ISIS fighters are in control of many strongholds in the -mainly Sunni- Salahuddin (Saladin) area north of Baghdad, as well as other cities along the river Tiger. At the same time, many Shiite guardsmen have gathered to fight against ISIS.

“The Prime Minister and leader of the armed forces… declares the beginning of the campaign to liberate Salahuddin”, was the message sent by the office of Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi. That same day, the Iraqi PM met with the heads of the armed forces in the area, with thousands of soldiers and civilian guardsmen gathering to fight against ISIS.