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Fierce clashes rage around Iraqi city of Tikrit Fierce clashes rage around IS-held Iraqi city of Tikrit
(about 3 hours later)
Fierce clashes are taking place around the Iraqi city of Tikrit, as soldiers and militiamen attack Islamic State positions in the centre, officials say.Fierce clashes are taking place around the Iraqi city of Tikrit, as soldiers and militiamen attack Islamic State positions in the centre, officials say.
Battles were reported in the suburb of al-Dour, the western al-Zuhur district, the northern area of Qadisiya, and near the Teaching Hospital in the south.Battles were reported in the suburb of al-Dour, the western al-Zuhur district, the northern area of Qadisiya, and near the Teaching Hospital in the south.
But the government advance has been slowed by roadside bombs planted by IS.But the government advance has been slowed by roadside bombs planted by IS.
Iranian commanders are helping to co-ordinate the operation, which is not backed by US-led coalition air strikes.Iranian commanders are helping to co-ordinate the operation, which is not backed by US-led coalition air strikes.
Iraqi forces have been launching air strikes since the operation began on Sunday, but it is unclear whether Iranian warplanes have also been involved. Iraqi Air Force helicopters and warplanes have conducted strikes since the offensive was launched on Sunday, but it is unclear whether Iranian aircraft have also been involved.
Roadside bombs 'Snipers'
A security source in the Samarra Operations Command in Salahuddin province told the BBC that the Iraqi Army personnel and members of the Popular Mobilisation force, an Iranian-backed Shia militia, were engaged in fierce battles on the outskirts of Tikrit on Tuesday. A security source in the Samarra Operations Command in Salahuddin province told the BBC that the Iraqi Army personnel and members of the Popular Mobilisation force, made up of Iranian-backed Shia militia, were engaged in fierce battles on the outskirts of Tikrit on Tuesday.
Clashes were taking place near the police station in al-Dour, a village to the south of the city that troops were reported to have entered on Monday afternoon, the source added.Clashes were taking place near the police station in al-Dour, a village to the south of the city that troops were reported to have entered on Monday afternoon, the source added.
Inside Tikrit, government forces were attacking IS positions in al-Zuhur, Qadisiya and the area around the Teaching Hospital, which is being bombarded by artillery and aircraft.Inside Tikrit, government forces were attacking IS positions in al-Zuhur, Qadisiya and the area around the Teaching Hospital, which is being bombarded by artillery and aircraft.
The source at the Samarra Operations Command also reported that Hamrin district, 20km (12 miles) east of al-Dour, had been recaptured by the army and Popular Mobilisation fighters on Tuesday. The source at the Samarra Operations Command also reported that Hamrin district, 20km (12 miles) east of al-Dour, had been recaptured.
During the battle, there were two attempted suicide car bomb attacks by IS militants. The militants were shot and their vehicles exploded before reaching the troops.During the battle, there were two attempted suicide car bomb attacks by IS militants. The militants were shot and their vehicles exploded before reaching the troops.
A senior militia commander told the BBC that progress inside Tikrit had been slowed by the large numbers of roadside bombs planted on main roads leading to the city centre by IS militants since they seized control of Saddam Hussein's hometown in June. IS announced separately on Tuesday that a US national who used the nom de guerre Abu Dawud al-Amriki had carried out a suicide attack in Salahuddin province.
Shia militia to the fore
How Iran is involved in battle for Tikrit
Tikrit campaign key to rolling back IS advance
Iran's Revolutionary Guards take lead on foreign affairs
A militia commander told the BBC that progress inside Tikrit had been slowed by the large number of roadside bombs planted on main roads by IS militants since they seized Saddam Hussein's hometown in June.
Moen al-Kadhimi, a leader of the Popular Mobilisation force, said its fighters were advancing carefully.Moen al-Kadhimi, a leader of the Popular Mobilisation force, said its fighters were advancing carefully.
"We're not in a rush to end the Tikrit operation. We're very careful in our planning, especially because the IS military strategy is based on planting explosive devices on the roads, in houses, everything... even lampposts." "We're not in a rush to end the Tikrit operation," he added. "We're very careful in our planning, especially because the IS military strategy is based on planting explosive devices on the roads, in houses, everything... even lampposts."
"The other key strategy is the use of snipers," he added. "This is because they're not ready to fight us face-to-face." "The other key strategy is the use of snipers. This is because they're not ready to fight us face-to-face."
Iran 'not supervising'Iran 'not supervising'
Mr Kadhimi also played down reports that Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, was co-ordinating the offensive.Mr Kadhimi also played down reports that Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, was co-ordinating the offensive.
Since the advance across Iraq last summer, in which IS took control of parts of northern Iraq including Mosul and Tikrit, Gen Soleimani has personally overseen the defence of the capital, Baghdad, and helped to organise and arm Shia militia. Since the advance across Iraq last summer, Gen Soleimani has personally overseen the defence of the capital, Baghdad.
On Monday, he was pictured speaking to Iraqi army and militia commanders in the nearby city of Samarra, and was reportedly later seen directing operations on the eastern flank of Tikrit from the village of Albu Rayash, about 55km (35 miles) away. On Monday, he was pictured speaking to Iraqi army and militia commanders in the nearby city of Samarra, and was reportedly later seen directing operations on the eastern flank of Tikrit from the village of Albu Rayash.
But Mr Kadhimi said Gen Soleimani was "not fully supervising the operation".But Mr Kadhimi said Gen Soleimani was "not fully supervising the operation".
"We receive our orders and instructions from the Iraqi military leadership, but we make use of the advice of the foreign advisers," he explained."We receive our orders and instructions from the Iraqi military leadership, but we make use of the advice of the foreign advisers," he explained.
The militia leader also appealed for greater assistance from the US-led coalition against IS, calling on it to do more to help Iraqi government forces locate IS positions. The impact of the air campaign in Iraq had been "very minimal", he noted. The militia leader also appealed for greater assistance from the US-led coalition and described the impact of its air campaign as "very minimal".
A spokesman for the coalition told the Washington Post that it had been hitting IS targets in Iraq since August and that it had not been conducting air strikes in support of the Tikrit operation because the Iraqi authorities had not requested them. A spokesman for the coalition told the Washington Post that it had not been conducting air strikes in support of the Tikrit operation because the Iraqi authorities had not requested them.
There were also conflicting reports about whether the US was given advance notice of the offensive. The UN has meanwhile warned that the operation in Tikrit "must be conducted with the utmost care to avoid civilian casualties, and with full respect for fundamental human rights principles and humanitarian law".
Militia leaders have vowed to seek revenge for the massacre of hundreds of soldiers, most of them Shia, at nearby Camp Speicher in June.