CENTCOM Commander General Lloyd Austin said Shia militia fighters “have pulled back from that area” and 4,000 Iraqi army and police forces are leading “clearing operations” in Tikrit.
Austin confirmed that the Iraqi government will be in charge of all forces in the assault, a US condition for airstrikes against the terror group there.
It marks a reassertion of US influence in the offensive, the AFP reported. Washington has been dismayed by the influence it says Iran has had in the operation, citing Tehran’s supply of advice and artillery to the Shia militias.
The operation that began on March 2 has stalled in recent days “because the wrong approach was taken,” Austin said. It will now “move forward.”
