Posted on 03/02/2015 10:51:07 AM PST by dangus
Some 30,000 Iraqi troops and militias have launched a full-scale offensive backed by airstrikes to retake the major city of Tikrit from Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants, Al Arabiya’s correspondent in Iraq said.
“Security forces are advancing on three main fronts towards Tikrit, Ad-Dawr (to the south) and Al-Alam (to the north),” an army lieutenant colonel on the ground told Agence France-Presse by telephone.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi had announced on Sunday the “zero hour” of an operation to liberate ISIS-held territories in the province of Saladin, with its capital Tikrit, according to Al Arabiya News Channel.
Iraqi forces are also “moving along side roads to prevent Daesh’s escape,” the colonel said, using an Arab acronym for the ISIS, which has controlled the hometown of executed dictator Saddam Hussein for nearly nine months.
Residents of Tikrit were reportedly told to evacuate the area ahead of the military operation.
Iraqi officials and militia commanders regard the recapture of Tikrit as an essential step toward the liberation of Mosul.
The specifics of the battle’s plan were not revealed. But military experts believe that joint Iraq forces will attack from multiple fronts.
The first location will be from the Aoja area, south of Tikrit, with the support of Iraqi Special Forces. The second front will be from an area close to Tikrit University in which the Iraqi army and police will attack from. The third attack will carried from the southwest of Tikrit.
Security sources told Al Arabiya News Channel that Iraqi forces are now in control of the northern areas of the Albu Obaid village and west of Tikrit.
The operation to retake Tikrit, the home town of Iraq’s former President Saddam Hussein, marks a major test for Iraqi forces
Russia picked up Iran as a client when America (Jimmy Carter) threw over our ally the Shah. The Russians have been helping the Iranians to develop their nuclear program for a long time.
The Russians have been allied with Shite Syria for generations, and have been coordinating with Iran to defend the Assad regime there from Sunni and secular revolts.
I’m heading off to sleep - nice chatting with you - thanks for the film clip, and that photo of the ISIS pig with lipstick (which will haunt my dreams).
I saw it. I believe in total war. We would have a lot less of it if it was so.
Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Quds Forces, Wednesday told the Assembly of Experts — the body that chooses the supreme leader — that “[w]e will support Syria to the end.”
Pretty interesting when there’s Iran and Iraq fighting against ISIS and US in the air fighting in Mosul softening things up....while BIBI’s getting ready for his speech before Congress....which will be very interesting.
Qualified in a horrific way. Our ROE during the Iraq Wars created a vacuum for him to fill. Our occupation government in many respects invited him right in.
Never thought I’d be rooting for the Iranians!
....”I believe in total war. We would have a lot less of it if it was so”....
Yep I think so as well....it’s just horrible the way our military has had their hands tied....Obama always likes to use other nations to get their hands dirty where he won’t....and interesting this begins the day before BIBI speaks. No doubt will be used as political means for Obama to talk “nice” about Iran’s helping hands against ISIS...
BO wants this deal with Iran so bad so he can walk off the stage with “something”....and be the big man on campus who made it all possible.
“Yep, these bugs definitely need to be squashed.”
There was a local muslim Imam on the news - leading a group of muslims to show that they are against ISIS. I believe those were his words as well - “They must be squashed and exterminated”.
...”Never thought I’d be rooting for the Iranians!”....
I wouldn’t go that far since Obama’s surely paying a huge price to get Iran to do this the very night before BIBI speaks.....which is going to cost us no matter how they spin it.
As for how Iranians and Iraq soldiers fight....they show no restraint nor do their leaders tie their hands....they fight to win. Obama “pays” or “strong arms” others to fight for him so he comes out the winner.
....”That is the conclusion I have arrived at, as well as the loyalties to the moslem brotherhood”...
Oh definatly...and Hillary will do likewise if she gets in office....
This game is about restructuring the entire middle east and our nation to line up as their agenda wants it....regardless of the blood shed to make that happen. Which is why they’re getting other nations to do the fighting ....
Iran and Iraq would not have stepped up to the plate if they weren’t “given” something way above what other Presidents would have never offered in a million years. You can bet for ‘Muslim” leaders to fight against other Muslims in such a manner as we see now...Obama had to give them something far more than we’ll ever be privy to.
“Obama has ZERO focus on fighting ISIS and jihad and 100% focus on protecting ‘the image of Islam”
“O’Reilly Speaks The Forbidden: “The Holy War Is Here”
“ISIS Threatens To Massacre Twitter Founder, Employees”
(Patrick Dollard contributing journalist at Andrew Breitbart’s )
Another video daylight firefight.....you hear more than see....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctca8XgVjk8&t=66
The Iraqi government forces and allied militia on Monday occupied the northern part of Diyala province, bordering the province of Salaheddin.
Deputy Prime Minister Baha al-Araji Iraq (center) visited Monday to Iraqi forces deployed near Tikrit, northern Iraq.
the Iraqi forces make their way towards Daquq town near Tikrit Corbis
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