Iran’s role worries anti-IS coalition: US Gen
AFP, Aboard Aircraft :
The US military’s top officer said Friday Iran was bolstering the firepower of Shia militias in Iraq but it remained unclear if Tehran was a help or a hindrance to the fight against Islamic State group jihadists.
General Martin Dempsey, speaking to reporters aboard his plane en route to a visit to Bahrain and Iraq, said he would raise his concerns about Iran’s influence in talks with Iraq’s leaders – days after Baghdad launched a large-scale operation to recapture Tikrit from the Islamic State group.
The Shia militias, armed and advised by Iran, are playing a major role in the Tikrit offensive.
But the US-led coalition – which has no dealings with the Shia fighters – has been markedly absent from the operation and allies fear Iran’s activity could aggravate sectarian tensions.
Dempsey said US-led air strikes in recent months to the north near Baiji had put pressure on the IS extremists, laying the ground for the offensive on Tikrit.
“The Tikrit operation is only possible because of the air campaign we’ve been running around Baiji,” where the IS failed to retain control of oil refineries, Dempsey said.
The US military’s top officer said Friday Iran was bolstering the firepower of Shia militias in Iraq but it remained unclear if Tehran was a help or a hindrance to the fight against Islamic State group jihadists.
General Martin Dempsey, speaking to reporters aboard his plane en route to a visit to Bahrain and Iraq, said he would raise his concerns about Iran’s influence in talks with Iraq’s leaders – days after Baghdad launched a large-scale operation to recapture Tikrit from the Islamic State group.
The Shia militias, armed and advised by Iran, are playing a major role in the Tikrit offensive.
But the US-led coalition – which has no dealings with the Shia fighters – has been markedly absent from the operation and allies fear Iran’s activity could aggravate sectarian tensions.
Dempsey said US-led air strikes in recent months to the north near Baiji had put pressure on the IS extremists, laying the ground for the offensive on Tikrit.
“The Tikrit operation is only possible because of the air campaign we’ve been running around Baiji,” where the IS failed to retain control of oil refineries, Dempsey said.
