US Takes Back Seat as Iran Runs Op on Key ISIS Stronghold
March 2, 2015The United States and its allies have received no request from Iraq to carry out air strikes in support of Baghdad government troops fighting to recapture the key stronghold of Tikrit, the Pentagon said Monday.
The Iraqi operation to take back Tikrit from Islamic State (ISIS) jihadists is the largest-scale offensive yet launched by Baghdad, and Shi’ite militia backed by neighboring Iran were playing a key role, reports AFP.
But the US-led coalition, which has conducted thousands of air strikes against the ISIS group to back up Iraqi and Kurdish forces on the ground, is not providing air power for the latest Iraqi offensive, officials said.
“We’re not providing air strikes in support of the operation around Tikrit,” Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steven Warren told reporters.
It was unclear if Tehran’s role may have been a factor in the US-led coalition’s absence, given that the US is currently engaged in last minute negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.
The assault on ISIS in Tikrit included Iraqi aircraft but it was unclear if Iranian planes were also involved.
Both Iraqi and Iranian media reported that Qassem Soleimani – commander of the Al-Quds Force cover operations unit of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards – was in the area to help oversee operations.
Warren declined to say whether US surveillance aircraft were providing intelligence for the Tikrit operation.
But a Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that American planes were assisting with intelligence and reconnaissance.
Warren stressed that Iraq was a sovereign country and it was up to the government in Baghdad to decide when it required military assistance from coalition warplanes.
“We were aware of the operation before it started but I’m not going to get into the details of what degree of cooperation we conducted before this,” he said. “We’re tracking it closely.”
Asked about Iran’s activities, he said: “We’re aware that there is great Iranian interest in Iraq’s fight against ISIL,” using another acronym by which the group is known.
But he said he would not discuss the details of Iran’s involvement in the conflict.
Similar posts
-
Israel Has The Most Moral Military In The World
April 10, 2024In the heart of a region often riddled with conflict, Israel stands out not only for its technologi...
-
The Resilience of the Israeli People
April 2, 2024Visitors from around the world have seen Hamas's October 7th Massacre's destruction in southern Isr...
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...
-
Women's Empowerment in Israel
December 15, 2023In recent decades, Israel has witnessed a remarkable evolution in the status and empowerment of wom...