A member of an Iraqi Shiite militant group called Imam Ali Brigades patrols in Tikrit on March 25, 2015. Khalid Mohammed/AP Photo
A member of an Iraqi Shiite militant group called Imam Ali Brigades patrols in Tikrit on March 25, 2015. Khalid Mohammed/AP Photo
A member of an Iraqi Shiite militant group called Imam Ali Brigades patrols in Tikrit on March 25, 2015. Khalid Mohammed/AP Photo
A member of an Iraqi Shiite militant group called Imam Ali Brigades patrols in Tikrit on March 25, 2015. Khalid Mohammed/AP Photo

World

US launches air strikes to help Iraq retake Tikrit

It comes after Baghdad requested Washington's help, an official said.

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WASHINGTON // A senior US official says the United States has launched its first air strikes on Tikrit in support of a stalled Iraqi ground offensive to retake the city from ISIL fighters.

The official says the air strikes began after the Iraqi government requested US help. The attacks had not yet been officially announced when the official spoke.

Warplanes could be heard overhead in Tikrit late on Wednesday, followed by multiple explosions.

* Associated Press

IraqUSISISIran