After Two
Days of U.S.-led Coalition Airstrikes against ISIL Positions
Several
thousands Iraqi security forces and fighters from the Popular Mobilization
Forces (PMF), composed primarily of Shia militia fighters, have resumed their
offensive on the ground in Tikrit after a two-week pause, the Pentagon
spokesman COL Steve Warren said today.
Three
Shia militia groups, KH, AAH and Peace Brigades, have withdrawn from the
battlefield in protest to U.S. airstrikes of the past 48 hours against ISIL
positions in Tikrit. Pentagon said their withdrawal was welcome.
“There
are primarily the Shia militia units that we had no interest in being on the
battlefield in the first place,” Warren said. “These are the Shia militia that
are clearly linked or often infiltrated by Iran, so their departure from the
battlefield is welcome.” (Defense.gov, 27 March)
The
forces that remain on the battlefield are loyal to the government of Iraq and
under the direct control of Iraq’s Ministry of Defense, Warren said.
Meanwhile,
U.S.-led coalition airstrikes against ISIL targets continued in the area today.
They began on 25 March at the request of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.
Photo credit: Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid al-Obaidi (center) announcing the pending resumption of offensive operations on the ground in Tikrit; 26 March 2015 (Reuters/Washington Post)
Photo credit: Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid al-Obaidi (center) announcing the pending resumption of offensive operations on the ground in Tikrit; 26 March 2015 (Reuters/Washington Post)
The Islamic Republic need not apply.
ReplyDeleteThat was the reasn that there were no airstrikes or supplies of ammunition to the Abramses and so on.....
Maybe more wasted Shiites' blood was better than their growing presence....
A-F
Iraqis and the U.S. together can win, but they need to keep the incompetent Iranians out. Maliki's biggest mistake was believing that iran would protect him against these few thousand isis rebels. Iran has always been utterly incompetent in military matters. Whether you look over 2000 years ago, 1400 years ago, or 20 years ago, you will see nothing but iran getting completely and totally crushed militarily. You would have to be a fool to believe in such a country!
ReplyDeleteAnon 6:28 AM
DeleteIran/Persia was the only country on this planet that defeated the mighty Roman empire several times over.And since the establishment of Iran nearly 2600 years ago by Cyrus the great it still remains intact. And will continue doing so for the next millennia. So much for the utter incompetence of Iranians.
Someone needs some serious workout on their knowledge of ancient and modern history!!
DeleteSomeone just needs a good doctor and after this a good history book. By the way in the last 17 years Iran is the only one that suffered no attacks despite the us puppet regimes. Poor anonymous 06:28
Delete