The battle to take back Tikrit continues into a second day.<br /><br />The Iraqi forces launched a major offensive on Saturday to recapture the town from Islamist militant group ISIL.<br /><br />Heavy losses were suffered on both sides, according to eye witnesses.<br /><br />Conflicting reports emerged over how much ground had been regained, though sources claimed that the army were pushed back to Dijla, 25 km to the south.<br /><br />With ISIL controlling many towns in the North and West of the country, the Iraqi forces are deploying troops to stop their march towards the capital, Baghdad.<br /><br />Armed US drones were flown over the city on Saturday to provide support to military advisers sent to assist the government.<br /><br />Iraq’s defence ministry received its first batch of fighter jets from Russia, saying that they would be operational within three to four days.<br /><br />The decision to buy the second-hand aircraft comes after repeated calls for air support from the United States.
