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U.S. Air Raids Struck ISIS in Tikrit for Over 8 Hours, Iraqi Military Leaders Say U.S. Air Raids Struck ISIS in Tikrit for Over 8 Hours, Iraqi Military Leaders Say
(35 minutes later)
AL RASHID AIR BASE, Iraq — Iraqi military leaders said that American-led air raids pummeled Islamic State positions in Tikrit for eight and a half hours, subsiding only at dawn on Thursday, when the Iraqi military’s handful of Russian-made fighters took over.AL RASHID AIR BASE, Iraq — Iraqi military leaders said that American-led air raids pummeled Islamic State positions in Tikrit for eight and a half hours, subsiding only at dawn on Thursday, when the Iraqi military’s handful of Russian-made fighters took over.
Apparently eager to claim some share of the credit for their role in bombing the extremists, Iraqi officials brought journalists on a visit to the Al Rashid Air Base, on the southeastern edge of Baghdad, as a squadron of five Iraqi Sukhoi-25 fighter bombers landed and took off on what officials said were bombing runs over Tikrit.Apparently eager to claim some share of the credit for their role in bombing the extremists, Iraqi officials brought journalists on a visit to the Al Rashid Air Base, on the southeastern edge of Baghdad, as a squadron of five Iraqi Sukhoi-25 fighter bombers landed and took off on what officials said were bombing runs over Tikrit.
Iraqi officials in the Tikrit area said later that they were unaware of any Iraqi raids on Thursday.Iraqi officials in the Tikrit area said later that they were unaware of any Iraqi raids on Thursday.
By 10 a.m. Thursday, the Iraqi jets had carried out four waves of attacks, consisting of up to five jets each from this base, taking over from the American bombers in the coalition, according to Staff Gen. Anwer Hamid, the commander of the Iraqi Air Force. General Hamid said that American bombers had carried out a classified number of airstrikes, which he described as “intensive” and “many in number,” from 10 p.m. Wednesday until 6:30 a.m. Thursday.By 10 a.m. Thursday, the Iraqi jets had carried out four waves of attacks, consisting of up to five jets each from this base, taking over from the American bombers in the coalition, according to Staff Gen. Anwer Hamid, the commander of the Iraqi Air Force. General Hamid said that American bombers had carried out a classified number of airstrikes, which he described as “intensive” and “many in number,” from 10 p.m. Wednesday until 6:30 a.m. Thursday.
He said that for operational reasons, American aircraft would concentrate on night raids, and the Iraqis would continue their daytime assaults.He said that for operational reasons, American aircraft would concentrate on night raids, and the Iraqis would continue their daytime assaults.
“Their role in this fighting is very important to us,” he said. “They have a high number of aircraft, and they have good capabilities. They can really help us.”“Their role in this fighting is very important to us,” he said. “They have a high number of aircraft, and they have good capabilities. They can really help us.”
While the Americans and their coalition partners have hundreds of aircraft at their disposal, the Iraqi air force has about a dozen of the Russian-made Sukhoi-25 jet bombers. While the Americans and their coalition partners have hundreds of aircraft at their disposal, the Iraqi Air Force has about a dozen of the Russian-made Sukhoi-25s.
Visiting the base and posing in the cockpit of a Sukhoi-25 between assaults, Khalid al-Obaidi, the defense minister, said the combined operation would make quick work of the insurgents remaining in Tikrit. Some had already been seen fleeing, Mr. Obaidi said. Visiting the base and posing in the cockpit of a Sukhoi-25 between assaults, Khaled al-Obeidi, the defense minister, said the combined operation would make quick work of the insurgents remaining in Tikrit. Some had already been seen fleeing, he said.
“We cannot tell when the battles will end, because we always have to prepare for the worst on the battlefield,” Mr. Obaidi said. “But we expect that the battle will be settled soon, and after the liberation of Tikrit, we will advance to the north and west.” “We cannot tell when the battles will end, because we always have to prepare for the worst on the battlefield,” Mr. Obeidi said. “But we expect that the battle will be settled soon, and after the liberation of Tikrit, we will advance to the north and west.”
Iraqi forces had launched their offensive to retake Tikrit, a strategic crossroads in the heart of Sunni territory in central Iraq, on March 2, boasting that they would subdue the town within a few days, and that they would do so without help from the American-led coalition.Iraqi forces had launched their offensive to retake Tikrit, a strategic crossroads in the heart of Sunni territory in central Iraq, on March 2, boasting that they would subdue the town within a few days, and that they would do so without help from the American-led coalition.
Iraq’s popular mobilization forces, predominantly Shiite militiamen, made up the bulk of the 30,000 Iraqi forces attacking Tikrit, under the tutelage of Iranian advisers on the ground. They proved unable to dislodge remaining Islamic State defenders, however, who were said to number only in the hundreds, and announced that the advance was going to pause to protect lives and property. Iraq’s popular mobilization forces, predominantly Shiite militiamen, made up the bulk of the 30,000 Iraqi forces attacking Tikrit, under the tutelage of Iranian advisers on the ground. They proved unable to dislodge remaining Islamic State defenders, however, who were said to number only in the hundreds, and they announced that the advance was going to pause to protect lives and property.
That pause gave time for Iranian advisers to pull back from the fighting on Sunday, allaying American fears that if they launched airstrikes against Tikrit, they would seem to be providing air support to Iranian-led militias, rather than to regular Iraqi military units.That pause gave time for Iranian advisers to pull back from the fighting on Sunday, allaying American fears that if they launched airstrikes against Tikrit, they would seem to be providing air support to Iranian-led militias, rather than to regular Iraqi military units.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi formally requested that the United States join the offensive against Tikrit with airstrikes. President Obama authorized the strikes the same day, but it was clear that planning for them by the American military was well advanced. They began within hours of the president’s order.On Wednesday, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi formally requested that the United States join the offensive against Tikrit with airstrikes. President Obama authorized the strikes the same day, but it was clear that planning for them by the American military was well advanced. They began within hours of the president’s order.
The American-led military coalition has been carrying out airstrikes against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, since last summer in Kurdistan and around Mosul in northern Iraq, as well as in Syria, but it had not previously joined the Tikrit offensive. The coalition has advisers and trainers in Iraq, but unlike the Iranians, it has not, so far as is known, sent them to front-line positions with Iraqi ground forces. That is at least in part because those forces have been dominated by irregular militiamen in the wake of last summer’s near collapse of the regular Iraqi Army. The American-led military coalition has been carrying out airstrikes against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, since last summer in Kurdistan and around Mosul in northern Iraq, as well as in Syria, but it had not previously joined the Tikrit offensive.
The coalition has advisers and trainers in Iraq, but unlike the Iranians, it has not, so far as is known, sent them to front-line positions with Iraqi ground forces. That is at least in part because those forces have been dominated by militiamen in the wake of last summer’s near collapse of the regular Iraqi Army.
A news release issued by the American military command late Wednesday said that “Iraqi security forces have ISIL in Tikrit encircled.”A news release issued by the American military command late Wednesday said that “Iraqi security forces have ISIL in Tikrit encircled.”
“Renewed efforts on the ground supported by the coalition are aimed at dislodging ISIL fighting elements from Tikrit and once again placing the town under the government of Iraq control,” it said.“Renewed efforts on the ground supported by the coalition are aimed at dislodging ISIL fighting elements from Tikrit and once again placing the town under the government of Iraq control,” it said.
A reporter, on the outskirts of Tikrit, described an unusually heavy bombardment from Wednesday night until dawn on Thursday.A reporter, on the outskirts of Tikrit, described an unusually heavy bombardment from Wednesday night until dawn on Thursday.
The deputy governor of Salhuddin Province, Ammar Hikmat, said that the coalition had carried out 180 airstrikes during the first night of bombing. The deputy governor of Salahuddin Province, Ammar Hikmat, said that the coalition had carried out 180 airstrikes during the first night of bombing.
Both the journalist and the mayor of Tikrit, Omar al-Tikriti, who was also on the outskirts of the city, said there was no evidence of Iraqi airstrikes during daylight hours on Thursday.Both the journalist and the mayor of Tikrit, Omar al-Tikriti, who was also on the outskirts of the city, said there was no evidence of Iraqi airstrikes during daylight hours on Thursday.
Some of the remaining Islamic State fighters were seen trying to swim across the Tigris River, but about 150 fighters remained surrounded in a former palace of Saddam Hussein and in the center of Tikrit, according to Mr. Hikmat.Some of the remaining Islamic State fighters were seen trying to swim across the Tigris River, but about 150 fighters remained surrounded in a former palace of Saddam Hussein and in the center of Tikrit, according to Mr. Hikmat.
An Iraqi military official in Salahuddin, speaking on the condition of anonymity, reported that 73 Islamic State fighters had been killed in the American bombing raids on the palace, while another seven were killed trying to flee across the river.An Iraqi military official in Salahuddin, speaking on the condition of anonymity, reported that 73 Islamic State fighters had been killed in the American bombing raids on the palace, while another seven were killed trying to flee across the river.