[caption id="attachment_124514" align="alignright" width="240"] Iraqi Defense Minister Brigadier General Khaled al-Obeidi[/caption]

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iraqi Defense Minister Brigadier General Khaled al-Obeidi reaffirmed that the Arab country's army and popular forces have taken full control of the Northern city of Tikrit, the provincial capital of Salahuddin province.

"The Iraqi army, security and popular forces are now in full control over Tikrit," Brigadier General Al-Obeidi said on Friday night.


The Iraqi defense minister reiterated that the army and popular forces are moping up any possible ISIL hideouts in the city now.


On March 1, the Iraqi army backed by popular forces started a fresh round of military operations to liberate Tikrit.


On Monday, senior member of the Iraqi National Alliance Mowaffaq al-Rubaie said the Takfiri terrorists have planted bombs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) throughout the city of Tikrit.


"The ISIL has turned Tikrit into a booby-trapped city on the verge of blast," al-Rubaie, also a former Iraqi national security advisor, said.


Al-Rubaie also said that ISIL snipers have taken positions throughout the city.


Al-Rubaie pointed to the advances of the Iraqi army and popular forces in Salahuddin province, and said, "The advances made by the Iraqi security forces against the ISIL in Salahuddin are tactical victories that will pave the way for final victory in liberating Tikrit."


By Fars News Agency