Iraqi forces enter parts of Tikrit in major offensive

Government says its forces and Shia militias are stationed in main streets leading to ISIL-held hometown of Saddam.

 

ISIL reportedly rigged several roads with explosives to slow down government advance into Tikrit [AFP]

Iraqi government forces and their allied militia have entered parts of Tikrit, as they continue a major offensive to recapture Saddam Hussein's hometown from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Liberators or Invaders?

The Iraqi armed forces and the Popular Mobilisation Forces offensive to retake Tikrit from ISIL is strategically significant as it is politically charged. Strategically, Tikrit will prove to be a test of wills and a preview of future battles. How the fight goes and how it ends will have major ramifications on the rest or Iraq, most notably the fight for Mosul. Taking over Tikrit will prove costly, especially to its resident who fought bravely and suffered gravely during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Its association with the former leader, Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti, does not go unnoticed. It remains to be seen what ISIL fighters are planning to do, or how far they're prepared to fight for their mainstay. But it's doubtful they'll ever surrender. The outcome also depends on the response of the local Sunni population that seems to be no less frightened of the Shia militias than they are of ISIL. There are already reports of ransacked and burnt houses in the newly "liberated" Sunni towns near Tikrit. And some Iraqi leaders have warned against demolishing mosques and houses, or torturing and killing people in the newly liberated areas from ISIL. All of which takes us to the politically charged situation that threatens to worsen against the backdrop of rising sectarianism in the country. While Sunni leaders within Iraq and outside it blame Iran for instigating sectarianism in the region, the Iraqi government makes no apology for soliciting the help of "our friends" in Tehran to fight ISIL. Qassem Suleimani, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards is already in Iraq to oversee the fight. This of course further complicates the situation and threatens to undermine the campaign against ISIL. This was echoed this was by General Martin Dempsey, the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US military. He warned that if the Baghdad government fails to bridge the sectarian divide, it will jeopardise the international coalition against ISIL. To say the least.

Iraq's defence ministry said on Tuesday that its forces have surrounded the city along the Tigris River, and are preparing to advance into the city.
Government troops and the Shia volunteer fighters from Popular Mobilisation Forces are now reportedly stationed in the main streets of the city, as they started to advance towards al-Qadisiah Street, the defence ministry statement said.
Al Jazeera's Jane Arraf, who is reporting from the Kurdish city of Erbil, quoted sources as saying that Iraqi forces are now holding parts of the city.
"But that doesn't mean they have control of the entire city," our correspondent said, adding that ISIL fighters have reportedly blown up a bridge leading to Tikrit.
Several roads into the city are also reportedly rigged with explosives.
Earlier, an Iraqi defence ministry video showed Iraqi forces destroying 20 heavy machine guns, and 20 vehicles as it advanced into Tikrit.
At least 382 improvised explosive devices were also reportedly dismantled.
The same video claimed that government troops have killed 350 suspected ISIL fighters within four days of its ongoing operation in the area. Al Jazeera could not independently verify the ISIL death toll.
Sectarian tension
The battle over Tikrit, a Sunni stronghold, is crucial for Iraqi forces in their advance towards Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, which is controlled by ISIL.
Tikrit serves as an important hub because it is on the main highway leading to Baghdad.
But the advance of government forces and Shia militias into Tikrit has also ignited sectarian tensions.
On Tuesday, Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr issued a statement urging the Iraqi government to investigate and punish anyone using "excessive violence" against the [Sunni] residents from areas newly-liberated from ISIL.
The statement comes after reprisal attacks in al-Ojail, where fighters from armed group, the League of the Righteous headed by Qais al-Khazali, reportedly ransacked and burned houses beloning to Sunni residents.
Al-Khazali had said that his group was working under the guidance of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the elite Quds Brigade, who has been seen directing operations on the eastern flank of Tikrit.
In the last few days, Iraqi forces and Shia militia have captured several towns in the outskirts of Tikrit, including al-Alam and al-Dour.
Government troops have also reportedly taken control of the oil fields in al-Ojail, another town near Tikrit.
More troops are also reportedly standing by further out, in Samarra and Beiji, as well as outside the town of Garma in Anbar Province.
The Iraqi government is hoping that victory in Tikrit will help persuade Sunnis in other places to rise up against the ISIL, as the operation proceeds further north into Mosul.