Washington: The US-led coalition is planning to carry out air strikes in support of Iraqi operations against the Islamic State in the city of Tikrit, a US official told Reuters on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity to confirm comments by Iraq`s president.
The US official declined to discuss timing of any strikes.
The Pentagon and the White House earlier on Wednesday declined to comment on Iraqi President Fouad Massoum`s prediction, in an interview with Reuters, that the coalition would soon carry out strikes in Tikrit, the birthplace of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.