Iraq seeks coalition air support to free IS-held city

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Baghdad, March 16 (IANS) A top Iraqi army ******r said on Monday that Iraqi troops need US-led coalition air support to recapture the city of Tikrit, as a major offensive against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group stalled after two weeks. "The Iraqi security forces need coalition assistance to complete the liberation of Tikrit as the IS militant group planted thousands of bombs to defend their last redoubt in Tikrit," Xinhua news agency quoted Lt. Gen. Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi, head of the Operations Command of Salahudin province, as saying. Al-Saadi, whose command is responsible for security in the province, said a request had been made to the defence ministry to demand coalition air support. The campaign to recapture Tikrit has been stalled due to the presence of IS booby traps and the Iraqi security forces' intention to limit casualties.

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