Iraqi forces have said that they have retaken some of the districts around the city of Tikrit in their offensive against Islamic State (IS) militants.
According to BBC, a force of around 30,000 troops and militia are involved on different fronts in the attack.
The Iraqi forces are backed by airstrikes and Iraqi jets.
The Iraqi city of Tikrit that lies north of Baghdad, was captured by IS militants in June last year.
The government troops have retaken the two districts of al-Tin, near Tikrit university north-east of the city, and the district of al-Abeid, in the west.