Iraq's Shiite Militias Rejoin The Battle For Tikrit After Receiving Assurances That The U.S. Will Stop Air Strikes

Military vehicles of Iraqi security forces are seen in Tikrit March 28, 2015. Reuters / Thaier Al-Sudani

Washington Post: Shiite militias in Iraq say they have assurances that U.S. will stop strikes

BAGHDAD — Shiite militia leaders claimed Monday to have received reassurances from Iraq’s prime minister that there would be no more U.S.-led airstrikes on Tikrit, opening the way for their fighters’ return to the battlefield.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi met with leaders of Iraq’s “popular mobilization units” Sunday night to discuss the ground offensive to reclaim Tikrit from Islamic State militants, his spokesman Saad al-Hadithi confirmed. Hadithi, though, said that a final decision on the strikes had not been taken.

Any decision to halt the strikes to allow forces dominated by Shiite militiamen to march into Tikrit is likely to rile Washington, which has been wary of being perceived as aiding the Iranian-backed paramilitary groups on the ground. It would mean that the airstrikes had essentially been used to ease the militiamen’s path into the city, after their initial offensive stalled two weeks ago.

WNU Editor: Apparently there is no final agreement on U.S. air strikes ... so says the Iraqi PM's office. I suspect that what is at play right now is this .... Tikrit: Shia fighters say US is 'trying to steal a victory' from Iranian-backed militias and Iraqi army (IBTimes)

More News On Iraq's Shiite Militias Rejoining The Battle For Tikri

Shiite militias in Iraq rejoin fight to oust Islamic State from Tikrit -- L.A. Times
Shia Militias Relaunch Tikrit Assault on ISIS After U.S. Air Strikes -- Newsweek
Iraq: US-Iran tensions amid offensive to retake Tikrit from ISIL -- Euronews
Photos: The battle to take Tikrit -- Al Jazeera