As Iraqi troops launched the final phase of an offensive to recapture Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit on Thursday, the US launched airstrikes on the ISIS-held city to support Iraqi forces.
Also on Thursday, France bombed ISIS positions in the Tikrit area of Iraq for the first time since the start of the international offensive against the extremist militia, French military officials said on Thursday. “last night we struck the region of Tikrit as part of the coalition” aiding the Iraqi Army battle ISIS fighters, a spokesman for France’s armed forces said, noting it was the first time a French strike had targeted that area of northern Iraq.
The official did not specify whether jets or drones staged the strikes, and declined to detail targets of the attack. US forces earlier announced they had led an air strike against IS units in Tikrit with coalition allies at the request of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. On the ground, Clashes intensified as Iraqi troops and special forces moved toward the city center, lt. Gen. Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi told The Associated Press. Earlier, a reporter heard a second round of airstrikes over Tikrit.
The Islamic State group seized the Sunni city last summer during its lightning advance across northern Iraq. The battle for Tikrit is seen as a key step toward eventually driving the Islamic State group from Iraq’s second largest city Mosul, which is further north.
On Wednesday, Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Iraqi forces began the “final phase” and said Iraqis, “and not anyone but you,” will claim victory against the militant group. At Iraq’s request, the US began airstrikes on Tikrit on Wednesday in support of the stalled ground offensive, lt. Gen. James l Terry, the commander of the US-led campaign to defeat the Islamic State group, said Wednesday.