Coalition air strikes are needed to retake Tikrit, where die-hard jihadists are defending their last redoubt with trenches, sandbags and roadside bombs, Iraqi ******rs said Sunday. Two weeks into Baghdad's biggest operation yet against the Islamic State (IS) group, Iraqi forces have a complete stranglehold on the city but are unable to launch a final assault, they said. Staff Lieutenant General Abdulwahab al-Saadi said he had asked the defence ministry to request coalition involvement but "** air support" from foreign allies had yet been provided. Asked if US-led coalition air strikes were needed, Saadi said: "Of course... the Americans have advanced equipment, they have AWACS (surveillance) aircraft.