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Iraq Says Russian Experts Have Arrived to Help Prepare Jets for Fighting Iraq Says Russian Experts Have Arrived to Help Prepare Jets for Fighting
(34 minutes later)
BAGHDAD — Iraqi government officials said on Sunday that Russian experts have arrived in Iraq to help the army get 12 new Russian warplanes into the fight against Sunni extremists. BAGHDAD — Iraqi government officials said Sunday that Russian experts had arrived in Iraq to help the army get 12 new Russian warplanes into the fight against Sunni extremists.
The move was at least an implicit rebuke to the United States, where concerns in Congress about the political viability of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki’s government have stalled sales of advanced jet and helicopter combat planes to Iraq.The move was at least an implicit rebuke to the United States, where concerns in Congress about the political viability of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki’s government have stalled sales of advanced jet and helicopter combat planes to Iraq.
“In the coming three or four days the aircraft will be in service to support our forces in the fight against ISIS,” said Anwar Hama Ameen the commander of the Iraqi Air Force, referring to five SU-25 aircraft that landed in Iraq Saturday night and two more that are expected later Sunday. General Ameen also said that Russian military experts had arrived as well to help set up the planes, but that they would stay only a short time. “In the coming three or four days the aircraft will be in service to support our forces in the fight” against the insurgents of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, said Gen. Anwar Hama Ameen, the commander of the Iraqi Air Force, referring to five SU-25 aircraft that were flown into Iraq aboard Russian cargo planes Saturday night and two more expected later Sunday. General Ameen also said that Russian military experts had arrived as well to help set up the planes, but that they would stay only a short time.
Last week President Obama ordered 300 American military advisers into the country, and the Iranians have reportedly sent advisers from their Republican Guard’s Quds Force. Last week President Obama ordered 300 American military advisers into the country, and the Iranians have reportedly sent advisers from their Republican Guards’ Quds Force.
This was the first report of Russian military aides in the country, although General Ameen said they were experts, not advisers.This was the first report of Russian military aides in the country, although General Ameen said they were experts, not advisers.
American officials, citing intelligence reports, have also said that Iran has been sending surveillance drones over Iraq as well as supplying the government with military equipment and support.American officials, citing intelligence reports, have also said that Iran has been sending surveillance drones over Iraq as well as supplying the government with military equipment and support.
On Thursday Mr. al-Maliki said the Iraqis, in an arrangement with the Russian Ministry of Defense, had ordered a dozen SU-25s, a ground-attack fighter jet useful for close air support operations. On Thursday Mr. Maliki said the Iraqis, in an arrangement with the Russian Ministry of Defense, had ordered a dozen SU-25s, a ground-attack fighter jet useful for close air support operations.
“They are coming very fast,” General Ameen said in a telephone interview. “because we need them in this conflict against the terrorists as soon as possible.” He said the Russians would leave within three days or so after the aircraft were ready for service. “They are coming very fast,” General Ameen said in a telephone interview, “because we need them in this conflict against the terrorists as soon as possible.” He said the Russians would leave within three days or so after the aircraft were ready for service.
The Iraqi military SU-25 jets extensively during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, but they have not been used in Iraq since 2002 or earlier. The Iraqi military used SU-25 jets extensively during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, but they have not been used in Iraq since 2002 or earlier.
Still, General Ameen said they would soon see action again. “We have pilots who have long experience in this plane and of course we have the help of the Russian friends and the experts who came with these aircraft to prepare them,” he said. “This will bring a very strong punishment against the terrorists in the coming days.” Still, General Ameen said they would soon see action again. “We have pilots who have long experience in this plane and of course we have the help of the Russian friends and the experts who came with these aircraft to prepare them,” he said. “This will produce a very strong punishment against the terrorists in the coming days.”
Sunni jihadi fighters were reported on Sunday to have stalled a government offensive to retake the central Iraqi city of Tikrit. Insurgents had apparently retaken control of key government buildings in the center of Tikrit city, according to eyewitnesses who reported seeing the black flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria flying over many important buildings. The day before, Iraqi flags had been hoisted on many of them, as Iraqi troops carried out a ground assault after a three-day-long operation intended to take the city and roll back the insurgents’ advance toward Baghdad. Sunni jihadi fighters were reported on Sunday to have stalled a government offensive to retake the central Iraqi city of Tikrit. Insurgents had apparently retaken control of key government buildings in the center of Tikrit city, according to witnesses who reported seeing the black flag of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, flying over many important buildings. The day before, Iraqi flags had been hoisted on many of them, as Iraqi troops carried out a ground assault after a three-day-long operation intended to take the city and roll back the insurgents’ advance toward Baghdad.
Iraqi warplanes carried out repeated airstrikes on insurgent targets throughout the city on Sunday for the fourth day in a row, witnesses said. Iraqi forces carried out repeated airstrikes, mostly using helicopters, on insurgent targets throughout the city on Sunday for the fourth day in a row, witnesses said.
The Iraqi army remained in control of roads leading into Tikrit, Saddam Hussein’s birthplace and a longtime stronghold of Sunni hard-liners, about 100 miles north of Baghdad, and also controlled the campus of Salahuddin University in Tikrit and a military base, Camp Speicher, on the outskirts of the city.The Iraqi army remained in control of roads leading into Tikrit, Saddam Hussein’s birthplace and a longtime stronghold of Sunni hard-liners, about 100 miles north of Baghdad, and also controlled the campus of Salahuddin University in Tikrit and a military base, Camp Speicher, on the outskirts of the city.
The military’s advance, supported by tanks and helicopter gunships, was hampered by a large number of bombs planted along the roads, a common tactic of the insurgents.The military’s advance, supported by tanks and helicopter gunships, was hampered by a large number of bombs planted along the roads, a common tactic of the insurgents.
According to a security official in Tikrit, speaking on condition of anonymity as a matter of government policy, ISIS fighters had kidnapped six relatives of Maj. Gen. Jumaa al-Jabouri, deputy commander of Iraqi military operations in Salhuddin Province, holding them hostage and destroying their homes in the eastern part of the city. According to a security official in Tikrit, speaking on the condition of anonymity as a matter of government policy, ISIS fighters had kidnapped six relatives of Maj. Gen. Jumaa al-Jabouri, deputy commander of Iraqi military operations in Salahuddin Province, holding them hostage and destroying their homes in the eastern part of the city.
What appeared to be a jumbo Russian transport aircraft was shown Saturday night on Iraqiya, the state television network, unloading the SU-25 warplanes at what was believed to be an air base in Taji, a short distance north of Baghdad.What appeared to be a jumbo Russian transport aircraft was shown Saturday night on Iraqiya, the state television network, unloading the SU-25 warplanes at what was believed to be an air base in Taji, a short distance north of Baghdad.
The new aircraft “will increase and support the strength and capability of the Iraqi air forces to eliminate terrorism,” a statement issued by the Iraqi ministry of defense said. The new aircraft “will increase and support the strength and capability of the Iraqi air forces to eliminate terrorism,” a statement issued by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense said.
The Iraqis have asked the United States for help in buying aircraft such as F-16s and advanced helicopter gunships, some of which they do already have, but Congress has been reluctant to approve more such sales until Mr. Maliki forms a government that is more inclusive of Sunni and Kurdish leaders.The Iraqis have asked the United States for help in buying aircraft such as F-16s and advanced helicopter gunships, some of which they do already have, but Congress has been reluctant to approve more such sales until Mr. Maliki forms a government that is more inclusive of Sunni and Kurdish leaders.
There have also been unconfirmed reports that Iran was prepared to return some of the Iraqi warplanes that Saddam Hussein flew to Iran in 1991 to escape American destruction. Those included 24 French F1 Mirage fighters, and 80 Russian jets.There have also been unconfirmed reports that Iran was prepared to return some of the Iraqi warplanes that Saddam Hussein flew to Iran in 1991 to escape American destruction. Those included 24 French F1 Mirage fighters, and 80 Russian jets.
The United States announced last week that it had begun flying armed drones over Iraq to protect the 300 American advisers ordered sent there by Mr. Obama, but there have been no reports that they have gone into action.The United States announced last week that it had begun flying armed drones over Iraq to protect the 300 American advisers ordered sent there by Mr. Obama, but there have been no reports that they have gone into action.
“We are still coordinating with the American side in relation to the study of important targets,” Gen. Qassim Atta, the chief Iraqi military spokesman, said about the advisers on Saturday. “Soon it will be clear what they are going to be doing.”“We are still coordinating with the American side in relation to the study of important targets,” Gen. Qassim Atta, the chief Iraqi military spokesman, said about the advisers on Saturday. “Soon it will be clear what they are going to be doing.”