Iraqi Army Operations Against Islamic State in Tikrit 'Have Stopped'

Iraqi forces, unable to counter the guerrilla tactics of the Islamic State group, halted their extensive operations to retake the city of Tikrit on Friday, March 20, to regroup. According to Reuters, two days after the Iraqi army and allied Shiite militias began their assault on Tikrit, the operation appears to have currently stopped. A source in the Iraqi military command stated that the advance towards the city would be halted until reinforcements arrive in Tikrit. If the Tikrit operation is fully successful, it would mark the first time Iraqi forces reclaim a significant city from the so-called Islamic State group. The ISIS group created terror last year after seizing vast areas in northwest Iraq and eastern Syria, beheading Arab and Western hostages, as well as killing and abducting members of religious minorities such as Yazidis and Christians in the region. Reports indicate that ISIS has deployed snipers in Tikrit and has planted homemade bombs in many streets and buildings. It seems that the forces of Muqtada al-Sadr, a Shiite cleric known as the 'Peace Brigades,' are ready to join the government forces' operations. A source close to al-Sadr's office told Reuters that nearly 1,500 militants have arrived in Samarra, a holy Shiite city south of Tikrit. These forces were dispatched a few days after al-Sadr announced his readiness to join his forces in the fight against ISIS. After allegations of misconduct by other Shiite militias in recent battles, al-Sadr had halted his forces' military operations. A government official stated that they have learned that al-Sadr's forces intend to advance northward towards Tikrit on Saturday. Hadi al-Amiri, the Shiite commander of the Badr group, expressed no doubt about the outcome of the Tikrit battle but noted that Iraqi forces needed time. He told Iraqi state television from the front lines: 'We are not in a hurry. But we have a plan and we are following it. If the battle lasts even three or four days, it is not a problem. We will celebrate the liberation of Tikrit from the enemies.' Victory in Tikrit will positively impact the Iraqi forces' ability to continue the fight and reclaim Mosul, the largest city under the control of the Islamic State group. However, Iran's presence, which plays both a direct role and supports Shiite militia groups at the front lines, has raised concerns among some Sunnis in Iraq and across the region. Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has been seen on the battlefield overseeing the Tikrit operations. Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal stated last week that the Tikrit battle demonstrated the extent of Iran's presence in Iraq. The Islamic State group captured Tikrit last June in a lightning operation that extended to the outskirts of Baghdad. Since then, the group has turned Saddam Hussein's palaces in Tikrit into its operational headquarters. As of Friday, ISIS controlled the presidential complex in Tikrit and at least three other areas of the city. More than 20,000 Iraqi military and Shiite militia forces, with the support of local Sunni tribes, are participating in the operation to retake Tikrit, which began 11 days ago. Meanwhile, Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, the spokesman for the Islamic State group, said in an audio tape released on Thursday that the group's fighters are 'steadfast' and their strength is increasing. He claimed that the enemy's assertion of capturing Tikrit is false. Reuters reports that even if ISIS militants are completely pushed back from Tikrit, they will still control a vast area up to the Syrian border, allowing them to regroup. Iraqi forces have previously faced many difficulties in maintaining areas reclaimed from ISIS. Meanwhile, Shiite militias and Kurdish Peshmerga forces began operations around the city of Kirkuk on Friday. In an attack by the Kurdish Peshmerga that began on Monday, part of the villages southwest of Kirkuk was reclaimed.