A palace of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, caught in the battle between ISIS militants and Iraqi forces, is pictured in his hometown of the northern city of Tikrit, Iraq on April 1, 2015.
A palace of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, caught in the battle between ISIS militants and Iraqi forces, is pictured in his hometown of the northern city of Tikrit, Iraq on April 1, 2015.
Hamdi Alkhshali/CNN
One of Hussein's palaces, which was bombed amid the fight to push ISIS out of the city.
One of Hussein's palaces, which was bombed amid the fight to push ISIS out of the city.
Hamdi Alkhshali/CNN
A distant view of the palace. While it remains standing,<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcnn.com%2F2015%2F03%2F16%2Fmiddleeast%2Firaq-isis-babylon-safe%2F"> the tomb of the former dictator was flattened</a> in the outskirt of the town of Awja earlier last month.
A distant view of the palace. While it remains standing, the tomb of the former dictator was flattened in the outskirt of the town of Awja earlier last month.
Hamdi Alkhshali/CNN
Smoke rises from a government building. As Iraqi forces, aided by Shiite militiamen, took control of Tikrit on April 1, they found vehicles laden with explosives and buildings that might be booby-trapped.
Smoke rises from a government building. As Iraqi forces, aided by Shiite militiamen, took control of Tikrit on April 1, they found vehicles laden with explosives and buildings that might be booby-trapped.
Hamdi Alkhshali/CNN
The liberation of Tikrit from ISIS represents a significant victory for the Iraqi government, which had tried -- and failed -- to retake the city many times before.
The liberation of Tikrit from ISIS represents a significant victory for the Iraqi government, which had tried -- and failed -- to retake the city many times before.
Hamdi Alkhshali/CNN
An ISIS suicide bulldozer, tipped on its side, filled with barrel bombs.
An ISIS suicide bulldozer, tipped on its side, filled with barrel bombs.
Hamdi Alkhshali/CNN