The U.S
today launched airstrikes on Tikrit following a request for air support from
the Iraqi government to aid the Iraqi offensive to retake the city.
“I can
confirm that the government of Iraq has requested (U.S.-led) coalition support
for operation in Tikrit,” Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steven Warren said.
“Operations are ongoing.” (AFP, 25 March)
Other
members of the U.S.-led coalition were expected to take part in the airstrikes,
U.S. officials said.
Earlier
today, the Pentagon announced that the U.S. had already started carrying out
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) flights over Tikrit. AFP
said the ISR flights had begun over the weekend.
U.S.
direct participation in the Battle of Tikrit will add a new dimension to the
war against ISIL. Iran-backed coalition of predominately Shia militias and
Iraqi security forces, under the command of General Qasem Soleimani, was up to
now leading the offensive in Tikrit. The ISR flights and now airstrikes by the
U.S. would mean collaboration between the two coalition forces. However, there have not yet been any reaction from Tehran on the U.S. airstrikes on Tikrit.
The
Tikrit offensive, which began 2 March, had bogged down in recent days, even
though nearly 30,000 Shia militia fighters and Iraqi security forces had
outnumbered the ISIL insurgents holed up in the city center. The airstrikes
should now soften ISIL defensive positions, allowing the Iraqi forces to enter
and retake the city.
File
photo: U.S. fighter jets near Mosul Dam to strike ISIL positions; August 2014 (Al Arabiya)
2 comments:
the US planes should be careful to avoid avoiding dropping bombs on the Badr Army forces.
20,000 poorly led and poorly equipped akhoond peons are unable to take a small Town with 1000 defenders in it. good ol' US of A gotta pick up the tab...let there be no doubt who the weaklings are.
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