Baghdad, Mar 16 (EFE).- The tomb of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein reportedly has been destroyed during the ongoing assault to liberate the strategic city of Tikrit from the Islamic State.

According to what security officials told Efe on Monday, the mausoleum located in Al Ouya, south of Tikrit, was destroyed during fighting that erupted in the area between Iraqi government forces and IS fighters.

Hussein’s remains were no longer in the mausoleum, having been removed by his family last June, a month before the jihadists took control of the city.

Images broadcast of the tomb, which is of medium size, show that only a few of its pillars remain standing, indicating that it was destroyed with explosives or in bombardments.

Sunni tribal sheikh Mohammed al Biyari told Efe on Monday that the sabotage of the mausoleum is “a humiliation to the symbolism of Saddam and to the Iraqis who love him, whether they be Shiites or Sunnis.”

Al Biyari accused pro-government Shiite volunteers of destroying the tomb, adding that they also are murdering civilians and destroying homes in the Sunni parts of the city that are being liberated from the jihadists.

Since March 9, when the operation to drive the IS out of Tikrit was launched, complaints have increased about acts of revenge against Sunnis at the hands of Shiite militias.

The advance that initially had been under way in the area is now halted and, as Iraqi army spokesman Capt. Alaa al Aidani told Efe, “there exists a consensus in the Defense Ministry to put off the assault on Tikrit for several days.”

The decision is intended to give civilians more time to leave the city, located 150 km (93 mi.) north of Baghdad.

Despite that, Al Aidani said that Iraqi forces, supported by the Shiite militias, on Sunday night resumed combat with the jihadists on the city’s outskirts.

Interior Minister Mohammed al Gaban said Monday that the halting of the advance into the city is not a cease-fire but rather is intended to save the lives of civilians and prevent needless destruction of infrastructure.

The assault has been paralyzed for several days because the jihadists have planted many explosive devices in Tikrit to prevent the military from advancing. EFE