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U.S. and Iran Hint at Talks on Iraq; Rebels Seize New City U.S. and Iran Hint at Talks on Iraq; Rebels Seize New City
(35 minutes later)
BAGHDAD — Iraqi extremists took over the small city of Tal Afar, in northwestern Iraq, on Monday, according to Iraqi security officials and residents, sending both Shiite and Sunni residents fleeing. BAGHDAD —
Tal Afar’s fall followed a two-day-long battle between the Iraqi military and insurgents of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The militants have now gained control of another city on the road to Syria through Nineveh Province, after the fall less than a week earlier of the province’s capital, Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city. Sunni rebel extremists ambushed and killed more than two dozen Shiite volunteer militiamen late Sunday just outside the holy city of Samarra, the first such killings since Iraq’s government started mobilizing thousands of untrained Shiites to stop the insurgent advance threatening the country.
As concern mounted about the Sunni militants’ advances toward Baghdad, and about their claims of slaughtering Shiites as they marched, American and Iranian officials signaled a new willingness to work together to stem the crisis. That advance appeared to gain momentum elsewhere on Monday. Sunni insurgents took over the small city of Tal Afar, in northwestern Iraq, according to Iraqi security officials and residents, sending both Shiite and Sunni residents fleeing.
One senior administration official said that Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns may talk to the Iranians about Iraq at the nuclear talks in Vienna this week. “There may be discussion of that on the margins,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss unfinished planning. The new setbacks for the government in Baghdad added urgency to demands from Iran and the United States — which have now both signaled a new willingness to cooperate on the crisis — that Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki move quickly to reach out to Sunnis and Kurds, and forge a united front against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the extremist group that in the past week has brought much of the north and west of the country under its control.
Mr. Maliki has publicly declared his confidence that the volunteers would supplement his beleaguered military, which has been decimated by desertions. Young Shiite men have enthusiastically signed up throughout Baghdad and southern Iraq, racing to the front lines with little training or preparation, since Iraq’s top Shiite cleric exhorted them on Friday to take up arms and defend the country. The bloody ambush on Sunday raised questions about how effective such volunteers will be in fighting experienced insurgents.
The volunteers had just left the northern town of Ishaqi and were heading south to reinforce Samarra, which is still held by the Iraqi Army but is under pressure from ISIS, which has threatened to destroy its historic Shiite shrine. An attack on that shrine in 2006 provoked bloody sectarian warfare nationwide.
The volunteers had hidden themselves inside a small convoy of refrigerator trucks for the perilous journey through territory where ISIS is active. According to a Shiite militia leader, Abu Mujahid, the convoy was struck by a roadside bomb, and “at the same time the militants came from nowhere and started shooting from everywhere and killed 28 volunteers.”
At the morgue of the hospital in Samarra, an official said that 29 dead were brought there, and that a further 190 volunteers were wounded in the attack. Mr. Mujahid put the wounded at only 17.
Farther north, the fall of Tal Afar followed a two-day-long battle between the Iraqi military and ISIS insurgents. The militants have now gained control of another city on the road to Syria through Nineveh Province, after the fall less than a week earlier of the province’s capital, Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city, about 35 miles to the east of Tal Afar.
As concern intensified about the Sunni militants’ advances toward Baghdad, and about their claims of slaughtering Shiites as they marched, American and Iranian officials suggested that they could collaborate over their common interest in stabilizing Iraq.
One senior Obama administration official said that Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns may talk to the Iranians about Iraq at the nuclear talks in Vienna this week. “There may be discussion of that on the margins,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss unfinished planning.
Secretary of State John Kerry, in an interview with Yahoo News, also suggested that cooperation with Iran was a possibility, saying, “I wouldn’t rule out anything that would be constructive.” Mr. Kerry also said that American airstrikes on the Sunni militants were a possibility.
“They are not the whole answer, but they may well be one of the options that are important,” Mr. Kerry said.
In Tehran, President Hassan Rouhani said that despite years of acrimony, his government would not rule out working with the United States to try to stabilize the situation in Iraq. “We have said that all countries must unite in combating terrorism,” he said.In Tehran, President Hassan Rouhani said that despite years of acrimony, his government would not rule out working with the United States to try to stabilize the situation in Iraq. “We have said that all countries must unite in combating terrorism,” he said.
But American and Iranian officials also put new pressure on Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki of Iraq to reach out to Sunni Arabs and include more of them in his government and security forces. On Sunday, President Obama made such an effort a prerequisite for any direct American military help. American and Iranian officials are both pressuring Mr. Maliki, a Shiite, to reach out to Sunni Arabs and include more of them in his government and security forces. On Sunday, President Obama made such an effort a prerequisite for any direct American military help.
Iran seems to be preparing to step in if needed. There have been unconfirmed reports from Iraq of Iranian troops on the ground there, with estimates ranging from 500 to 2,000 Iranian soldiers. Iran seems to be preparing to step in if needed. There have been unconfirmed reports from Iraq of Iranian troops on the ground there, with estimates ranging from 500 to 2,000.
On Friday, American officials said that Gen. Qassim Suleimani, the shadowy commander of Iran’s paramilitary Quds Force, had flown to Iraq with dozens of his officers to advise Iraq’s beleaguered leadership about how to stop the advance of Sunni militants on Baghdad. On Friday, American officials said that Gen. Qassim Suleimani, the shadowy commander of Iran’s paramilitary Quds Force, had flown to Iraq with dozens of his officers to advise Iraq’s leadership about how to stop the advance of Sunni militants on Baghdad.
Both Mr. Rouhani and his deputy stopped short of completely denying any Iranian military presence in Iraq. On Saturday, Mr. Rouhani said the Iraqi government had not asked for Iranian support.Both Mr. Rouhani and his deputy stopped short of completely denying any Iranian military presence in Iraq. On Saturday, Mr. Rouhani said the Iraqi government had not asked for Iranian support.
“If the Iraqi government asks us for help, we may provide any assistance the Iraqi nation would like us to provide in the fight against terrorism,” he said. “However, the engagement of Iranian forces has not been discussed.” A senior Shiite member of parliament in Baghdad confirmed that General Suleimani had come to Iraq with 200 officers from his Quds Force, many of whom he said were expected to stay behind to act as advisers.
In northern Iraq, ISIS militants claimed that along with taking Tal Afar, they had captured the commander of Iraqi Army forces in the city, Gen. Abu al-Waleed, and planned to execute him in a square in central Mosul. Residents said the militants were using bullhorns to call people to come to the square to witness the execution, but there was no confirmation yet that it had taken place. In northern Iraq, ISIS militants claimed that along with taking Tal Afar, they had captured the commander of the Iraqi army forces in the city, Gen. Abu al-Waleed, and planned to execute him in a square in central Mosul. Residents said the militants were using bullhorns to call people to come to the square to witness the execution, but there was no confirmation yet that it had taken place.
Iraqiya, the Iraqi state television channel, said the Tal Afar commander was alive and well. “I am in good health and on the battlefield and will announce victory over ISIS in all of the territory of Tal Afar in the next few hours,” the channel quoted the general as saying, without broadcasting audio or video of his remarks. Iraqiya, the Iraqi state television channel, said the Tal Afar commander was alive and well, however. “I am in good health and on the battlefield and will announce victory over ISIS in all of the territory of Tal Afar in the next few hours,” the channel quoted the general as saying, without broadcasting audio or video of his remarks. A source in Iraq’s intelligence service said the general was alive and well in Sinjar.
Residents in Tal Afar, which has a population of 200,000, said most Shiite families had fled west, toward the town of Sinjar, while Sunnis went east, toward Mosul, about 30 miles away. Residents in Tal Afar, which has a population of 200,000, said most Shiite families had fled west, toward the town of Sinjar, while Sunnis went east, toward Mosul.
Separately, Brig. Gen. Saad Maan, the spokesman for the Baghdad Operation Command, held a news briefing to announce that the authorities had killed 56 terrorists in areas of western and southern Baghdad. He also denied reports by Al-Hadath Television, part of the Saudi-owned Arabiya television network, that the insurgents had launched strikes near Baghdad International Airport. “The airport is functional, and everything is normal,” General Maan said, adding that the authorities wanted Al-Hadath to be shut down. In the capital, Brig. Gen. Sa’ad Ma’an, the spokesman for the Baghdad Operation Command, held a news briefing to announce that authorities had killed 56 insurgents in areas of western and southern Baghdad. He also denied reports by Al-Hadath Television, part of the Saudi-owned Arabiya television network, that the insurgents had launched strikes near Baghdad International Airport. “The airport is functional and everything is normal,” Brigadier Ma’an said, adding that the authorities wanted the Al-Hadath channel to be shut down because of its reports.
He also added that the government planned to continue paying employees of the Ministry of Interior, which includes police forces, even if their areas fall under the control of ISIS. He added that the government planned to continue paying employees of the Ministry of Interior, which includes police forces, even if their areas fall under the control of ISIS.
After reading a brief statement, the Iraqi officer concluded his briefing without taking any questions.After reading a brief statement, the Iraqi officer concluded his briefing without taking any questions.
Iraq’s effort to limit news of successful attacks by the insurgents have expanded in recent days. After initially shutting down Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and other social media sites, the authorities have also blocked mobile and cellphone data connections as well.