Top U.S. General: Iraqi Forces Will Retake Tikrit From The Islamic State

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey earlier this month. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters)

VOA: Iraqi Forces Will Prevail in Tikrit, US Joint Chiefs Chairman Says

The top U.S. military officer says Iraqi forces will take back the city of Tikrit from Islamic State militants, but only because of U.S.-led coalition airstrikes.

General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on his way to Baghdad that the number of Iraqi forces fighting the extremists was overwhelming. But he said he didn't think the Iraqis could have made progress in Tikrit had the militants not been slowed down by the U.S.-led airstrikes.

Tikrit, a major city near Baghdad, is the birthplace of the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

WNU Editor: I concur with the following analysis .... the Iraqi army backed by Shiite militias and Iranian support will retake Tikrit from the Islamic State .... but what comes after that will be much more difficult .... U.S. sees even bigger test for Iraq and Iran in the aftermath of Tikrit battle (Washington Post)

More News On U.S. general Dempsey Predicting That Iraqi Forces Will Retake Tikrit From The Islamic State

US general: Iraq will retake Tikrit with Iran's help, but then what? -- Robert Burns, AP
Iraq forces face IS resistance but US says Tikrit will fall -- AFP
US general cautious over Iran-led Tikrit offensive -- AFP
Islamic State will be forced out of Tikrit, says top US general -- The Guardian
US claims its air strikes enabled Iraqi push poised to retake Tikrit from Isis -- The Guardian
US’ Dempsey Voices Confidence Tikrit Campaign Will Prevail against ISIL -- Al Manar
Strains plague Iraqi, U.S. assessments of long-term fight against Islamic State -- Washington Post
Win or lose Tikrit, Isis can only be defeated in Iraq by the Sunni -- Hassan Hassan, The Guardian