Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi arrived Thursday evening in Saladin governorate, northern Iraq, to follow up the battle of Tikrit, aimed at freeing the city from Daesh militants.
After launching the ground military operation, supported by US-led fighter jets, the Iraqi forces killed 12 Daesh fighters.
On Wednesday, al-Abadi announced the start of the offensive to recapture Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit.