US unleashes terror on ISIL

The United States, leading the coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has launched their first airstrikes against the group in Tikrit.

According to Al Jazeera, a US defence official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that American warplanes and aircraft from allied nations were striking up to a dozen targets in the northern Iraqi city.

The US however seemed to distance itself from involvement with Iran as a second US official stressed that Washington in no way would coordinate with the Iranian-backed militia or seek to empower them in Iraq, even if those fighters might share the same narrow tactical objective as Iraqi forces in Tikrit.

Over 20,000 troops and allied paramilitary groups have been taking part in the offensive against ISIL on the edge of the city, and have suffered heavy casualties.

Iraqi military had lobbied for US-led coalition airstrikes while Iran backed paramilitary forces opposed such a move.

Reports have it that a militia leader, Hadi al-Amiri, boasted 3 weeks ago that his men had been making advances for months without relying on US air power.