article_snippet: (CNN)Iraqi forces appeared Wednesday to be making progress on the third day of a major offensive intended to push ISIS fighters out of the city of Tikrit.
article_snippet: The Iraqi soldiers are reportedly approaching the city of Tikrit from five directions, as The Iraqi soldiers seek to prevent ISIS militants from either escaping from Tikrit or sending in reinforcements to bolster ISIS defense.
article_snippet: The operation is part of a wide-scale offensive to retake Tikrit and Salahuddin province ordered by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday.
article_snippet: The semiofficial Iranian FARS news agency reports that Qassim Sulaimani, the commander of the elite Iranian Al-Quds Brigade, is helping oversee The operation to retake Tikrit.
article_snippet: Despite the reported Iranian assistance, the Iraqi forces face no easy task as the Iraqi forces seek to advance on Tikrit.
article_snippet: Iraq has not asked the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS to provide air cover for The operation to retake Tikrit.
article_snippet: On Monday, Iraqi forces approached Tikrit from several fronts, Iraqiya TV reported, engaging with ISIS north of the city at al-Alam and south of the city at al-Dour.
article_snippet: The element of surprise probably was not a factor, as reports of Iraqi troops amassing near Tikrit were widely shared.
article_snippet: Prime Minister al-Abadi, who is also commander in chief of Iraqi forces, said on Twitter that he would "oversee the operation to liberate Tikrit" from ISIS.
article_snippet: The joint Iraqi forces fighting to retake Tikrit include Iraqi troops, members of the Shia al-Hashed al-Shaabi militia, members of the Sunni Sons of Salahuddin brigades and other Sunni tribal fighters.
highlights_snippet: Iraqi forces make some progress as Iraqi forces seek to advance toward Tikrit .
  