U.S., Iranian backed Shiite militias share uneasily in battle for Iraq’s Tikrit
Iranian-backed Shiite militias remained on the front lines of the battle to retake this strategic city from Islamic State days after the U.S. demanded they be sidelined as a condition for joining the fight with airstrikes. The U.S. military has continued to launch airstrikes against Islamic State positions in Tikrit after it became clear that Shiite […]Matt Bradley reports for the Wall Street Journal:
Iranian-backed Shiite militias remained on the front lines of the battle to retake this strategic city from Islamic State days after the U.S. demanded they be sidelined as a condition for joining the fight with airstrikes. The U.S. military has continued to launch airstrikes against Islamic State positions in Tikrit after it became clear that Shiite forces were still playing a central role in the fight and even as each loudly proclaims opposition to the other.
An effective ground force will be essential to turn the airstrikes into a full victory and the U.S. called last week for the militias to stand aside and allow regular Iraqi security forces to take the lead. However, on Saturday, at least some of the Shiite fighters were holding their positions.
