Iraqi Shiite fighters, members of Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation units backing the government, fire Howitzer Cannons towards positions of the Islamic State (IS) group on March 7, 2015, on the outskirts of the Iraqi town of Ad-Dawr during a military operation to retake the Tikrit area. Iraqi forces faced tough resistance from jihadist fighters around Tikrit, but the top US military officer said ahead of a Baghdad visit that victory was only a matter of time. AFP PHOTO / AHMAD AL-RUBAYE