WASHINGTON // Iranian-backed Shiite militias have left the northern Iraqi city of Tikrit, a key condition demanded by the United States before it agreed to begin launching air strikes on the area.
It comes after a Baghdad offensive to retake the city from ISIL had come to a standstill in recent days.
Lloyd Austin, the top US general for the Middle East, appeared to stun senate armed services committee members with news of the withdrawal.
Senator John McCain began Thursday’s hearing by asking Gen Austin about the perceived 40,000 Shiite militia members in Tikrit, prompting a surprising response from the general that there were no Shiite militia in the city.
Gen Austin, who heads US central command, said that there are now about 4,000 Iraqi forces, commandos and police battling for Tikrit, and with American help, he believes the campaign to retake the city will move forward.
He told the committee that Iraqi leaders requested the US air strikes.
The battle for Tikrit is widely seen as a step toward the more difficult and potentially decisive battle to regain control of the larger city of Mosul.
Gen Austin said that he witnessed brutality by Shiite militias during his extensive experience of leading US and coalition forces in Iraq.
“I will not – and I hope we will never – coordinate or cooperate with Shiite militias,” he said, giving a blunt explanation for why the Iranian-led offensive had so far failed.
“[The] Iran approach was taken,” he said. “These forces obviously were not being controlled by the government of Iraq ... [they] “were poorly led.”
Asked if Iranian forces remained nearby Tikrit, Gen Austin said, “I’m sure they’re still in the area.” He said he believes they may be on the east side of the Tigris river, while Tikrit is on the west side.
Iran had been providing artillery and other weaponry for the Tikrit battle, and senior Iranian advisers, including the famed Quds Force general, Qassem Soleimani, had helped Iraq to coordinate the offensive.
US officials estimate that two-thirds of the ground troops involved were Shiite militiamen, while the others were made up of regular Iraqi army soldiers and Sunni tribal fighters.
The growing Iranian presence had complicated the mission, with Washington refusing to work directly with Tehran, even though it is currently involved in sensitive negotiations with Iran over a nuclear deal.
Gen Austin told the committee that whether or not a nuclear deal is reached, he still considers Iran the greatest regional threat.
The prominent role of the Shiite militias in the fight to retake Tikrit and other parts of Iraq’s Sunni heartland has also raised concerns that the offensive could deepen the country’s sectarian divide and drive Sunnis into the arms of ISIL.
ISIL seized the Sunni city – Saddam Hussein’s hometown – last summer during its rapid advance across northern Iraq.
It is deemed an important test of the ability of Iraq – with coalition support – to retake ground it ceded to ISIL last year. The US initially did not provide air support in Tikrit because Baghdad pointedly chose to partner with Iran instead in a battle that it predicted would yield a quick victory.
The US-led coalition conducted air strikes in 17 locations on Wednesday, hitting ISIL group checkpoints, buildings, staging areas and a command and control facility using fighter jets, bombers and drones.
* Associated Press
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Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
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Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
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COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
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UAE squad to face Ireland
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri (vice-captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmad, Zawar Farid, CP Rizwaan, Aryan Lakra, Karthik Meiyappan, Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, Kashif Daud, Adithya Shetty, Vriitya Aravind
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6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Rajeh, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi (trainer)
6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes – Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Get Back Goldie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill
7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Sovereign Prince, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Hot Rod Charlie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill
8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Withering, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
9.30pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Creative Flair, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
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Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
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Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
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In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
New process leads to panic among jobseekers
As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.
Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE.
“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.
“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”
Liverpool 4-1 Shrewsbury
Liverpool
Gordon (34'), Fabinho (44' pen, 90' 3), Firmino (78')
Shrewsbury
Udoh (27'minutes)
Man of the Match: Kaide Gordon (Liverpool)
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
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Two-legged ties to be played November 9-11 and November 12-14
- Northern Ireland v Switzerland
- Croatia v Greece
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- Sweden v Italy
