Iraqi special forces advanced on central Tikrit yesterday, backed by US-led coalition planes in the largest offensive yet against Islamic State militants holding out in Saddam Hussein’s home city.
Coalition jets launched their first air strikes against Islamic State targets in Tikrit on Wednesday, coming off the sidelines to aid Iraqi forces against the Sunni Islamist militants.
Underlying the complex web of loyalties behind the conflict, a senior US general said Washington had demanded the withdrawal of Iran-backed Shi’ite militias fighting alongside Iraq’s government before agreeing to take part.
Two Shi’ite Muslim groups in turn said they were suspending participation in the fight in protest against the US involvement.
Iraqi and coalition forces conduct strikes in order to remove the enemy and then our forces advance
Some of the militias have targeted Americans in past Iraqi conflicts, but the fight against Islamic State has put them on the same side. A spokesman for Iraq’s Defence Ministry said the coalition had carried out 17 strikes in Tikrit so far, in addition to 24 by Iraq’s own airforce.
“The Iraqi and coalition air forces conduct strikes in order to remove the enemy and then our forces advance,” said General Tahsin Ibrahim Sadiq. “When the attacking forces advance, they clear any pockets of resistance and allow for the rest of our forces to move in and barricade further ahead.”
More than 20,000 Iraqi troops and allied Shi’ite paramilitary groups known as Hashid Shaabi have been taking part in the offensive, which began in early March but was brought to a halt around two weeks ago by homemade bombs and booby-traps.
Iraqi forces retook the area surrounding Tikrit in the first week of the campaign, and entered some districts of the city itself, which had been overrun in June by Islamic State.
But the militants have held out for more than three weeks in several areas including a sprawling complex of palaces that was built during Saddam’s rule and covers an area of around six kilometres overlooking the Tigris river, according to provincial officials.
The mayor of Tikrit said coalition and Iraqi planes were striking the palace complex as well as the northern Qadisiya district, part of which is still held by insurgents.