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| U.S. providing surveillance to Iraqi forces fighting Islamic State in Tikrit | U.S. providing surveillance to Iraqi forces fighting Islamic State in Tikrit |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| BAGHDAD — Drones from the U.S.-led coalition are providing surveillance and intelligence to Iraqi troops as they struggle to recapture the city of Tikrit from Islamic State militants, U.S. officials said Wednesday, marking America’s first involvement in an operation that has so far relied on Iranian support. | BAGHDAD — Drones from the U.S.-led coalition are providing surveillance and intelligence to Iraqi troops as they struggle to recapture the city of Tikrit from Islamic State militants, U.S. officials said Wednesday, marking America’s first involvement in an operation that has so far relied on Iranian support. |
| The shift in U.S. strategy is expected to clear the way for airstrikes in the Tikrit campaign, U.S. officials added. The Tikrit operation is seen as an important front in efforts to break the Islamic State militant group’s grip on northern Iraq. | The shift in U.S. strategy is expected to clear the way for airstrikes in the Tikrit campaign, U.S. officials added. The Tikrit operation is seen as an important front in efforts to break the Islamic State militant group’s grip on northern Iraq. |
| Col. Steve Warren, a spokesman for the Pentagon, confirmed to reporters that the United States has been flying surveillance flights over Tikrit, and providing intelligence to Iraqi security forces around the city, for several days. | Col. Steve Warren, a spokesman for the Pentagon, confirmed to reporters that the United States has been flying surveillance flights over Tikrit, and providing intelligence to Iraqi security forces around the city, for several days. |
| The coalition began providing the support after a formal request from the Iraqi government on Saturday, a U.S. military official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. | The coalition began providing the support after a formal request from the Iraqi government on Saturday, a U.S. military official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. |
| The U.S.-led coalition has conducted months of airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria, but U.S. officials see the Tikrit offensive as being complicated by the presence of Iranian advisers on the battlefield and the potential for civilian casualties. | The U.S.-led coalition has conducted months of airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria, but U.S. officials see the Tikrit offensive as being complicated by the presence of Iranian advisers on the battlefield and the potential for civilian casualties. |
| [The military assault on Tikrit, in pictures] | [The military assault on Tikrit, in pictures] |
| Tikrit, about 110 miles northwest of Baghdad, is a critical test for Iraqi ground forces seeking to drive back the militants from their strongholds in northern Iraq. Tikrit is a gateway to the north and straddles the main highway to Mosul, a key city in the north, which is also under the control of the Islamic State. | |
| In an interview with the Reuters news agency, Iraqi President Fouad Massoum predicted Wednesday that the U.S.-led coalition would soon carry out airstrikes against the Islamic State in Tikrit. | |
| “Since yesterday, aerial support and reconnaissance flights started in Tikrit. They first begin with reconnaissance missions; then they compile the aerial reports; and afterwards the aerial [strike] operations start,” Massoum told Reuters in an interview at the presidential palace in Baghdad. | “Since yesterday, aerial support and reconnaissance flights started in Tikrit. They first begin with reconnaissance missions; then they compile the aerial reports; and afterwards the aerial [strike] operations start,” Massoum told Reuters in an interview at the presidential palace in Baghdad. |
| The request for help from the international coalition highlights the limitations of the Iraqi forces. | The request for help from the international coalition highlights the limitations of the Iraqi forces. |
| Baghdad had initially left the United States out of the planning for the Tikrit offensive, instead turning to Iranian advisers to provide support. The Iraqi forces include thousands of troops and as many as 20,000 Iraqi Shiite militiamen, many from Iranian-backed paramilitary groups. | Baghdad had initially left the United States out of the planning for the Tikrit offensive, instead turning to Iranian advisers to provide support. The Iraqi forces include thousands of troops and as many as 20,000 Iraqi Shiite militiamen, many from Iranian-backed paramilitary groups. |
| But after making an initial rapid advance across territory surrounding the city, the operation has stagnated for more than a week amid high casualties, and Iraqi military commanders began to publicly ask for U.S. support. | But after making an initial rapid advance across territory surrounding the city, the operation has stagnated for more than a week amid high casualties, and Iraqi military commanders began to publicly ask for U.S. support. |
| The decision could be met with resistance from current ground troops. | |
| The Shiite militias leading the offensive — some of which fought U.S. troops during the Iraq war — have objected to assistance from Washington. The dispute further highlights the rifts between the Iraqi government and the array of armed groups fighting alongside its soldiers. | The Shiite militias leading the offensive — some of which fought U.S. troops during the Iraq war — have objected to assistance from Washington. The dispute further highlights the rifts between the Iraqi government and the array of armed groups fighting alongside its soldiers. |
| A U.S. defense official in Washington said the United States had received requests for airstrikes from the Iraqis in “military-to-military discussions” rather than through more formal channels. | A U.S. defense official in Washington said the United States had received requests for airstrikes from the Iraqis in “military-to-military discussions” rather than through more formal channels. |
| “We’ve received the requests, but because of how complex the operation is and the other factors, including the Iranian influence, how the battlefield is shaping up and concerns about civilian casualties, there are other ways we have to be looking at this,” the defense official said, also speaking on the condition of anonymity. | “We’ve received the requests, but because of how complex the operation is and the other factors, including the Iranian influence, how the battlefield is shaping up and concerns about civilian casualties, there are other ways we have to be looking at this,” the defense official said, also speaking on the condition of anonymity. |
| Ryan reported from Washington. Mustafa Salim in Baghdad contributed to this report. | Ryan reported from Washington. Mustafa Salim in Baghdad contributed to this report. |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| Tikrit battle is not over yet, Pentagon warns | Tikrit battle is not over yet, Pentagon warns |
| Iraqi offensive for Tikrit stalls as casualties mount | Iraqi offensive for Tikrit stalls as casualties mount |
| U.S.-backed Iraqi forces face risky urban warfare in battle against Islamic State | U.S.-backed Iraqi forces face risky urban warfare in battle against Islamic State |