US warplanes begin airstrikes against Islamic State in Tikrit, Iraq

WASHINGTON - U.S. warplanes began conducting airstrikes in Tikrit on Wednesday after the Iraqi government requested assistance with a stalled offensive to retake the militant-held city, officials said. “I can confirm that the government of Iraq has requested coalition support for operations in Tikrit,” Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren said in a statement. “Operations are ongoing.” Another defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of the campaign, said American planes were taking part in the strikes. The United States had hesitated to be drawn into the Iraqi government’s drive to take back the Sunni Muslim-dominated city from the extremist group Islamic State because of the involvement of thousands of Shiite militias aided by Iranian advisers. Concern has been raised about the possibility of reprisal attacks for Islamic State’s slayings of hundreds of Shiite soldiers and policemen last summer, when the group seized large parts of northern and western Iraq. Shiite militias have been seen demolishing and setting fire to the homes of Sunni civilians in other towns wrested from Islamic State control. “These strikes are intended to destroy (Islamic State) strongholds with precision, thereby saving innocent Iraqi lives while minimizing collateral damage to infrastructure,” Lt. Gen. James L. Terry, who commands the coalition of countries conducting airstrikes against the militants. “This will further enable Iraqi forces under Iraqi command to maneuver and defeat ISIL in the vicinity of Tikrit,” he said, using one of several acronyms for Islamic State. American and allied planes are also providing overhead video feeds of the fighting to the Iraqi government, and coalition advisers are in Iraqi military headquarters providing advice and assistance, officials said.