Iraqi Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi speaks during a news conference at an air base in Baghdad March 26, 2015. Coalition and Iraqi planes struck a sprawling complex of palaces in the city of Tikrit on Thursday where Islamic State militants have been holding out for more than three weeks. Iraq's Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi played down the role of Iranian advisers and the degree of interaction between them and the coalition. REUTERS/Khalid al-Mousily