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 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Islamic State conflict: US predicts Iraqi victory in Tikrit | Islamic State conflict: US predicts Iraqi victory in Tikrit |
| (4 months later) | |
| The top US general has said "there is no doubt" Iraqi forces will drive Islamic State (IS) militants out of Tikrit, as the troops reportedly entered the city's northern areas. | The top US general has said "there is no doubt" Iraqi forces will drive Islamic State (IS) militants out of Tikrit, as the troops reportedly entered the city's northern areas. |
| Gen Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was speaking at a hearing in the Senate in Washington. | Gen Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was speaking at a hearing in the Senate in Washington. |
| Iraqi officials earlier said government troops and Shia militias held two-thirds of Tikrit's Qadisiya district. | Iraqi officials earlier said government troops and Shia militias held two-thirds of Tikrit's Qadisiya district. |
| 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. But the operation is not being supported by US-led coalition air strikes. | Iran is helping to co-ordinate the 30,000 soldiers and militiamen involved. But the operation is 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. |
| In a separate development, Iraqi officials showed the BBC videos which they said confirmed that IS militants were using chlorine gas in some crude homemade bombs aimed at advancing Iraqi security forces. | In a separate development, Iraqi officials showed the BBC videos which they said confirmed that IS militants were using chlorine gas in some crude homemade bombs aimed at advancing Iraqi security forces. |
| The resulting explosions sent thick plumes of orange smoke high into the air, the BBC's Ahmed Maher reports. | The resulting explosions sent thick plumes of orange smoke high into the air, the BBC's Ahmed Maher reports. |
| The canisters inside these bombs contained small concentrations of the chemical agent and in open ground are unlikely to be lethal, our correspondent says, adding that they are mainly designed by the militants to create more fear than harm. | The canisters inside these bombs contained small concentrations of the chemical agent and in open ground are unlikely to be lethal, our correspondent says, adding that they are mainly designed by the militants to create more fear than harm. |
| Bridge 'bombed' | Bridge 'bombed' |
| "There's no doubt that the combination of the [Iranian-backed] Popular Mobilisation forces and the Iraqi security forces, they're going to run ISIL [IS] out of Tikrit," Gen Dempsey said. | "There's no doubt that the combination of the [Iranian-backed] Popular Mobilisation forces and the Iraqi security forces, they're going to run ISIL [IS] out of Tikrit," Gen Dempsey said. |
| There have been concerns about the overt involvement of the Iranian military in the operation, with top Revolutionary Guards commander Gen Qasem Soleimani reportedly overseeing it. | There have been concerns about the overt involvement of the Iranian military in the operation, with top Revolutionary Guards commander Gen Qasem Soleimani reportedly overseeing it. |
| Some analysts have also expressed fears that Shia militiamen fighting alongside government forces may 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. | Some analysts have also expressed fears that Shia militiamen fighting alongside government forces may 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. |
| However, Gen Dempsey said: "The activities of the Iranians to support the Iraqi security forces is a positive thing in military terms against [IS]." | However, Gen Dempsey said: "The activities of the Iranians to support the Iraqi security forces is a positive thing in military terms against [IS]." |
| But he also added: "The question is what comes after, in terms of their willingness to let Sunni families move back into their neighbourhoods, whether they work to restore the basic services that are going to be necessary, or whether it results in atrocities and retribution." | But he also added: "The question is what comes after, in terms of their willingness to let Sunni families move back into their neighbourhoods, whether they work to restore the basic services that are going to be necessary, or whether it results in atrocities and retribution." |
| Earlier on Wednesday, a security official at the Samarra Operations Command in Iraq's 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. | Earlier on Wednesday, a security official at the Samarra Operations Command in Iraq's 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 they now controlled two-thirds of Qadisiya, and had raised the Iraqi flag at the nearby military hospital. | He said they now controlled two-thirds of Qadisiya, 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 River to slow the advance of government forces. | On Tuesday, officials said IS militants had bombed a bridge over the Tigris River to slow the advance of government forces. |
| The offensive 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 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 Mosul assault 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 Mosul assault 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 |
| Are you or someone you know in the area? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | Are you or someone you know in the area? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. |
| Please include a telephone number if you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist. | Please include a telephone number if you are happy to be contacted by a BBC journalist. |
| Or comment here |