The Iraqi military says it has begun a major operation to force fighters from the Islamic State group from the northern city of Tikrit.
Officials said the offensive began early Tuesday to retake the city, which is the hometown of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
The news comes a day after the U.S. military helped Iraqi forces and Kurds recapture a major strategic northern dam from the Sunni extremists.
President Barack Obama said if the militants breached the Mosul Dam, it would have brought "catastrophic" floods to northern Iraq, killing thousands.
In a brief White House statement, Obama said the U.S. is seeing important progress in Iraq, helping push back terrorists and providing arms and aid to Kurdish and Iraqi forces.
He said the U.S. will continue to support Iraq's newly-developing unity government and will also build an international coalition to bring humanitarian aid to Iraqis.
The Pentagon said it carried out 15 more airstrikes Monday against Islamic State militants near the dam, destroying more of their fighting positions and weapons.
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