single digits that will be the coldest air temperature felt this late in the season since the 1800s. and natalie, i will leave it on a good note. 14 days until spring. yeah. but will we feel it? will it really come? that s a good question. let me look into my magic eight ball here. we will see it. i get the boot. already. those poor people in new york. thanks. iraqi forces getting help in the battle to retake the hometown of saddam hussein. we will tell you which countries are joining them to help win that city back. also ahead here isis continuing to bulldoze iraq s history.
3.2 kilometers from tikrit. isis is just on the other side. that was an outgoing round. our visit was organized by the paramilitary force created when the iraqi army nearly collapsed during last summer s isis onslaught. increasingly they are playing a central role in the fight against isis. one of the commanders has learned a lot about isis s tactics. the basic strategy he tells me is to avoid face to face confrontations. they depend on explosive devices and snipers. the forces received training ammunition weapons, and high level battlefield advice from iran. our tour included a stop at this mosque east of tikrit.
here in the united states and around the world. you re watching krmp nn live coverage. here are our top stories. thousands of people have fled their homes as fighting rages. iraq is trying to recapture the city of tikrit which has been under isis control since june. delta passengers had quite a scare when their plane skidded off an icy runway in new york.
fifth day in a push. the northern iraqi city is the hometown of former dictateor saddam hussein and it s a required winning step towards winning back isis held mosul further north. iraqi forces claim they are making gains and they are getting some help along the way. ben got within just a few kilometers of the frontd lines. tikrit is the target. heavy rounds fired into a city now the focus of iraq s biggest yet offensive against isis. the group overran the city last june. there are no signs of life there. many have already fled. we re at a base just two miles.
parliament members visiting the troops was quick to praise iran for its backing in the fight against isis. today the support is much larger than the iranian support which is limited. praise for iran mixed with criticism. and that really doesn t reflect well on them. the government has said it doesn t request assistance for the operation. if this operation is successful these fighters will take the credit. and we have this from the isis militants.