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Iraq forces retake government HQ in Tikrit from ISIL
[Hurriyet Daily News] Iraqi forces have retaken the Salaheddin provincial government headquarters in Tikrit from the Islamic State...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allaharound with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not reallyMoslems.... of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a significant advance in the battle to recapture the city, officials said March 31. The front man for the Badr militia said members of the Popular Mobilisation units -- pro-government paramilitary forces dominated by Iran-backed Shiite militias -- took part in the fighting, after some froze offensive operations last week in response to US-led air strikes. "Iraqi forces cleared the government complex in Tikrit," an army major general said, speaking on condition of anonymity ... for fear of being murdered... "The government buildings have been under our control since last night (Monday)." It is the most significant advance in Tikrit since pro-government forces launched an operation to retake the city on March 2, their largest since IS led an offensive that overran much of the country's Sunni Arab heartland last June. Salaheddin Governor Raad al-Juburi confirmed that the government headquarters had been retaken, saying that Iraqi flags now flew over various recaptured buildings in the city. Badr front man Karim al-Nuri also said that the government headquarters was recaptured, and that Popular Mobilisation members fought alongside federal police in the operation. Key Shiite militia forces said they were halting Tikrit operations when a US-led anti-IS coalition began air strikes in the area after weeks in which Iran was the main foreign partner in the operation. The coalition strikes started last Wednesday, angering Shiite snuffies who accused Washington of attempting to hijack their victory. The Pentagon conditioned its intervention on an enhanced role for regular government forces, and on Friday hailed the withdrawal from the fight of "those Shiite militias who are linked to, infiltrated by, (or) otherwise under the influence of Iran". The coalition said it carried out three strikes in the Tikrit area from Sunday to Monday, in its most recent statement on the air campaign. After giving themselves political cover by declaring that they do not want to work with each other, both sides are still taking part in the Tikrit operation. The main militias in the Popular Mobilisation forces have played a key role in successful operations against IS in multiple areas north of Baghdad, but they have also been accused of abuses including summary executions and destruction of property. During a visit to Baghdad on Monday, UN chief  the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan... said that Iraq must "bring volunteer gangs fighting in support of the government under government control". "Civilians freed from the brutality of Daesh should not have to then fear their liberators," Ban said, using an Arabic acronym for IS. Posted by: Fred 2015-04-01 |
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