U.S. Airstrikes Will Assist Pro-Iranian Forces In Iraq While They Wage War Against The Islamic State

Nancy A. Youssef, Daily Beast: U.S. Ready to Back Iran With Airstrikes Against ISIS

Iran and the U.S. say they’ve been fighting parallel wars in Iraq. But those two campaigns appear ready to become one, American officials tell The Daily Beast.

The U.S.-led coalition is preparing to expand its air strike campaign into the city of Tikrit where Iraqi forces, backed by Iranians, have stalled in their efforts to reclaim the hometown of Saddam Hussein from the self-proclaimed Islamic State.

Two U.S. officials told The Daily Beast that the United States is awaiting a formal request from the Iraqi government for the strikes. Once they receive that request, it could be only a matter of days before the attacks begin.

“The preparatory work is probably already done. The [U.S. military] has started to bring in more assets for a Tikrit air support campaign,” an adviser to the U.S. government tasked with monitoring and engaging with Iraqi officials told The Daily Beast. “Unless there is an impediment on the Iraqi side, and I don’t see it happening, the campaign could begin within days.”

WNU Editor: The U.S. is already providing surveillance intelligence for Iraqi and Iranian forces in Tikrit ... U.S. Surveillance Planes Aid Fight by Iraq, Iranian-Backed Militias for Tikrit (Wall Street Journal) .... so why not go to the next level .... air strikes. But what gets to me is that even if these air strikes are launched to assist Iraqi and pro-Iranian forces, the U.S. is afraid that Iranian forces in Iraq will still launch attacks against U.S. soldiers .... U.S. officials fear Iran might attack American troops in Iraq: report (Al Arabiya).