The Iraqi Government Is Not In Charge Of The Military Offensive Against Tikrit

Senior U.S. military officials want Baghdad to name an Iraqi commander for the offensive to avoid dealing with Iranian advisers. Ahmed Al-Hussaini/ REUTERS

James Broder, Newsweek: Who's in Charge of the Fight Against ISIS in Tikrit?

For the first time since Iraqi forces launched an operation to recapture the city of Tikrit, Baghdad has asked the United States for intelligence to help beat back the Islamic State (ISIS) in a counteroffensive that’s stalled on the outskirts of the city, a senior U.S. military official in Iraq told Newsweek.

Yet in a sign of Washington’s unease with the major role being played by Iranian-backed militias in the battle against ISIS, U.S. officials balked at providing assistance, and instead demanded that Baghdad first appoint its own overall commander for the operation, part of which is being overseen by Iranian military advisers.

As it stands, nobody knows who’s in charge of the Tikrit operation, said this official, who spoke on condition of anonymity according to diplomatic protocol.

WNU Editor: This is a revealing post on who is really in charge of this offensive against the Islamic State in Tikrit. Bottom-line .... if Baghdad does not have an overall commander in charge of military operations at Tikrit (which is exactly what the U.S. is demanding if they are to assist Iraq in Tikrit) .... one can then only assume that it is Iran who is charge .... and if these pictures are any indication .... one can then conclude that yes .... it is definitely Iran who is in charge.