A Shiite cleric addressed Iraqi soldiers and Shiite fighters on Monday, before they began a campaign to retake control of Tikrit. Credit Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters
New York Times: Iraq Forces, Pushing ISIS Out of Tikrit, Give Few Thanks for U.S. Airstrikes
TIKRIT, Iraq — One week after the start of intensive American airstrikes against Islamic State hide-outs, most of the key parts of central Tikrit have finally fallen to the government’s forces — although significant pockets remained contested on Thursday.
But to hear some of the Iraqi forces here tell it, the Americans deserve little or no credit. And many of the Shiite militiamen involved in the fight say the international coalition’s air campaign actually impeded their victory — even though beforehand they had spent weeks in a stalemate with militants holed up in Tikrit. Some even accuse the United States of fighting on the side of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL.
Update: Iraqi militias dismiss U.S. airstrikes that turned tide in Tikrit: ‘Americans supported Daesh’ -- Washington Times
WNU Editor: When the U.S. started their airstrikes, these militias withdrew in protest. When reports that Islamic State defenses were far more weaker than what was originally reported and that regular Iraqi forces were making good progress after the airstrikes, these same militias rejoined the fight and are now claiming that it is because of them that Tikrit fell.
Sighhh ... why am I not surprised.
2 comments:
There is a good chance that several policies died in Tikrit and will be buried there with the bodies of the various combatants.
1) The de facto US air and Irani ground combination.
2) The Irani use of the Iraqi regular army in combination with Shia militia to reestablish communications with Assad and Hezbollah.
3) Loss of the moral high ground by the Shia's/Iran in their effort for international support to defeat ISIS.
The departure of IRG General Sulameini signals an Irani lack of faith in the Tikrit/Mosul offensive.
There is probably little or no political support in the US for continued air support of the offensive or any other Irani sponsored military project.
The "dead baby moral outrage" press coverage is eating away at the offensive. They may still try for Mosul, but unless ISIS just hands it to them (quite possible with these guys) I don't think it will fall.
Assad will have some decisions to make if he wants to stay in power.
Most of the attention in the near term will be on Israel, Turkey, and Yemen. Long term, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, and China.
There is a good chance that several policies died in Tikrit and will be buried there with the bodies of the various combatants.
1) The de facto US air and Irani ground combination.
GOOD. They are not appreciate.Let them
die in greater numbers!
Less of them to attack us in the future
Post a Comment