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Iraqis Plan to Take Lead in Driving ISIS From Mosul Iraqis Plan to Take Lead in Driving ISIS From Mosul
(about 2 hours later)
BAGHDAD — Underscoring the Iraqi government’s determination to control the timetable and tactics in the battle against the Islamic State, the country’s defense minister on Wednesday declared that the most challenging operation, driving the militants from Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, would be “planned, timed and executed by Iraqis.” BAGHDAD — Underscoring the Iraqi government’s determination to control the timetable and tactics in the battle against the Islamic State, the country’s defense minister on Wednesday declared that the most challenging operation, driving the militants from Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, would be “planned, timed and executed by Iraqis.”
The comments from the minister, Khaled al-Obeidi, came a day after tensions surfaced in the Iraqi-American alliance against the group, and as Islamic State militants used guerrilla tactics to hold off a major government effort to retake the city of Tikrit for a third day. Thousands of people have fled their homes in and around the Tikrit, United Nations officials said.The comments from the minister, Khaled al-Obeidi, came a day after tensions surfaced in the Iraqi-American alliance against the group, and as Islamic State militants used guerrilla tactics to hold off a major government effort to retake the city of Tikrit for a third day. Thousands of people have fled their homes in and around the Tikrit, United Nations officials said.
Amid hopes that the Tikrit offensive could become the first step in a broader effort to seize back territory from Islamic State fighters, Iraqi officials have bridled at estimates by some American officials that the Iraqi forces would not be ready to move against Mosul for months. American officials had also expressed concerns about the leading role of Iranian military officials and Iranian-aligned Shiite militias in the new offensive.Amid hopes that the Tikrit offensive could become the first step in a broader effort to seize back territory from Islamic State fighters, Iraqi officials have bridled at estimates by some American officials that the Iraqi forces would not be ready to move against Mosul for months. American officials had also expressed concerns about the leading role of Iranian military officials and Iranian-aligned Shiite militias in the new offensive.
But as the battle continued in Tikrit, American officials, as well as some of their Iraqi counterparts, insisted that the two countries’ relationship was healthy and that close military collaboration would continue against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, ISIL or by the Arabic acronym Daesh.But as the battle continued in Tikrit, American officials, as well as some of their Iraqi counterparts, insisted that the two countries’ relationship was healthy and that close military collaboration would continue against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, ISIL or by the Arabic acronym Daesh.
Even though United States warplanes are not participating in the Tikrit battle, as they have in others, the Iraqi government still welcomes continued international assistance, said Ali al-Alaaq, a close aide to Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.Even though United States warplanes are not participating in the Tikrit battle, as they have in others, the Iraqi government still welcomes continued international assistance, said Ali al-Alaaq, a close aide to Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.
“Today in Salahuddin, we were hoping that the Americans could participate in the battle against ISIS, but we have launched against ISIS alone,” he said, adding, “We are expecting that the support will be continued, especially since we are facing a very important task in Mosul and other cities in Iraq.”“Today in Salahuddin, we were hoping that the Americans could participate in the battle against ISIS, but we have launched against ISIS alone,” he said, adding, “We are expecting that the support will be continued, especially since we are facing a very important task in Mosul and other cities in Iraq.”
American officials, too, tried to play down signs of strain between the United States and Iraq.American officials, too, tried to play down signs of strain between the United States and Iraq.
“The United States is proud of its partnership with Iraqi forces, which has made huge impacts in weakening Daesh, and we are looking forward to more coordination with the Iraqi forces,” the United States ambassador to Iraq, Stuart E. Jones, told reporters after visiting Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the country’s most prominent Shiite cleric, in the southern city of Najaf.“The United States is proud of its partnership with Iraqi forces, which has made huge impacts in weakening Daesh, and we are looking forward to more coordination with the Iraqi forces,” the United States ambassador to Iraq, Stuart E. Jones, told reporters after visiting Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the country’s most prominent Shiite cleric, in the southern city of Najaf.
He appeared to be reassuring Iraqi officials that the United States did not oppose the use of Shiite militias known as popular mobilization forces. Those militias have played a crucial role in the ground fight since many regular army units disintegrated as the Islamic State seized much of northern and western Iraq last June.He appeared to be reassuring Iraqi officials that the United States did not oppose the use of Shiite militias known as popular mobilization forces. Those militias have played a crucial role in the ground fight since many regular army units disintegrated as the Islamic State seized much of northern and western Iraq last June.
“Our direct coordination is with the Iraqi security forces, and we count on the security forces to coordinate with the popular mobilization forces and other forces that are cooperating in the fight against Daesh,” he said.“Our direct coordination is with the Iraqi security forces, and we count on the security forces to coordinate with the popular mobilization forces and other forces that are cooperating in the fight against Daesh,” he said.
The remarks appeared to dovetail with comments made late Monday by Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who offered a counterpoint to other United States officials who expressed concern that members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps were participating in the battle. On Wednesday, new militia reinforcements — augmenting a force that began with about 20,000 militia fighters and 10,000 regular soldiers — arrived to the outskirts of towns near Tikrit, Al Dour, Al Alam and Albu Aji. But snipers, roadside bombs and other guerrilla tactics prevented them from advancing further, according to military officials in Samarra, another city in Salahuddin Province. A major bridge crossing to Tikrit from the town of Tuz Khurmato had been wired with bombs by the Islamic State, they said.
General Dempsey told a Senate hearing that while the Tikrit campaign represented the heaviest and most open Iranian involvement in Iraq in more than a decade of activity there, it could still have a good result.
“This is the most overt conduct of Iranian support, in the form of artillery and other things,” he told the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Frankly, it will only be a problem if it results in sectarianism.”
American officials are walking a careful line as the White House seeks a nuclear agreement with Tehran while trying simultaneously to limit Iranian influence in Iraq and allow the Iraqi government to maintain ownership of the fight against Islamic State.
New militia reinforcements — augmenting a force that began with about 20,000 militia fighters and 10,000 regular soldiers — arrived to the outskirts of towns near Tikrit, Al Dour, Al Alam and Albu Aji. But snipers, roadside bombs and other guerrilla tactics prevented them from advancing further, according to military officials in Samarra, another city in Salahuddin Province. A major bridge crossing to Tikrit from the town of Tuz Khurmato had been wired with bombs by the Islamic State, they said.
United Nations officials said that about 24,000 people had been driven from their homes in the province during a week of fighting.United Nations officials said that about 24,000 people had been driven from their homes in the province during a week of fighting.
One Sunni lawmaker, Maysoon al-Damluji, said that she supported an offensive in Tikrit, and noted that Sunnis there and in the surrounding province of Salahuddin had suffered under the Islamic State. Her only concern, she said, was the Iranian leadership.One Sunni lawmaker, Maysoon al-Damluji, said that she supported an offensive in Tikrit, and noted that Sunnis there and in the surrounding province of Salahuddin had suffered under the Islamic State. Her only concern, she said, was the Iranian leadership.
“We have enough Iraqis with military expertise,” Ms. Damluji said.“We have enough Iraqis with military expertise,” Ms. Damluji said.
Still, she said, she did not see “indications of any cracks” in the overall Iraqi-American alliance.
Separately, Islamic State supporters have been circulating a report online that an American member of the militant group took part in a suicide truck bombing on Monday on the outskirts of Samarra, the jumping-off point for the Iraqi assault on Tikrit.Separately, Islamic State supporters have been circulating a report online that an American member of the militant group took part in a suicide truck bombing on Monday on the outskirts of Samarra, the jumping-off point for the Iraqi assault on Tikrit.
According to the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks militants’ online activity, the message referred to the bomber only as Abu Dawoud al-Amriki and said that his suicide attack had killed dozens of Shiites, referring to them with slurs against the sect. Iraqi military officials confirmed there had been a truck bombing in Samarra on Monday, and said it had killed three militia volunteers and wounded 12, with no information about the bomber’s identity.According to the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks militants’ online activity, the message referred to the bomber only as Abu Dawoud al-Amriki and said that his suicide attack had killed dozens of Shiites, referring to them with slurs against the sect. Iraqi military officials confirmed there had been a truck bombing in Samarra on Monday, and said it had killed three militia volunteers and wounded 12, with no information about the bomber’s identity.