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| Iraqi forces seek to encircle IS fighters in Tikrit | Iraqi forces seek to encircle IS fighters in Tikrit |
| (3 months later) | |
| Iraqi army soldiers and Shia militiamen are seeking to encircle Islamic State fighters in Tikrit, on the third day of a major operation to retake the city. | Iraqi army soldiers and Shia militiamen are seeking to encircle Islamic State fighters in Tikrit, on the third day of a major operation to retake the city. |
| State-run al-Iraqiya TV said government forces were "advancing" but progress has been slowed by roadside bombs. | State-run al-Iraqiya TV said government forces were "advancing" but progress has been slowed by roadside bombs. |
| Security sources said they had captured villages and oil fields east of the city, and blocked a key IS supply line to neighbouring Diyala province. | Security sources said they had captured villages and oil fields east of the city, and blocked a key IS supply line to neighbouring Diyala province. |
| The offensive is being overseen at least in part by an Iranian general. | The offensive is being overseen at least in part by an Iranian general. |
| On Tuesday, the top US general said Iran's role in Tikrit could be positive, as long as it did not fuel sectarian tensions. | On Tuesday, the top US general said Iran's role in Tikrit could be positive, as long as it did not fuel sectarian tensions. |
| 'Suffocate then pounce' | 'Suffocate then pounce' |
| Some 30,000 soldiers and militiamen from the Popular Mobilisation (al-Hashd al-Shaabi) force, backed by Iraqi jets and helicopters, have advanced gradually since the offensive began on Monday. | |
| On Wednesday, a source in the Samarra Operations Command told the BBC that government forces had taken control of the village of al-Maibdi, on the road between Tikrit and the Kurdish-controlled city of Kirkuk, as well as the nearby Ajil and Alas oilfields. The road was a key supply route for IS between Salahuddin and Diyala provinces, the source said. | On Wednesday, a source in the Samarra Operations Command told the BBC that government forces had taken control of the village of al-Maibdi, on the road between Tikrit and the Kurdish-controlled city of Kirkuk, as well as the nearby Ajil and Alas oilfields. The road was a key supply route for IS between Salahuddin and Diyala provinces, the source said. |
| Another official told All Iraq News that the villages of Siha and Mazraat al-Rahim, just to the north of Tikrit in al-Alam district, had also been retaken. | Another official told All Iraq News that the villages of Siha and Mazraat al-Rahim, just to the north of Tikrit in al-Alam district, had also been retaken. |
| However, the soldiers and militiamen have not breached IS defences around Tikrit and al-Dour, a town 19km (12 miles) to the south, which officials say is another stronghold of the jihadist group. | However, the soldiers and militiamen have not breached IS defences around Tikrit and al-Dour, a town 19km (12 miles) to the south, which officials say is another stronghold of the jihadist group. |
| Military officials said on Tuesday that al-Dour had been surrounded and sealed off, but that an assault on the town had not yet been launched. | Military officials said on Tuesday that al-Dour had been surrounded and sealed off, but that an assault on the town had not yet been launched. |
| Popular Mobilisation | Popular Mobilisation |
| Can Iraq's army dislodge Islamic State? | Can Iraq's army dislodge Islamic State? |
| How Iran is involved in battle for Tikrit | How Iran is involved in battle for Tikrit |
| Tikrit campaign key to rolling back IS advance | Tikrit campaign key to rolling back IS advance |
| A senior army commander said the operation was focused on preventing IS from launching more attacks, and cutting supply lines to stop reinforcements and weapons reaching Tikrit. | A senior army commander said the operation was focused on preventing IS from launching more attacks, and cutting supply lines to stop reinforcements and weapons reaching Tikrit. |
| The next step would be to "surround the towns completely, suffocate them and then pounce," Lt Gen Abdul Amir al-Zaidi told the AFP news agency. | The next step would be to "surround the towns completely, suffocate them and then pounce," Lt Gen Abdul Amir al-Zaidi told the AFP news agency. |
| Gen Zaidi said progress along roads into Tikrit had been slowed by sniper fire and roadside bombs planted by IS militants since they seized Saddam Hussein's hometown last June. On one 8km (5-mile) stretch of road, soldiers found about 100 mines and bombs. | Gen Zaidi said progress along roads into Tikrit had been slowed by sniper fire and roadside bombs planted by IS militants since they seized Saddam Hussein's hometown last June. On one 8km (5-mile) stretch of road, soldiers found about 100 mines and bombs. |
| Sectarianism fears | Sectarianism fears |
| Troops taking part in the offensive have so far not received the support of US-led coalition aircraft. | Troops taking part in the offensive have so far not received the support of US-led coalition aircraft. |
| Coalition officials said air strikes had not been requested by the Iraqi authorities, but there are reportedly concerns about the prominent role of Iran and its allied Shia militia. | Coalition officials said air strikes had not been requested by the Iraqi authorities, but there are reportedly concerns about the prominent role of Iran and its allied Shia militia. |
| Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, was said on Tuesday to have been directing operations from near the frontline east of Tikrit. | Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, was said on Tuesday to have been directing operations from near the frontline east of Tikrit. |
| He was seen alongside the leader of the Popular Mobilisation, Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis, and Transport Minister Hadi al-Amiri, who heads the powerful Badr Organisation. | He was seen alongside the leader of the Popular Mobilisation, Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis, and Transport Minister Hadi al-Amiri, who heads the powerful Badr Organisation. |
| Iranian troops are also reportedly operating artillery, rocket launchers and aerial drones. | Iranian troops are also reportedly operating artillery, rocket launchers and aerial drones. |
| Gen Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Tikrit campaign signalled a new level of Iranian involvement but added that it could turn out to be "a positive thing". | Gen Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Tikrit campaign signalled a new level of Iranian involvement but added that it could turn out to be "a positive thing". |
| "This is the most overt conduct of Iranian support, in the form of artillery and other things," he said in a response to questions from members of the Senate armed services committee. | "This is the most overt conduct of Iranian support, in the form of artillery and other things," he said in a response to questions from members of the Senate armed services committee. |
| "Frankly, it will only be a problem if it results in sectarianism." | "Frankly, it will only be a problem if it results in sectarianism." |
| The UN warned that the operation had to be conducted "with full respect for fundamental human rights principles and humanitarian law" after militia leaders vowed to seek revenge for the massacre of hundreds of soldiers, most of them Shia, at Camp Speicher near Tikrit in June. | The UN warned that the operation had to be conducted "with full respect for fundamental human rights principles and humanitarian law" after militia leaders vowed to seek revenge for the massacre of hundreds of soldiers, most of them Shia, at Camp Speicher near Tikrit in June. |