Iraqi Army 5th Division with Iran-backed Badr, at Battle of Tikrit

Eighteen stills in near order from a video published by Iraqi Ministry of Defense on 17MAR15, depicting Iraqi Army 5th Division with Iran-backed Bader Organization militia, leading up to and advancing toward Tikrit during the Salaheddin Campaign. (Complete video at end of post.)

M113A2 armored personnel carriers atop column of HMMWVs

HMMWV and Iraqi Light Armored Vehicle (ILAV) of Iraqi Army 5th Division

Iraqi Light Armored Vehicle (ILAV) among motorized brigade, Iraqi Army 5th Division

 

Iran-backed Badr Organization militiamen atop BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle. Note: distinction for Badr Organization militia to be included in official Iraqi Ministry of Defense video.

Iran-backed Badr Organization militiamen, transported in medium duty truck transport

Following elements of Badr's drive-past, these U.S.-supplied up-armored HMMWVs

Iraqi Army firing of U.S.-supplied M198 155mm howitzers

Iraqi Army M198 howitzer crew, in action

Tracked loader improvised into Armored Combat Engineering Vehicle (ACEV)

Paused elements of motorized brigade, Iraqi Army 5th Division

Iraqi Light Armored Vehicle (ILAV)  and M113A2 armored personnel carrier

Iraqi Army T-72M main battle tank

Turret markings denote 1-20 Tank Regiment, 5th (Iron) Mechanized Division

T-72M main battle tank, Iraqi Light Armored Vehicle and BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle

Iraqi Army Staff Lieutenant General Abdulamir al-Zaidi

Iraqi Army Aviation Comand (IqAAC) Mil Mi-35M attack helicopter

"Welcome to Tikrit" road sign plastered with Badr Organization sticker

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Iran-supplied T-72 and U.S.-supplied M1 tanks, fighting alongside at Battle of Tikrit

Fifty video stills in near order from a compilation video depicting an improvised, small unit armored force during last week's action in the Salaheddin Campaign. (Complete video at end of post.)

Iran-supplied T-72S tank alongside U.S.-supplied M1A1M tank, in combat action together during the Salaheddin Campaign

Iran-supplied T-72S main battle tank, thought to be operated by elements of the Iraqi Army

U.S.-supplied M1A1M main battle tank operated by elements of the Iraqi Army

U.S.-supplied M113A2 armored personnel carrier alongside Iran-supplied T-72S main battle tank. M113A2 shows markings of the 4-34 Mechanized Battalion, 9th Armored Division.

Iraqi Army Aviation Command (IqAAC) Eurocopter EC-635T-2 multi-purpose light helicopter

Caterpillar wheel loader operated as a combat engineering vehicle

Detail of M113A2 hull-side markings of the 4-34 Mechanized Battalion, 9th Armored Division

HMMWV alongside mixed elements of improvised mechanized infantry

Camouflage detail of improvised small unit force HMMWV

Caterpillar wheel loader operated as combat engineer vehicle

PKM machine gunner alongside paused HMMWV. At right, paused M113A2 armored personnel carriers.

Assaulting Iran-supplied T-72S and U.S.-supplied M1A1M tanks, firing main and secondary armaments

Shoulder-fired PKM general-purpose machine gun

M1A1M main battle tank advancing into a scene of ascending smoke

Improvised, small unit armored force advancing at the pace of infantry

Passing a potential hostile position, armor at the near flank, HMMWVs at the far flank, MRAP command vehicle at the rear.

Well-outfitted, embedded narrator of the improvised, armored small unit's advance

Iran-supplied T-72S main battle tank advancing past cleared structures

The only helmeted member of the force at this point, equipped with technical vest adorned with SWAT patch

Elements of the improvised force, seen outfitted in a variety of uniforms and unit patches

Variety of equipment, including member outfitted with grenades

M1117 Guardian armored security vehicle, joins up with the improvised, small unit armored force

RPG gunner, moments before firing; huge burn seen in the distance

Advancing column of the improvised, small unit armored force

Detail of Iran-supplied T-72S main battle tank. Note fitments for Kontakt-1 ERA tiles (removed)

Improvised elements of mechanized infantry aboard  M113A2 armored personnel carrier

Road signage marking 50 kilometers distance from Fatha, Iraq in Salaheddin Governate

Iraqi Army Aviation Command (IqAAC) Mil Mi-35M attack helicopter

Capture of ISIL flags at location 6 kilometers from Tikrit

Road signage marking location 6 kilometers from Tikrit

Short rest for march-wear infantryman. Note discarded meal container; suggesting level of logistical sophistication for the operation.

Seen at left: Iran-supplied Safir tactical vehicle armed with M40 recoilless rifle

Improvised technical equipped with 23 mm cannon

Iraqi Army Aviation Command (IqAAC) Bell IA-407

Iraqi Army Aviation Command (IqAAC) Mil Mi-35M attack helicopter

Improvised Iraqi technical equipped with what may be a PKM type machine gun

South Africa supplied REVA 4x4 MKII armored personnel carrier

ISF pickup truck pressed into service as improvised troop transport

Improvised, armored small unit assembled into larger force that now includes light pickup trucks and Iran-supplied Safir tactical vehicles.

Wheel loader improvised into armored combat engineer vehicle (ACEV)

Elements of ISF improvised into elements of mechanized infantry

U.S.-supplied M1117 Guardian armored security vehicle, seen alongside Iran-supplied T-72S main battle tank

Improvised ACEV leads advancing infantry, Iran-supplied T-72S and U.S.-supplied M1A1M

Advancing column of improvised, armored small unit force

Infantry advancing in the open, towards a small settlement

MOI National Police Command member seen coordinating among the improvised, armored small unit force

Iraqi Special Operations Forces emblem seen on member now among the improvised, armored small unit force.

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