Iraq army launches offensive in ISIS militants in Tikrit



 Written by : Mohamed Abdel Fattah

Jun 29, 2014

 The Iraqi army says it has launched a major offensive to retake Tikrit from Sunni rebels, as soldiers backed by tanks and helicopter gunships Saturday .

The offensive in Tikrit, about 90 miles north of Baghdad and the home town of ousted president Saddam Hussein [Unlink], came as heavy clashes between Iraqi security forces and insurgents killed at least 21 troops about 30 miles south of Baghdad

The Iraqi army said Tikrit had been "cleansed" of ISIL fighters, a statement denied by websites sympathetic to ISIL. Al Jazeera cannot verify these claims. The Iraqi army also said it had destroyed a convoy of about 20 rebel vehicles between Samarra and Tikrit

Meanwhile, the US said that armed drones were flying over Baghdad. Officials said the sorites were being flown to protect US military advisers helping Iraqi forces tackle the rebellion.

Many locals had already fled the city in anticipation of a government assault, said another Tikrit resident, Muhanad Saif al-Din.

"Tikrit has become a ghost town because a lot of people left over the past 72 hours, fearing random aerial bombardment and possible clashes as the army advances toward the city," Saif al-Din said. "The few people who remain are afraid of possible revenge acts by Shiite militiamen who are accompanying the army. We are peaceful civilians and we do not want to be victims of this struggle."

Iraq’s large, U.S.-trained and equipped military melted away in the face of the militant onslaught, sapping morale and public confidence in its ability to stem the tide, let alone claw back lost turf.

The Tikrit operation,would give a boost to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as he struggles to hold on to power in the face of a nearly three-week offensive by extremist fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Al-Maliki has widely been accused of monopolizing power and alienating Sunnis, who have long complained of being unfairly targeted by security forces.

The United States and other world powers have pressed al-Maliki to reach out to the country's Sunni and Kurdish minorities and have called for a more inclusive government that can address longstanding grievances.

The Iraqi government on Saturday has received a delivery of Russian-made fighter planes,officials confirmed five Sukhoi-25 jets, which were purchased second-hand from Russia.

Iraqi Air Force officials said the jets would be ready to use in sorties within three to four days, but the Iraqis require technical help and parts to make them operational.

Sources

aljazeera.

usatoday.

.foxnews.

AP

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