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Iraqi leader visits Ramadi amid push to secure gains against Islamic State Iraqi leader visits Ramadi amid push to secure gains against Islamic State
(about 3 hours later)
BAGHDAD — Iraq’s prime minister toured the outskirts of Ramadi on Tuesday in a rare battlefield visit seeking to showcase military gains as government forces attempt to push the Islamic State from its last footholds in the city.BAGHDAD — Iraq’s prime minister toured the outskirts of Ramadi on Tuesday in a rare battlefield visit seeking to showcase military gains as government forces attempt to push the Islamic State from its last footholds in the city.
Iraqi units — backed by U.S.-led airstrikes — have retaken key sites in Ramadi this week, including the main government compound, during an offensive that seeks to deal a major blow to the militants just 80 miles west of Baghdad. In the wider fight against the Islamic State, U.S.-led airstrikes in Iraq and Syria over the past month killed 10 suspected leaders of the militant group, including at least two with links to last month’s Paris attacks, a spokesman said.
In Ramadi, Iraqi units — backed by U.S.-led warplanes — have retaken key sites this week, including the main government compound, during an offensive that seeks to deal a major blow to the militants just 80 miles west of Baghdad.
The fight also marks a critical test for Iraqi forces, which has struggled against the Islamic State since its stunning push across parts of Iraq in June 2014.The fight also marks a critical test for Iraqi forces, which has struggled against the Islamic State since its stunning push across parts of Iraq in June 2014.
In an effort to project confidence and bolster his own standing, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi made a high-profile visit noted by state TV and Abadi’s social media handlers. Abadi went directly into meetings with military commanders at a university on the southern edge of Ramadi, an Iraqi military official, Brig. Gen. Ahmed al-Belawi, told The Associated Press. In an effort to project confidence and bolster his own standing, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi made a high-profile visit to the area. Abadi went directly into meetings with military commanders at a university on the southern edge of Ramadi. He later declared Thursday as a national holiday.
[Iraq’s prime minister struggles for balance amid chaos][Iraq’s prime minister struggles for balance amid chaos]
Abadi, who arrived by helicopter, had praised Iraqi forces on Monday for “defeating” the Islamic State in Ramadi, and vowed to bring the fight against the militants to their main Iraqi stronghold, Mosul, the largest city on northern Iraq. Abadi, who arrived by helicopter, had praised Iraqi forces on Monday for “defeating” the Islamic State in Ramadi, and vowed to bring the fight against the militants to their main Iraqi stronghold, Mosul, the largest city in northern Iraq.
But Islamic State militiamen have proven resilient in the past and still hold portions of Ramadi. Iraqi advances have been further slowed by booby-trapped streets and bridges destroyed by retreating Islamic State fighters.But Islamic State militiamen have proven resilient in the past and still hold portions of Ramadi. Iraqi advances have been further slowed by booby-trapped streets and bridges destroyed by retreating Islamic State fighters.
At one military checkpoint, a bomb-rigged car driven by a suicide attacker exploded near a tank on Tuesday, but caused no casualties among the troops, said Maj. Gen. Ismail Mahalawi, head of military operations in the area.At one military checkpoint, a bomb-rigged car driven by a suicide attacker exploded near a tank on Tuesday, but caused no casualties among the troops, said Maj. Gen. Ismail Mahalawi, head of military operations in the area.
Elsewhere, Iraqi commandos aided more than 400 residents who were trapped by the fighting. Among them was woman who gave birth amid the ruins.Elsewhere, Iraqi commandos aided more than 400 residents who were trapped by the fighting. Among them was woman who gave birth amid the ruins.
In Baghdad, meanwhile, Iraq’s Interior Ministry announced that airstrikes on Monday killed several top Islamic State fighters, including three Russian recruits and a senior figure from Saddam Hussein’s former Republican Guard. The claims, however, could be independently verified. In Baghdad, meanwhile, Iraq’s Interior Ministry announced that airstrikes in Ramadi’s Anbar Province on Monday killed several top Islamic State fighters, including three Russian recruits and a senior figure from Saddam Hussein’s former Republican Guard. The claims, however, could be independently verified.
In other air campaigns, 10 Islamic State “leadership figures” have been killed over the past month, said Army Col. Steve Warren, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition. Those targeted include at least two militants with apparent ties to the network that planned the Nov. 13 rampage in Paris that killed 130 people, he said.
[Gallery: The fight to regain Ramadi][Gallery: The fight to regain Ramadi]
The Islamic State shocked Iraqis in May when it captured Ramadi, capital of Anbar province. Losing the city would represent one of the most dramatic setbacks suffered by the group in Iraq. The Islamic State shocked Iraqis in May when it captured Ramadi, capital of Anbar. Losing the city would represent one of the most dramatic setbacks suffered by the group in Iraq.
“Daesh are running away now, and all the city is under our control,” said Maj. Gen. Hadi Rzaig, head of the Anbar police force, said Monday. Daesh is the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS and ISIL.
Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter congratulated the Iraqi government on its progress in Ramadi, but cautioned that the fight against the Islamic State “is far from over.”Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter congratulated the Iraqi government on its progress in Ramadi, but cautioned that the fight against the Islamic State “is far from over.”
Rebuilding Ramadi, if it can be fully secured by the government, also will be no easy task.Rebuilding Ramadi, if it can be fully secured by the government, also will be no easy task.
Suspicion of Iraq’s Shiite-dominated government runs high in the Sunni city, whose residents felt abandoned by officials in Baghdad as Islamic State militants mounted their assault in May.Suspicion of Iraq’s Shiite-dominated government runs high in the Sunni city, whose residents felt abandoned by officials in Baghdad as Islamic State militants mounted their assault in May.
Lacking support from the government, Ramadi residents formed community defenses and even purchased their own weapons to defend the city. Islamic State militants killed scores of residents and exacted other forms of retribution on people who were associated with the government, including home demolitions.Lacking support from the government, Ramadi residents formed community defenses and even purchased their own weapons to defend the city. Islamic State militants killed scores of residents and exacted other forms of retribution on people who were associated with the government, including home demolitions.
[Iraqi armed forces see chance for redemption as they close in on Ramadi][Iraqi armed forces see chance for redemption as they close in on Ramadi]
The capture of Ramadi would mark the first time that Iraqi armed forces have seized a city from the Islamic State without the aid of the country’s powerful Shiite militias, which did not participate in the operation because of concerns about sectarian tensions with the city’s mostly Sunni inhabitants.The capture of Ramadi would mark the first time that Iraqi armed forces have seized a city from the Islamic State without the aid of the country’s powerful Shiite militias, which did not participate in the operation because of concerns about sectarian tensions with the city’s mostly Sunni inhabitants.
Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, the chief of U.S. Central Command, congratulated Iraqi forces on securing the government complex in Ramadi, calling it “an important operational achievement.” He stopped short of calling it a strategic success, however, perhaps a nod to the tenuous security situation that remains in the city.Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, the chief of U.S. Central Command, congratulated Iraqi forces on securing the government complex in Ramadi, calling it “an important operational achievement.” He stopped short of calling it a strategic success, however, perhaps a nod to the tenuous security situation that remains in the city.
Retired Marine Gen. John R. Allen, who served as President Obama’s special envoy to the international coalition against the militants until October, said the success in Ramadi is best viewed in the broader context of efforts that have led to Iraqi forces taking back Tikrit, Baiji and other areas from the militants in the past few months.
Allen predicted that an operation to take back Mosul could begin in months but said it is dependent on what Abadi, the prime minister, wants to do. Obama has committed Apache helicopters and more Special Operations troops to the war, but their use must be balanced against concerns the Iraqis have about not overly “Americanizing” the war, Allen said.
“While Ramadi took a long time to pull off,” Allen said, “I think the Iraqis will come out of this with a greater sense of their capabilities and improved morale. The Iraqis will have to take stock of the state of their security forces as they emerge from Ramadi in terms of their casualties and what their replacement requirements will be, as well as their equipment and materiel losses.”
Murphy reported from Washington. Dan Lamothe in Washington contributed to this report.Murphy reported from Washington. Dan Lamothe in Washington contributed to this report.
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