Still from video published 18MAY15 of Iranian Minister of Defense BG Hossein Dehqan and his Iraqi counterpart Minister of Defense Khalid al-Obeidi, at the entrance of the Iraqi Ministry Of Defense building in Baghdad.
The exchange between Iranian and Iraqi ministries of defense was said to be pre-scheduled but it didn't show on the faces at the Iraqi side of the table; they appear grim and in the midst of a national emergency, following the loss of a second provincial capital, Ramadi.
Photo depictions of IRGC-QF Commander MG Qassim Soleimani in Iraq are again materializing on social media; seen here with Abu Azrael, commander of the Kataib al-Imam Ali brigade.
COMMENTARY: For most of the Battle of Tikrit the pendulum of military influence in Iraq swung towards Iran. Then at the very end of that battle, it swung toward the United States. Now, with the fall of Ramadi, it appears to be swinging back in the direction of Iran.
Also on 18MAY15, Iraqi Air Force C-130J Hercules transport aircraft were in Tehran while an Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force Boeing 747 was in Baghdad, ferrying Iranian military supplies to Iraq for war against ISIL. [source: Babak Taghvaee]
File photo: IqAF Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft
File photo: IRIAF Boeing 747-131(SF) [photo: Mehrad Watson]
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
