Iranian-backed militias moved away from Tikrit in the last several days, leaving the next stage of battle to U.S. airstrikes and about 4,500 Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. military officials said Thursday.
U.S. Central Command commander Gen. Lloyd Austin said the approximately 20,000 militia members who have encircled Tikrit for weeks pulled back to the east side of the Tigris River in the last few days, allowing U.S.-led coalition aircraft to begin a series of airstrikes Thursday against Islamic State targets.
In the 24 hours since the air campaign began, U.S. and coalition aircraft have conducted 17 airstrikes in Tikrit, hitting Islamic State-controlled buildings, bridges, checkpoints, a roadblock and a headquarters building, the Defense Department said.
Until the U.S. began its airstrikes, efforts to take back Tikrit from the Islamic State had stalled, with Iraqi forces reconstituting their supplies and repositioning.
“The enemy is dug in there,” Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren said Tuesday, noting that Tikrit’s urban combat setting was complicating efforts.
