Tikrit.

This is coolbert:

That Iraqi offensive to capture Tikrit from ISIL insurgents seems to have stalled. The city surrounded but further advance now in question.

"Iraqi Tikrit offensive stalls"

"The Iraqi army and Shia militias trying to retake the city of Tikrit from Islamic State forces paused their offensive over the weekend, claiming they need reinforcements while simultaneously saying they want to avoid civilian casualties and preserve infrastructure."

"The 30,000 government troops are facing a much smaller force of IS fighters and are apparently unable to advance beyond the fringes of the city."

That "30,000 government troops" reputedly consisting on 10,000 soldiers of the Iraqi National Army and 20,000 Shia militiamen. Commanded by Iranian hard-core elite Al Qods revolutionary guard officers.

Tikrit of course the birth place and home town of Saddam Hussein.

That mixed force of INA and Shia militia neither trained or equipped for OR even mentally prepared for urban warfare, especially when confronted with a resolute foe such as ISIL.

THAT POPULATION OF TIKRIT ABOUT 250,000 PERSONS. THE LOSS OF CIVILIAN LIFE AND INFRASTRUCTURE I FEAR GOING TO BE IMMENSE, WITHOUT SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION TO THE SIEGE!

coolbert.