• $ 1.7
  • € 1.9277
  • ₽ 0.020509
  • ₺ 0.0444
  • £ 2.256

ISIS' legacy in Tikrit: booby traps, IEDs and fear

ISIS' legacy in Tikrit: booby traps, IEDs and fear
03.04.2015 20:30
ISIS is gone, but the fear remains.

As Iraqi forces, aided by Shiite militiamen, took control Wednesday of the northern city of Tikrit, they found vehicles laden with explosives and buildings that might be booby-trapped.

CNN senior international correspondent Arwa Damon, who was in Tikrit on Tuesday, saw a large mechanical digger packed with explosives that Iraqi forces had to disarm. The troops, she said, were cautious when they entered buildings in case they were wired to explode. Plumes of smoke rose from burning buildings in the background.

Near former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's presidential palaces compound -- Tikrit is Hussein's birthplace -- the CNN team also saw a destroyed truck with a large machine gun mounted on the back. Iraqi forces said they had fired an RPG at the truck, killing three ISIS fighters. ISIS was ejected from the palaces compound in fierce fighting, they said, adding that there may still be booby traps.

Federal police said they dismantled hundreds of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) Wednesday. CNN heard at least 16 explosions, some very loud, which police said were controlled.

The potential booby traps were political as well as physical. Officials are concerned about the behavior of the conquerors, particularly the Iranian-backed Shiite militiamen who helped Iraqi troops. Officials fear the militiamen might take "scorched earth" reprisals for the reported massacre of Shiite air force cadets by ISIS fighters in Tikrit last year.

Much of the population of Tikrit is, like ISIS, Sunni Muslim. And officials fear that reprisals by Shiite militias against the Sunni population could stoke local anger, jeopardizing the government's ability to hold onto Tikrit and pull the country together. Sectarian resentment helped fuel the rise of ISIS in the first place.

(CNN)

ANN.Az

www.ann.az
Similar news
Similar news
Putin receives US president's special envoy at the Kremlin
World 18:09
Putin receives US president's special envoy at the Kremlin
Son of CIA deputy director killed in Ukraine fighting for Russia — report
World 16:57
Son of CIA deputy director killed in Ukraine fighting for Russia — report
Magnitude 4.5 earthquake hits western Türkiye
World 15:00
Magnitude 4.5 earthquake hits western Türkiye
Harvard seeks to sell $1 billion in assets amid Trump funding freeze
World 14:30
Harvard seeks to sell $1 billion in assets amid Trump funding freeze
Trump avoids term ‘genocide’ in Armenian Remembrance Day statement
World 13:37
Trump avoids term ‘genocide’ in Armenian Remembrance Day statement
UK’s Starmer pushes back on Trump’s Ukraine peace plan
World 12:27
UK’s Starmer pushes back on Trump’s Ukraine peace plan
Boris Johnson slams Trump’s proposed Ukraine peace plan
World 10:30
Boris Johnson slams Trump’s proposed Ukraine peace plan
Syrian interim leader urges US to lift sanctions, cites end of Assad regime
World 14:30
Syrian interim leader urges US to lift sanctions, cites end of Assad regime
Musk and US Treasury Secretary clash in White House over IRS pick — Axios
World 13:55
Musk and US Treasury Secretary clash in White House over IRS pick — Axios
Anews TV

Our official Youtube channel

Subscribe