Pentagon Describes Tikrit Offensive As ‘Stalled’
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Hope Milam/iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The Pentagon is now labeling the Iraqi military and Shiite militia offensive on Tikrit as being “stalled.”
Last week Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren described the situation as “static” as Iraqi forces encircled the city but had not pushed into the ISIS-held center of the city.
Warren said on Tuesday that’s still the case right now as Iraqi forces remain outside the city. ISIS fighters in the city have set up defensive measures around the city that have slowed the Iraqi offensive, according to Warren. He would not confirm that the U.S. has begun flying surveillance flights over Tikrit.
Separately, a U.S. official confirmed to ABC News that the U.S. has been flying surveillance missions over Tikrit and selectively sharing some of the intelligence with the Iraqis.
The official told ABC News the U.S. wanted to get a good sense of the situation in Tikrit and began reconnaissance flights, and that recently the U.S. has decided it will share some of what it has gleaned with the Iraqis.
The U.S., however, still has not been asked by the Iraqis to provide airstrikes for the offensive on Tikrit, according to the official, which is being led by Iran.
At a session with reporters on Tuesday, Warren said there remains no coordination with the Iranians.
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