article_snippet: More than 30,000 the Iraqi Army soldiers are currently fighting ISIS militants in the suburbs of Tikrit, or are otherwise making More than 30,000 Iraqi Army soldiers way towards the Iraqi city of Tikrit alongside tens of thousands of Iran-backed Shia volunteer militias, many of whom are accused of carrying out ISIS-style atrocities themselves.
article_snippet: ISIS responded by setting fire to oil wells in the Ajil field east of the Iraqi city of Tikrit .
article_snippet: Preparing to fire: An Iraqi Army soldier makes the V-for-victory symbol before attacking an Islamic Strate target .
article_snippet: Preparing for war: Iraqi soldiers are photographed on duty at a military barracks in Alam town, south of Tikrit earlier this week .
article_snippet: An Iraqi soldier looks on as smoke rises from oil wells set alight by ISIS militants near Ajil, east of the Iraqi city of Tikrit .
article_snippet: The forces have made gradual but steady progress, slowed by bombs and snipers as The forces approach from the north, south and east. 
article_snippet: Thousands of ISIS militants have poured into the Iraqi city of Tikrit from other parts of the group's self-proclaimed caliphate and are preparing to fight to the death, said Abu Saif, predicting the battle would be long and bloody.
article_snippet: Taking Thousands of ISIS militants rest: Iraqi soldiers relax behind a sand berm ahead of battles with Islamic State extremists outside Tikrit yesterday afternoon .
article_snippet: More than 30,000 Iraqi Army soldiers (pictured) are currently fighting ISIS militants in the suburbs of Tikrit, .
article_snippet: More than 30,000 Iraqi Army soldiers (pictured) are making More than 30,000 Iraqi Army soldiers (pictured) way towards the Iraqi city of Tikrit alongside tens of thousands or Iran-backed Shia volunteer militias .
article_snippet: Volunteer fighters wounded during fighting with Islamic State extremists recover in a hospital in Baghdad .
article_snippet: A Shia fighter injured in battles with ISIS terrorists near the militant-held city of Tikrit is photographed recovering in a Baghdad hospital .
article_snippet: Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Qassem Soleimani has been spotted on the eastern front, where Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Qassem Soleimani appears to be directing operations.