美國空襲伊拉克戰略重鎮提克里特

Warplanes from a U.S.-led coalition launched airstrikes against Islamic State targets in the Iraqi city of Tikrit on Wednesday, after Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi requested support for a Month-old offensive to retake the strategic area.

Iraqi troops and Shi'ite militias have been battling on the ground, and had resisted asking for outside air support, but after quick gains outside Tikrit, the effort stalled.

U.S. Lt. Gen. James Terry, who commands the coalition effort, said the airstrikes will better enable the Iraqi forces to oust the militants.

"These strikes are intended to destroy ISIL strongholds with precision, thereby saving innocent Iraqi lives while minimizing collateral damage to infrastructure," he said.

Tikrit is the capital of Salahuddin province, an area located between the capital, Baghdad, and Iraq's second largest city of Mosul that has been controlled by Islamic State fighters since June.星期三，美國領導的聯軍對伊拉克重要戰略城市提克里特的伊斯蘭國目標發動空襲。此前伊拉克總理阿巴迪請求聯軍支持奪回提克里特的攻勢，這一行動已經持續了一個月。

伊拉克軍隊和什葉派民兵在地面作戰，不過一直拒絕外來的空中支援。但是在提克里特城外迅速取得進展後，攻勢陷於停頓。

指揮聯軍作戰的美國中將特里說，空襲能更有效地幫助伊斯蘭軍隊將激進分子趕出提克里特。

特里說：“發動空襲是要精確地搗毀伊斯蘭國的據點，拯救無辜的伊拉克人的生命，同時最大程度地減小對基礎設施的附帶損害。”

提克里特是薩拉赫丁省的首府，位於首都巴格達和伊拉克第二大城市摩蘇爾之間。自去年6月以來，摩蘇爾一直處於伊斯蘭國戰鬥人員控制之下。