Washington is providing reconnaissance support for Iraqi forces fighting to retake Tikrit from the Islamic State group, an official said Tuesday, the first confirmation of American involvement in the operation. Such assistance could help Iraqi forces move forward with their largest operation against IS jihadists to date, which enjoyed initial success but has since stalled into a siege, with the city surrounded but **t retaken. A US-led coalition has targeted IS with air strikes and provided training and equipment to Iraqi forces, but had **t previously an**unced direct assistance for the Tikrit operation, in which Iran has played a major role. "The coalition began providing ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) support on March 21, 2015 at the request of the government of Iraq, and the US is **w providing that support," a senior coalition military official told AFP, speaking on condition of a**nymity.
03-24-2015, 08:51 PM
US 'eye in the sky' aiding Iraq's Tikrit operation
Washington is providing reconnaissance support for Iraqi forces fighting to retake Tikrit from the Islamic State group, an official said Tuesday, the first confirmation of American involvement in the operation. Such assistance could help Iraqi forces move forward with their largest operation against IS jihadists to date, which enjoyed initial success but has since stalled into a siege, with the city surrounded but **t retaken. A US-led coalition has targeted IS with air strikes and provided training and equipment to Iraqi forces, but had **t previously an**unced direct assistance for the Tikrit operation, in which Iran has played a major role. "The coalition began providing ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) support on March 21, 2015 at the request of the government of Iraq, and the US is **w providing that support," a senior coalition military official told AFP, speaking on condition of a**nymity.
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