美国空袭伊拉克战略重镇提克里特

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.

伊拉克军队和什叶派民兵在地面作战，不过一直拒绝外来的空中支援。但是在提克里特城外迅速取得进展后，攻势陷于停顿。

指挥联军作战的美国中将特里说，空袭能更有效地帮助伊斯兰军队将激进分子赶出提克里特。

特里说：“发动空袭是要精确地捣毁伊斯兰国的据点，拯救无辜的伊拉克人的生命，同时最大程度地减小对基础设施的附带损害。”

提克里特是萨拉赫丁省的首府，位于首都巴格达和伊拉克第二大城市摩苏尔之间。自去年6月以来，摩苏尔一直处于伊斯兰国战斗人员控制之下。