Officials in northern Iraq said troops are clashing with Islamic State militants south of the militant-held city of Tikrit, as roadside bombs have slowed an offensive launched to retake Saddam Hussein’s hometown.
The two local officials said fierce clashes were underway on Tuesday outside the town of al-Dour, south of Tikrit.
They said government forces backed by Shiite militias and Sunni tribal fighters have made little progress on the second day of a large-scale military operation to recapture Tikrit, which fell to the Islamic State group last summer. They said troops are shelling militant bases inside the city but their advance has been slowed by roadside bombs.
