Russia delivers fighter jets to Iraqi Army

Russia government on Monday delivered five fighter jets to Iraqi Army as battle for Tikrit rages.

Mohammed al-Askari, Spokesperson, Defence Ministry said the first batch of Sukhoi Su-25 jets has arrived in Iraqi territory, and this would enhance the combat capability of the Iraqi Air Force in eliminating terrorism.

He said the aircraft would soon enter service and change the battle situation.

al-Askari said the jihadist Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant seized large swathes this month of northern and western Iraq, but government troops have since wrested back the swathes.

He said the army was pursuing an offensive against ISIL, an al-Qaeda splinter group believed to be backed by disgruntled Sunni militias.

The al-Askari Government troops were pushing deeper into Tikrit, 140 kilometres north-west of Baghdad, and had “cleansed” most of the city of insurgent forces.

“Security forces were able today to tighten their hold on most parts of Tikrit,” he said.

A security official who preferred anonymity said ISIL militants had kidnapped 26 people, mainly security personnel, in the northern province of Salah al-Din.

He said the abductions were carried out during two overnight raids by ISIL in the town of Sharqat.

The officer said the insurgents’ swift advances have raised international fears that Iraq is disintegrating and that the fighting could allow a regional militant enclave to emerge.

Iraq has suffered increasing violence over the last year, much of it blamed on ISIL and aimed at security forces and Shiite civilians.

The government’s response with security sweeps and mass arrests has further alienated Iraq’s Sunni minority, from which ISIL and other rebel groups draw their support.