epa04647321 Iraqi commander of Dijla military operation, Major General Abd al-Amir al-Zaidi (L) and the head of the Iraqi Shiite militia Badr forces Hadi al-Ameri (R) meet with Sunni tribal leaders (unseen), near Samara northern Iraq, 04 March 2015. Media reports said Iraqi security forces were poised to make further advances on 04 March, the third day of an offensive aimed at recapturing the city of Tikrit from Islamic State extremists, who have held it since last summer. State television quoted unnamed officials as saying forces moving northwards towards Tikrit from the city of Samarra would seek to capture Dur. EPA/ALI MOHAMMED