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Iraqi militia leader rejects calls for further US air strikes on Tikrit Iraqi militia leader rejects calls for further US air strikes on Tikrit
(35 minutes later)
The Shia militia commander leading the battle for Tikrit has rejected calls for further US air strikes, hours after Iraq’s government for the first time called for Washington to help it clear the city of Islamic State extremists.The Shia militia commander leading the battle for Tikrit has rejected calls for further US air strikes, hours after Iraq’s government for the first time called for Washington to help it clear the city of Islamic State extremists.
Hadi al-Amiri, who runs an umbrella group of all Shia militias, said US strikes on Wednesday night had not changed the battlefield, and that his forces alone could win the fight.Hadi al-Amiri, who runs an umbrella group of all Shia militias, said US strikes on Wednesday night had not changed the battlefield, and that his forces alone could win the fight.
“We did not ask for them and we have no direct contact with the Americans,” Amiri said inside a base in the shrine city of Samarra. “From what I understand, Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi made the request. However, we respect his decision.”“We did not ask for them and we have no direct contact with the Americans,” Amiri said inside a base in the shrine city of Samarra. “From what I understand, Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi made the request. However, we respect his decision.”
The US strikes are believed to have targeted a weapons depot used by the terror group, which is now holed up in 1.5 sq mile area in the centre of Tikrit, not far from the birthplace of Saddam Hussein.The US strikes are believed to have targeted a weapons depot used by the terror group, which is now holed up in 1.5 sq mile area in the centre of Tikrit, not far from the birthplace of Saddam Hussein.
Throughout more than a month of fierce fighting to retake the city, the militia groups dominating the fight have consistently said they need no help from the US air force.Throughout more than a month of fierce fighting to retake the city, the militia groups dominating the fight have consistently said they need no help from the US air force.
Washington along with an Arab-led coalition has launched more than 2,000 air strikes on Iraq and Syria since August in an effort to degrade Isis, but until Wednesday’s attacks it had played no role in one of the most important battles of the eight-month campaign.Washington along with an Arab-led coalition has launched more than 2,000 air strikes on Iraq and Syria since August in an effort to degrade Isis, but until Wednesday’s attacks it had played no role in one of the most important battles of the eight-month campaign.
The US has insisted on co-ordinating support with the government of Iraq, but has often found itself acting in direct support of the powerful militia network, which has the strong backing of Iran and plays a more prominent role in the fighting than the state military.The US has insisted on co-ordinating support with the government of Iraq, but has often found itself acting in direct support of the powerful militia network, which has the strong backing of Iran and plays a more prominent role in the fighting than the state military.
The primacy of the militia group, known as Hashd al-Sahaabi (Popular Mobilisation Group), was evident on Thursday on the road between Samarra and Tikrit, which it has cleared of Isis extremists. While Iraqi soldiers and police manned some checkpoints, Shia irregulars had secured all towns along the route and were in clear control of the fighting.The primacy of the militia group, known as Hashd al-Sahaabi (Popular Mobilisation Group), was evident on Thursday on the road between Samarra and Tikrit, which it has cleared of Isis extremists. While Iraqi soldiers and police manned some checkpoints, Shia irregulars had secured all towns along the route and were in clear control of the fighting.
Amiri said his forces, together with the Iraqi army, had ousted Isis from 2,700 sq miles of central Iraq in recent months and, after a week-long lull in Tikrit, were now attempting to destroy the remnants of Isis forces there.Amiri said his forces, together with the Iraqi army, had ousted Isis from 2,700 sq miles of central Iraq in recent months and, after a week-long lull in Tikrit, were now attempting to destroy the remnants of Isis forces there.
“We will know in the next few days just how long this battle will last,” he said. “We will soon learn what their intentions are,” he added of the estimated 500-750 Isis fighters defending the city.“We will know in the next few days just how long this battle will last,” he said. “We will soon learn what their intentions are,” he added of the estimated 500-750 Isis fighters defending the city.
“At first I thought they might flee like the others, but it seems that those who have remained want to fight till the death. They did the same in Kobani.”“At first I thought they might flee like the others, but it seems that those who have remained want to fight till the death. They did the same in Kobani.”
The Syrian Kurdish city of Kobani finally fell to the YPG militia group in January after a four-month struggle during which the US and allied Arab air forces launch almost 700 air strikes. As they are in Tikrit, the Kobani militants were holed up in a small, dense part of the city from which they proved difficult to dislodge.The Syrian Kurdish city of Kobani finally fell to the YPG militia group in January after a four-month struggle during which the US and allied Arab air forces launch almost 700 air strikes. As they are in Tikrit, the Kobani militants were holed up in a small, dense part of the city from which they proved difficult to dislodge.
Ameri and Iraqi officials believe that the fall of Tikrit will give them the momentum they need to advance into either Anbar province or Iraq’s second biggest city, Mosul, both of which remain Isis strongholds.Ameri and Iraqi officials believe that the fall of Tikrit will give them the momentum they need to advance into either Anbar province or Iraq’s second biggest city, Mosul, both of which remain Isis strongholds.
The Mosul offensive has been much anticipated, with up to 1,500 US trainers sent to Iraq to prepare local forces for the fight and the Kurdish peshmerga expected to play a lead role from the north.The Mosul offensive has been much anticipated, with up to 1,500 US trainers sent to Iraq to prepare local forces for the fight and the Kurdish peshmerga expected to play a lead role from the north.
However, concerns remain about the capacity of Iraq’s army to spearhead the campaign after its disastrous rout at the hands of Isis last June, in which Mosul and much of surrounding Ninevah province fell in less than a week.However, concerns remain about the capacity of Iraq’s army to spearhead the campaign after its disastrous rout at the hands of Isis last June, in which Mosul and much of surrounding Ninevah province fell in less than a week.
While Isis has retreated from the fringes of Tikrit, fresh signs of the group’s vengeance are everywhere. Most of the houses its forces occupied were dynamited as the group retreated and entire towns that not long ago were run by Isis remain empty and in ruins, and covered in hardline iconography.While Isis has retreated from the fringes of Tikrit, fresh signs of the group’s vengeance are everywhere. Most of the houses its forces occupied were dynamited as the group retreated and entire towns that not long ago were run by Isis remain empty and in ruins, and covered in hardline iconography.
Shia forces are trying to make their mark. On one large water tower in the town of Dour, the words “Caliphate of the Islamic State” had been replaced with “Caliphate of Imam Ali, the guide of the prophecy”.Shia forces are trying to make their mark. On one large water tower in the town of Dour, the words “Caliphate of the Islamic State” had been replaced with “Caliphate of Imam Ali, the guide of the prophecy”.
In Washington, the US official in charge of coordinating the anti-Isis coalition, retired Marine General John Allen, on Thursday attempted to diminish Iran’s backing for Shia militia battling for Tikrit as he testified before a sceptical congressional audience.
Allen insisted that the US airstrikes were not an attempt to “save a failed Iranian strategy” for the city and came instead to “support the Iraqi security forces,” the emergent line from the Obama administration after its volte-face on using airpower in Tikrit.
“I don’t think we have a full and complete picture on Iran’s role, there seems to have been some organisational support to the Shia elements in the Popular Mobilisation Force, potentially some direct fire support as well,” Allen told the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Central Command’s leader, Army General Lloyd Austin, astonished an incredulous Senator John McCain in a separate hearing by testifying that Iranian-backed forces had left Tikrit.
“Currently, there are no Shia militia and as reported by the Iraqis today, no PMF [Popular Mobilisation Forces] in that area as well,” he told the Senate Armed Services Committee.