This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-31833592
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Islamic State conflict: Iraqi troops advance in Tikrit | Islamic State conflict: Iraqi troops advance in Tikrit |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Iraqi government forces have retaken a large part of north-western Tikrit as they battle IS militants to recapture the city, security officials say. | Iraqi government forces have retaken a large part of north-western Tikrit as they battle IS militants to recapture the city, security officials say. |
| Soldiers and Shia militiamen have reportedly raised the Iraqi flag at a hospital in the Qadisiya district, two-thirds of which is under their control. | Soldiers and Shia militiamen have reportedly raised the Iraqi flag at a hospital in the Qadisiya district, two-thirds of which is under their control. |
| But they have so far not made much progress in Tikrit's south and west. | But they have so far not made much progress in Tikrit's south and west. |
| The operation to retake the hometown of Saddam Hussein is the biggest offensive yet by the Iraqi government. | The operation to retake the hometown of Saddam Hussein is the biggest offensive yet by the Iraqi government. |
| Iran is helping to co-ordinate the 30,000 soldiers and militiamen involved, who are not being supported by US-led coalition air strikes | Iran is helping to co-ordinate the 30,000 soldiers and militiamen involved, who are not being supported by US-led coalition air strikes |
| IS captured Tikrit last June after the Iraqi army collapsed in the face of a lightning advance by the group across northern and western Iraq. | IS captured Tikrit last June after the Iraqi army collapsed in the face of a lightning advance by the group across northern and western Iraq. |
| Bridge 'bombed' | Bridge 'bombed' |
| On Wednesday, a security official at the Samarra Operations Command in Salahuddin province told the BBC that government forces had entered north-eastern Tikrit after 10 days of heavy fighting in towns and villages along the Tigris river to the north and south. | On Wednesday, a security official at the Samarra Operations Command in Salahuddin province told the BBC that government forces had entered north-eastern Tikrit after 10 days of heavy fighting in towns and villages along the Tigris river to the north and south. |
| He said soldiers and Iranian-backed Popular Mobilisation (Hashid Shaabi) militiamen now controlled two-thirds of Qadisya, Tikrit's largest district, and had raised the Iraqi flag at the nearby military hospital. | He said soldiers and Iranian-backed Popular Mobilisation (Hashid Shaabi) militiamen now controlled two-thirds of Qadisya, Tikrit's largest district, and had raised the Iraqi flag at the nearby military hospital. |
| Raed al-Jubouri, the governor of Salahuddin province, of which Tikrit is the capital, also announced that the "purging" of the Qadisiya district was under way. | Raed al-Jubouri, the governor of Salahuddin province, of which Tikrit is the capital, also announced that the "purging" of the Qadisiya district was under way. |
| The security official added that government forces had earlier retaken the village of Samra, to the north-east, meaning they now had complete control of al-Alam district. | The security official added that government forces had earlier retaken the village of Samra, to the north-east, meaning they now had complete control of al-Alam district. |
| But he cautioned that clashes were still taking place in the south of Qadisiya and the government forces had failed to make any progress elsewhere in the city. | But he cautioned that clashes were still taking place in the south of Qadisiya and the government forces had failed to make any progress elsewhere in the city. |
| The Reuters news agency reported that the advance in Qadisiya stalled when troops came under fire from snipers and had to pause to defuse roadside bombs and booby-trapped buildings. | The Reuters news agency reported that the advance in Qadisiya stalled when troops came under fire from snipers and had to pause to defuse roadside bombs and booby-trapped buildings. |
| The official at the Samarra Operations Command also said an assault had been launched from the motorway west of Tikrit towards the al-Hayakil and al-Diyum districts, and the city's industrial zone. | The official at the Samarra Operations Command also said an assault had been launched from the motorway west of Tikrit towards the al-Hayakil and al-Diyum districts, and the city's industrial zone. |
| On Tuesday, officials said IS militants had bombed a bridge over the Tigris leading to al-Alam to slow the advance of government forces. | On Tuesday, officials said IS militants had bombed a bridge over the Tigris leading to al-Alam to slow the advance of government forces. |
| The US-led coalition says it has not carried out air strikes in support of the offensive because the Iraqi authorities have not requested them. | The US-led coalition says it has not carried out air strikes in support of the offensive because the Iraqi authorities have not requested them. |
| There are reportedly concerns about the overt involvement of the Iranian military in the operation, with top Revolutionary Guards commander Gen Qasem Soleimani allegedly overseeing it. | |
| But speaking in Washington, US Gen Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said: "The activities of the Iranians to support the Iraqi security forces is a positive thing in military terms against [IS]." | |
| "But we are all concerned about what happens after the drums stop beating and [IS] is defeated, and whether the government of Iraq will remain on a path to provide an inclusive government for all of the various groups within it. We are very concerned about that." | |
| There have been fears that Shia militiamen fighting alongside government forces will carry out reprisals for the massacre by IS fighters and allied Sunni tribesmen of at least 700 soldiers, most of them Shia, at nearby Camp Speicher in June. | |
| The offensive on Tikrit is the first attempt to push out IS from a major urban centre in Iraq, and is seen as a test for a planned operation to retake Mosul, the largest city in the north. | The offensive on Tikrit is the first attempt to push out IS from a major urban centre in Iraq, and is seen as a test for a planned operation to retake Mosul, the largest city in the north. |
| US military officials have said that the assault on Mosul will likely begin in April or May and involve up to 25,000 Iraqi troops, but have said it could be delayed if government forces are not ready. | US military officials have said that the assault on Mosul will likely begin in April or May and involve up to 25,000 Iraqi troops, but have said it could be delayed if government forces are not ready. |
| 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 |
| Gen Soleimani: Iran’s rising star | Gen Soleimani: Iran’s rising star |
| Tikrit campaign key to rolling back IS advance | Tikrit campaign key to rolling back IS advance |