saturday would be supported by airstrikes from the US-led coalition against the Islamic State. Military experts believe the city, which is the hometown of former dictator Saddam Hussein, will be attacked from three sides. The first location, experts say, will be from the Aoja area, south of Tikrit, with the support of Iraqi Special Forces. Simultaneously, Iraqi army and police will attack from an area close to Tikrit University. The third attack, which experts believe to be the most important, will strike from the southwest of Tikrit. The Iraqi joint forces, which would not comment on the specifics of the battle plan, are said to be helping civilians to leave the city before the attack.
