Qasem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s elite Quds force. Rudaw
Adam Rawnsley, War Is Boring: Iranian Weapons Flood the Battle of Tikrit
Tehran sends tanks, rocket launchers and drones
Iraqi and Shia militia forces have been taking back ground from Islamic State, pushing the jihadist fighters out of much of the town of Tikrit.
But in a sign of Tehran’s growing military presence in the Iraq, Iranian weapons were a nearly ubiquitous sight in images and videos coming out of the offensive to take the mostly Sunni city.
Ever since Islamic State shocked the region with its capture of Mosul last summer, Iran has opened up its arsenals and flooded clients, proxies and friends in Iraq with arms and vehicles.
Now, as Iraqi forces have brushed off their American advisers during the push into Tikrit, Iranian weapons — and advisers — are helping to spread the Islamic Republic’s influence.
Update: Iran’s Expanding Sphere of Influence: Iranian T-72 Tanks in Iraq -- Belling Cat
WNU Editor: Not surprising .... some in Iraq are appreciative of this Iranian support .... Iraqi commander slams US, hails Iran in fight against ISIS in Tikrit (AP)
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