Mediaboss Marketing

A prominent Iraqi Sunni preacher urged authorities on Friday to prevent Shiite militias fighting alongside government forces against Islamic State extremists in Tikrit from carrying out revenge attacks on Sunnis in Saddam Hussein's hometown.

In his appeal, Sheik Abdel Sattar Abdul Jabbar cited reports of Shiite militiamen burning Sunni homes in the battle to win back Tikrit from Islamic State hands.

Abdul Jabbar said that if the government failed to stop revenge attacks by Shiite militias, the country would face reignited sectarian tensions such as the ones it witnessed at the height of the war in 2006 and 2007.

"We ask that actions follow words to punish those who are attacking houses in Tikrit," Abdul Jabbar said during his Friday sermon in Baghdad. "We are sorry about those acting in revenge that might ignite tribal anger and add to our sectarian problems."

Iraqi forces entered Tikrit for the first time on Wednesday from the north and south. On Friday, they fought fierce battles to secure the northern Tikrit neighborhood of Qadisiyya and lobbed mortars and rockets into the city center, still in the hands of IS. Iraqi military officials have said they expect to reach the center of Tikrit within two to three days.

Meanwhile, Iraq's top Shiite cleric called on the government to step up support for Shiite militias battling IS alongside Iraqi troops and to take care of fallen militiamen's families.

"The government should provide care for those who are defending the country with their blood and pay attention to the families of the martyrs, those families have lost their dear one and sons," Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said. His remarks were relayed by his spokesman Ahmed al-Safi in the Shiite holy city of Karbala. "The excuses given for the delays in paying the salaries of the fighters are unacceptable."

The Iranian-backed Shiite militias have played a crucial role in regaining territory from the Islamic State group, supporting Iraq's embattled military and police forces in battle. U.S. Gen. Martin Dempsey said Wednesday that as many as 20,000 militiamen may be involved in the ongoing Tikrit operations.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi last week called on his forces to protect civilians and their property in areas reclaimed from IS, vowing zero tolerance for any violations.

He also called upon Sunnis who may have welcomed the initial onslaught by the Islamic State or even took up arms on the side of the militants.

Read the original post:
Iraq's Top Shiite Cleric Urges Help for Militias Battling IS

Story highlights ISIS tunnels under Iraqi army headquarters; explosions kill dozens of soldiers Iraqi officials say they are investigating claims of abuses by soldiers after photos emerge ISIS has launched a major assault on the city of Ramadi, an official says

The other 25% is in the hands of about 150 ISIS fighters who continue to hold out, said Main Al-Kadhimi, commander of the Hashd Al-Shaabi militia.

There has been no independent confirmation of such a significant advance by the Iraqi forces. But they have been making progress in recent days.

ISIS' spokesman, Abu Mohammed al Adnani, called reports of coalition-member victories "delusional and fake." He spoke of the coalition's use of fighter jets, heavy artillery and tanks, saying it is a "nightmare and will go eventually."

On Wednesday, joint Iraqi forces gained control of Tikrit Military Hospital, a few blocks south of the presidential palace. It's part of their ongoing quest to wrest control from ISIS, which captured the city last year.

The predominantly Shiite militia has been working with Iraqi troops as well as Sunni fighters to try to regain Tikrit.

Tikrit, best known to Westerners as the birthplace of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, fell in June to ISIS, which has captured large areas of Iraq and Syria for what it says is its Islamic caliphate.

On March 1, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered Iraqi forces to retake Tikrit and Salaheddin province.

ISIS wasn't making it easy, however. The Sunni extremist group blew up a key bridge near Tikrit, preventing the joint Iraqi forces from using it to cross the Tigris River to approach the city from the east.

Nevertheless, forces have made progress, forcing ISIS fighters to retreat toward the city center from front-line positions, Hashd Al-Shaabi's media office said.

Here is the original post:
Iraq takes 75% of key city

Shiite militiamen prepare to attack Islamic State extremists at Camp Speicher, the front line in Tikrit, 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, March 12, 2015. Rockets and mortars echoed across Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit on Thursday as Iraqi security forces clashed with Islamic State militants a day after sweeping into the Sunni city north of Baghdad. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)(The Associated Press)

A Shiite militiaman returnes from a battle against Islamic State extremists at Camp Speicher, the front line in Tikrit, 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, March 12, 2015. Rockets and mortars echoed across Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit on Thursday as Iraqi security forces clashed with Islamic State militants a day after sweeping into the Sunni city north of Baghdad. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)(The Associated Press)

BAGHDAD Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric has urged the government to step up support for the Shiite militias battling the Islamic State group alongside the Iraqi military.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani's comments, relayed by a representative during Friday prayers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala, come as Iraqi forces backed by the militias are carrying out a large-scale offensive to retake IS-held Sunni city of Tikrit.

Al-Sistani's spokesman Ahmed al-Safi also urged authorities to pay outstanding salaries to many Shiite militiamen, adding that such delays were "unacceptable."

The Iranian-backed Shiite militias have played a crucial role in regaining territory from the Islamic State group, supporting Iraq's embattled military and police forces in battle. U.S. officials estimate that as many as 20,000 militiamen may be involved in the ongoing Tikrit operations.

Originally posted here:
Iraq's top Shiite cleric urges government to step up support for Shiite militias fighting IS

Gen. Martin Dempsey raises concern over Iraq #39;s ability to fight ISIS
During a visit to Baghdad, the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, said that Iraqi forces sometimes show up "under-strength" ...

By: CBS Evening News

Go here to see the original:
Gen. Martin Dempsey raises concern over Iraq's ability to fight ISIS - Video

Iraq War 2015 - Kurdish Peshmerga Destroy Clearly Visible IS SVBIED With Milan Missile Near Kirkuk
Iraq War 2015 - Kurdish Peshmerga Destroy Clearly Visible IS SVBIED With Milan Missile Near Kirkuk. Kurdish peshmerga fighters in Iraq successfully destroyed...

By: WarLeaks

Go here to see the original:
Iraq War 2015 - Kurdish Peshmerga Destroy Clearly Visible IS SVBIED With Milan Missile Near Kirkuk - Video