Iraqi armed forces started their attacks on the Tirkit town, Saddam Hussein's hometown, which was taken by the Islamic State militants, BBC reports. The Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi declared about launching this operation on Sunday during a visit to the government-held city of Samarra, Reuters reports. Before starting the operation the Abadi warned the militants of the Islamic State to lay their arms down, otherwise they would be punished.
Tirkit is the second largest city captured by IS militants after Mosul.