A major offensive by Iraqi forces to retake Tikrit was launched just over a week ago.
ISIS forces are retreating toward the center of Tikrit.
ISIS has launched a major assault on the city of Ramadi, an official says.

Write an article based on these highlights.
Baghdad, Iraq (CNN)Joint Iraqi forces now have control of Tikrit Military Hospital as they continue their offensive to liberate the city from ISIS. The joint forces raised the Iraqi flag from the hospital premises Wednesday as they continued their offensive into the city from four sides, the Hashd Al-Shaabi paramilitary force said. The predominantly Shia militia has been working with Iraqi troops as well as Sunni fighters to try to regain Tikrit from ISIS. The hospital is a few blocks south of the presidential palace. Tikrit, best known to Westerners as the birthplace of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, fell in June to ISIS, which has captured large areas of Iraq and Syria for what it says is its Islamic caliphate. On March 1, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered Iraqi forces to retake Tikrit and Salahuddin province. ISIS wasn't making it easy, however. The Sunni extremist group blew up a key bridge near Tikrit, preventing the joint Iraqi forces from using it to cross the Tigris River to approach the city from the east. Nevertheless, forces have made progress, forcing ISIS fighters to retreat toward the city center from frontline positions, Hashd Al-Shaabi's media office said. There have been several failed attempts to recapture Tikrit since the second half of 2014. If Iraq regains control of the city, it could mean that retaking Mosul -- a city 10 times bigger -- is possible. The Tikrit offensive involves around 30,000 fighters. Also assisting is Iran, which has provided advisers, weapons and ammunition to the Iraqi government. According to the Pentagon, Iranians may be operating heavy artillery and rocket launchers as well. Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday that the consensus was that Iran's involvement was positive in military terms. "Anything anyone does to counter ISIS is in the main a good outcome," he said. But at the same time, Dempsey said, the United States is concerned about what role Iran might seek in the longer term once ISIS is defeated. While Iraqi forces piled the pressure on ISIS in Tikrit, the Sunni extremist group continued to flex its muscles in Iraq's western Anbar province. ISIS launched a new offensive on the city of Ramadi, west of Baghdad, on Wednesday morning, Faleh al-Issawi, the deputy head of the Anbar Provincial Council, said in a statement. The city is being attacked "from all directions," with ISIS firing more than 150 mortar rounds and rockets toward it, he said. Some 17 explosives-laden vehicles have been detonated at various security checkpoints and in the city center, he said. One vehicle targeted a bridge that provides access to the city from the north. This is "the fiercest attack by ISIS" seen on Ramadi, al-Issawi said. Iraqi forces have imposed a curfew on the city. Al-Issawi said the Iraqi air force was urgently needed. "We need air cover to repel these attacks but did not see the Iraqi air force do anything -- we only saw one airstrike by the coalition hitting one target," he said. Officials believe "this is an ISIS response to the Tikrit operation that is ongoing in the north," he added. He said there had been 10 casualties among Iraqi forces in the area but did not specify how many were killed and how many injured. In the 24 hours from Tuesday to Wednesday morning, there were 13 airstrikes in Iraq and two in Syria, the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS said in a statement. The strikes in Iraq were concentrated near Mosul, Al Qaim and Falluja. There were none in the Tikrit or Ramadi areas. Elsewhere in Anbar province, Iraqi security forces have managed to wrest back most of the town of Karma from ISIS, said Sabah Al-Karhout, the head of the Anbar Provincial Council. Al-Karhout, speaking to CNN by telephone, said 80% of Karma, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) northeast of Falluja, was now under the control of Iraqi security forces after a large-scale operation that started Tuesday at dawn. Dozens of ISIS militants were killed in clashes with Iraqi soldiers, he said. The second phase of the operation is to clear any remnants of the ISIS force from the town and to remove any mines and bombs left behind. Iraqi security forces were fighting side by side with Shia Hashd Al-Shaabi units and local tribesmen, Al-Karhout said. Health officials in Falluja told CNN that the Falluja general hospital received the bodies of 25 ISIS militants killed in the Karma battle. ISIS is also battling in many places far from Tikrit, including Syria, where the militant group is more on the offensive, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a London-based nongovernmental organization. "Hundreds of ISIS militants launched a large scale offensive on Ras al Ayn, a Syrian strategic border town with Turkey on Friday," SOHR said in a statement Wednesday. "They made some advances there and seized Tal Khanzir." Clashes are still ongoing between the Kurdish People's Protection Units (Kurdish YPG) and ISIS fighters, with dozens killed from both sides, SOHR said. CNN's Kareem Khadder reported from Baghdad, and Laura Smith-Spark wrote in London. CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq, Jamie Crawford and Azadeh Ansari contributed to this report.
En stor offensiv av irakiska styrkor för att återta Tikrit startades för drygt en vecka sedan. ISIS-styrkor drar sig tillbaka mot Tikrits centrum. ISIS har inlett ett stort angrepp mot staden Ramadi, säger en tjänsteman. Skriv en artikel baserad på dessa höjdpunkter.
A major offensive of Iraqi forces to reclaim Tikrit was launched just over a week ago. ISIS forces are retreating towards Tikrit's center. ISIS has launched a major attack on the city of Ramadi, says one official. Write an article based on these highlights.
Bagdad, Irak (CNN)Gemensamma irakiska styrkor har nu kontroll över Tikrit Military Hospital när de fortsätter sin offensiv för att befria staden från ISIS. De gemensamma styrkorna hissade Iraks flagga från sjukhusets lokaler onsdag då de fortsatte sin offensiv in i staden från fyra sidor, sade den paramilitära Hashd al-Shaabi-styrkan. Den övervägande shiamilisen har samarbetat med irakiska trupper samt sunnikrigare för att försöka återta Tikrit från ISIS. Sjukhuset ligger några kvarter söder om presidentpalatset. Tikrit, som är mest känd för västerlänningar som födelseplats för den före detta irakiske diktatorn Saddam Hussein, föll i juni till IS, som har intagit stora områden i Irak och Syrien för vad man säger är dess islamiska kalifat. Den 1 mars beordrade Iraks premiärminister Haider al-Abadi irakiska styrkor att återta Tikrit och Salahuddinprovinsen. ISIS gjorde det dock inte lätt. Den sunnitiska extremistgruppen sprängde en nyckelbro nära Tikrit, vilket hindrade de gemensamma irakiska styrkorna från att använda den för att korsa floden Tigris för att närma sig staden österifrån. Trots detta har styrkor gjort framsteg, vilket tvingar ISIS-stridande att retirera mot stadens centrum från frontlinjen positioner, sade Hashd Al-Shaabis mediakontor. Det har gjorts flera misslyckade försök att återerövra Tikrit sedan andra halvåret 2014. Om Irak återtar kontrollen över staden kan det innebära att det är möjligt att återta Mosul - en stad som är 10 gånger större. Tikritoffensiven involverar runt 30 000 jaktplan. Iran har också bistått med rådgivare, vapen och ammunition till den irakiska regeringen. Enligt Pentagon kan iranier även operera tungt artilleri och raketgevär. General Martin Dempsey, ordförande i USA:s gemensamma stabschefer, berättade för en utfrågning i senatens utrikesutskott på onsdagen att samförståndet var att Irans inblandning var positiv i militära termer. "Allt som någon gör för att motverka ISIS är i huvudsak ett bra resultat", sade han. Men samtidigt, sade Dempsey, är USA oroat över vilken roll Iran kan söka på längre sikt när ISIS är besegrad. Medan irakiska styrkor hopade trycket på IS i Tikrit fortsatte den sunnitiska extremistgruppen att spänna sina muskler i Iraks västra Anbar-provinsen. ISIS inledde en ny offensiv mot staden Ramadi, väster om Bagdad, på onsdagsmorgonen sade Faleh al-Issawi, ställföreträdande chef för Anbar Provincial Council, i ett uttalande. Staden angrips "från alla håll", med ISIS avfyrar mer än 150 granater och raketer mot den, sade han. Ett 17-tal sprängladdningar har detonerats vid olika säkerhetskontroller och i stadens centrum, sa han. Ett fordon riktade sig mot en bro som ger tillträde till staden norrifrån. Detta är "den häftigaste attacken av ISIS" sett på Ramadi, sa al-Issawi. Irakiska styrkor har infört utegångsförbud för staden. Al-Issawi sade att det irakiska flygvapnet var i akut behov. "Vi behöver luftskydd för att avvärja dessa attacker men såg inte att det irakiska flygvapnet gjorde något -- vi såg bara ett flyganfall genom att koalitionen träffade ett mål", sade han. Tjänstemän tror "detta är ett ISIS svar på Tikrit operation som pågår i norr", tillade han. Han sade att det hade skett 10 dödsoffer bland irakiska styrkor i området men angav inte hur många som dödades och hur många som skadades. Under de 24 timmar från tisdag till onsdag morgon, fanns det 13 flyganfall i Irak och två i Syrien, USA-ledda koalitionen mot ISIS sade i ett uttalande. Strejkerna i Irak koncentrerades nära Mosul, Al Qaim och Falluja. Det fanns inga i Tikrit- eller Ramadi-områdena. På andra håll i Anbarprovinsen har irakiska säkerhetsstyrkor lyckats slå tillbaka större delen av staden Karma från ISIS, sade Sabah Al-Karhout, chef för Anbars provinsråd. Al-Karhout, som talade med CNN per telefon, sade 80 % av Karma, cirka 16 kilometer nordöst om Falluja, stod nu under kontroll av irakiska säkerhetsstyrkor efter en storskalig operation som startade tisdagen i gryningen. Han sade att flera av ISIS militanter dödades i sammandrabbningar med irakiska soldater. Den andra fasen av operationen är att rensa bort eventuella rester av ISIS-styrkan från staden och att ta bort eventuella minor och bomber som lämnats kvar. Irakiska säkerhetsstyrkor stred sida vid sida med Shia Hashd al-Shaabi-enheter och lokala stammar, sa Al-Karhout. Hälsovårdstjänstemän i Falluja berättade för CNN att Fallujas allmänna sjukhus fick kropparna av 25 ISIS-militanter som dödades i Karmastriden. ISIS kämpar också på många håll långt från Tikrit, bland annat i Syrien, där den militanta gruppen är mer på offensiven, enligt Syrianska observatoriet för mänskliga rättigheter (SOHR), en Londonbaserad icke-statlig organisation. "Hundratals av ISIS militanter inledde en storskalig offensiv mot Ras al Ayn, en syrisk strategisk gränsstad mot Turkiet på fredag", SOHR sade i ett uttalande onsdag. "De gjorde några närmanden där och grep Tal Khanzir." Krockspel pågår fortfarande mellan de kurdiska folkskyddsenheterna (kurdiska YPG) och ISIS-stridskrafterna, med dussintals dödade från båda sidor, sade SOHR. CNN:s Kareem Khadder rapporterade från Bagdad, och Laura Smith-Spark skrev i London. CNN:s Mohammed Tawfeeq, Jamie Crawford och Azadeh Ansari bidrog till denna rapport.
Baghdad, Iraq (CNN)Common Iraqi forces now have control of Tikrit Military Hospital as they continue their offensive to free the city from ISIS. The joint forces hoisted Iraq's flag from the hospital premises Wednesday as they continued their offensive into the city from four sides, said the paramilitary Hashd al-Shaabi force. The predominantly Shiamilis have collaborated with Iraqi troops as well as Sunni warriors to attempt to retake Tikrit from ISIS. The hospital is located a few blocks south of the Presidential Palace. Tikrit, who is best known for Westerners as the birthplace of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, fell in June to IS, which has taken large areas of Iraq and Syria for what it is said is its Islamic Caliphate. On 1 March, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered Iraqi forces to retake Tikrit and Salahuddin Province. However, ISIS did not make it easy. The Sunni extremist group blew up a key bridge near Tikrit, preventing the joint Iraqi forces from using it to cross the Tigris River to approach the city from the east. Nevertheless, forces have made progress, forcing ISIS fighters to retreat towards the city centre from frontline positions, said Hashd Al-Shaabi's media office. There have been several unsuccessful attempts to recapture Tikrit since the second half of 2014. If Iraq regains control of the city, it may mean that it is possible to reclaim Mosul - a city 10 times larger. The Tikrit Offensive involves around 30,000 fighters. Iran has also provided advisors, weapons and ammunition to the Iraqi government. According to the Pentagon, Iranians can also operate heavy artillery and rocket launchers. General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a hearing on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday that the consensus was that Iran's involvement was positive in military terms. "All that anyone is doing to counter ISIS is essentially a good result," he said. But at the same time, Dempsey said, the United States is concerned about what role Iran can seek in the longer term when ISIS is defeated. While Iraqi forces piled up pressure on IS in Tikrit, the Sunni extremist group continued to tighten its muscles in Iraq's western Anbar province. ISIS launched a new offensive against the city of Ramadi, west of Baghdad, on Wednesday morning Faleh al-Issawi, deputy head of the Anbar Provincial Council, said in a statement. The city is attacked "from all sides", with ISIS firing more than 150 grenades and rockets at it, he said. Some 17 explosive devices have been detonated at various security controls and in the city centre, he said. A vehicle aimed at a bridge that provides access to the city from the north. This is "the fiercest attack of ISIS" seen on Ramadi, al-Issawi said. Iraqi forces have imposed a curfew on the city. Al-Issawi said the Iraqi Air Force was in urgent need. "We need air protection to avert these attacks but did not see that the Iraqi Air Force did anything -- we only saw an air strike by the coalition hitting a target," he said. Officials believe "this is an ISIS response to Tikrit operation going on in the north," he added. He said there had been 10 casualties among Iraqi forces in the area but did not indicate how many were killed and how many were injured. During the 24 hours from Tuesday to Wednesday morning, there were 13 air strikes in Iraq and two in Syria, the US-led coalition against ISIS said in a statement. The strikes in Iraq were concentrated near Mosul, Al Qaim and Falluja. There were none in the Tikrit or Ramadi areas. Elsewhere in Anbar province, Iraqi security forces have managed to fight back most of the city of Karma from ISIS, said Sabah Al-Karhout, head of Anbar Provincial Council. Al-Karhout, speaking to CNN by phone, said 80% of Karma, about 16 kilometres north-east of Falluja, was now under the control of Iraqi security forces after a large-scale operation that started Tuesday at dawn. He said several of the ISIS militants were killed in clashes with Iraqi soldiers. The second phase of the operation is to clear any remnants of the ISIS force from the city and to remove any mines and bombs left behind. Iraqi security forces fought side by side with Shia Hashd al-Shaabi units and local tribes, Al-Karhout said. Health officials in Falluja told CNN that Falluja's general hospital received the bodies of 25 ISIS militants killed in the Karma battle. ISIS is also fighting in many places far from Tikrit, including in Syria, where the militant group is more on the offensive, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a London-based non-governmental organisation. "Hundreds of ISIS militants launched a large-scale offensive against Ras al Ayn, a Syrian strategic border town against Turkey on Friday," SOHR said in a statement Wednesday. "They made some advances there and arrested Tal Khanzir." Clash play is still ongoing between the Kurdish People's Protection Units (Kurdish YPG) and the ISIS forces, with dozens killed from both sides, SOHR said. CNN's Kareem Khadder reported from Baghdad, and Laura Smith-Spark wrote in London. CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq, Jamie Crawford and Azadeh Ansari contributed to this report.