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Ramadi battle: IS prepares to defend seized Iraqi city Ramadi battle: IS prepares to defend seized Iraqi city
(about 1 hour later)
Islamic State militants are preparing to defend the Iraqi city of Ramadi, witnesses say, as Iranian-backed militiamen gather east of the city.Islamic State militants are preparing to defend the Iraqi city of Ramadi, witnesses say, as Iranian-backed militiamen gather east of the city.
Residents said IS fighters had set up defensive positions and laid landmines after capturing the city on Sunday.Residents said IS fighters had set up defensive positions and laid landmines after capturing the city on Sunday.
Militants were also going door-to-door looking for government sympathisers and throwing bodies in the Euphrates river, residents were quoted as saying.Militants were also going door-to-door looking for government sympathisers and throwing bodies in the Euphrates river, residents were quoted as saying.
Thousands have fled the city and the UN has warned of a humanitarian crisis.Thousands have fled the city and the UN has warned of a humanitarian crisis.
It says some 25,000 people have left the city, only 105km (65 miles) west of Baghdad, in recent days, adding to a flood of people already displaced from the area. Many were sleeping in the open.It says some 25,000 people have left the city, only 105km (65 miles) west of Baghdad, in recent days, adding to a flood of people already displaced from the area. Many were sleeping in the open.
The UN says it is trying to meet the needs of those displaced, but funds are low and its stocks have almost gone.The UN says it is trying to meet the needs of those displaced, but funds are low and its stocks have almost gone.
The loss of Ramadi, the capital of the western Anbar province, is a blow for both the Iraqi government and US strategy in the area, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut.The loss of Ramadi, the capital of the western Anbar province, is a blow for both the Iraqi government and US strategy in the area, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut.
Retaking it is a massive challenge to the Iraqi government, which has had to appeal to the Shia militias despite risks of a sectarian backlash from sending them deep into the Sunni heartland, our correspondent adds.Retaking it is a massive challenge to the Iraqi government, which has had to appeal to the Shia militias despite risks of a sectarian backlash from sending them deep into the Sunni heartland, our correspondent adds.
Police and the military made a chaotic retreat from the city, which has been contested for months, after days of intense fighting.Police and the military made a chaotic retreat from the city, which has been contested for months, after days of intense fighting.
Fleeing Ramadi residents face tough choices
Nafiseh Kohnavard: On a bomb run against IS in MosulNafiseh Kohnavard: On a bomb run against IS in Mosul
Homes torchedHomes torched
Reports from Ramadi described deserted streets, with residents making hurried trips out of their houses to search for food.Reports from Ramadi described deserted streets, with residents making hurried trips out of their houses to search for food.
IS militants were breaking into the homes of policemen and pro-government tribesmen, residents told the Associated Press news agency.IS militants were breaking into the homes of policemen and pro-government tribesmen, residents told the Associated Press news agency.
Homes and shops owned by pro-government Sunni militiamen were looted or torched, the residents said on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.Homes and shops owned by pro-government Sunni militiamen were looted or torched, the residents said on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
A string of still images of the prisoners Islamic State claims to have freed from a Ramadi prison have also appeared on internet sources with established links to the group, and have been picked up by BBC Monitoring.A string of still images of the prisoners Islamic State claims to have freed from a Ramadi prison have also appeared on internet sources with established links to the group, and have been picked up by BBC Monitoring.
Some 3,000 Shia militiamen are said to be "on stand-by" at Habbaniyah military camp, some 20km east of Ramadi, in preparation for an attempt to recapture the city.Some 3,000 Shia militiamen are said to be "on stand-by" at Habbaniyah military camp, some 20km east of Ramadi, in preparation for an attempt to recapture the city.
On Tuesday, Anbar police chief Kadhim al-Fahdawi told the AFP news agency that a large number of well-prepared troops were positioned in Husaybah, which is closer to Ramadi.On Tuesday, Anbar police chief Kadhim al-Fahdawi told the AFP news agency that a large number of well-prepared troops were positioned in Husaybah, which is closer to Ramadi.
He said this area - deep in Iraq's Sunni heartland - would be the "starting point" for operations, but that much planning remained to be done.He said this area - deep in Iraq's Sunni heartland - would be the "starting point" for operations, but that much planning remained to be done.
"The military operation to liberate Ramadi and Anbar will not start until all the requirements are met," Mr Fahdawi said."The military operation to liberate Ramadi and Anbar will not start until all the requirements are met," Mr Fahdawi said.
Iraq Army Brig Gen Ali al-Majidi told AFP no offensive to retake lost ground would be launched until there had been efforts to contain continued attacks by IS east of Ramadi.Iraq Army Brig Gen Ali al-Majidi told AFP no offensive to retake lost ground would be launched until there had been efforts to contain continued attacks by IS east of Ramadi.
A tribal leader told AP news agency that Iraqi forces had joined Sunni tribesmen to repel an IS attempt to take Khaldiyah, a town just west of Habbaniyah, on Monday night.A tribal leader told AP news agency that Iraqi forces had joined Sunni tribesmen to repel an IS attempt to take Khaldiyah, a town just west of Habbaniyah, on Monday night.
Shia militia 'brutal'Shia militia 'brutal'
The Shia militias, known as the Popular Mobilisation (al-Hashd al-Shaabi), were key to the recapture from IS of another city, Tikrit, north of Baghdad, in April.The Shia militias, known as the Popular Mobilisation (al-Hashd al-Shaabi), were key to the recapture from IS of another city, Tikrit, north of Baghdad, in April.
But although their presence was welcomed by some Sunni leaders, some Ramadi residents said they feared them as much as the Islamic State fighters.But although their presence was welcomed by some Sunni leaders, some Ramadi residents said they feared them as much as the Islamic State fighters.
"If the Shia militias enter Ramadi, they will do the same things being done by Daesh [IS]," Abu Ammar, an Anbar native who owns a grocery store in Ramadi, told AP."If the Shia militias enter Ramadi, they will do the same things being done by Daesh [IS]," Abu Ammar, an Anbar native who owns a grocery store in Ramadi, told AP.
"In both cases, we will be either killed or displaced. For us, the militias and IS militants are two faces of the same coin.""In both cases, we will be either killed or displaced. For us, the militias and IS militants are two faces of the same coin."
The US will have to decide whether it will use its air power in support of the Iranian-backed militias, he says.The US will have to decide whether it will use its air power in support of the Iranian-backed militias, he says.
The US has not given a uniform response to the capture of Ramadi, with the Pentagon suggesting it is not tactically significant, while the State Department describes it as a setback.The US has not given a uniform response to the capture of Ramadi, with the Pentagon suggesting it is not tactically significant, while the State Department describes it as a setback.
But the eight sorties flown over Ramadi by US forces in the past day suggest it is a pressing concern, says the BBC's Jon Sopel in Washington.But the eight sorties flown over Ramadi by US forces in the past day suggest it is a pressing concern, says the BBC's Jon Sopel in Washington.
Anbar province covers a vast stretch of the country west from Baghdad to the Syrian border, and contains key roads that link Iraq to both Syria and Jordan.Anbar province covers a vast stretch of the country west from Baghdad to the Syrian border, and contains key roads that link Iraq to both Syria and Jordan.
IS reportedly controls more than half of Anbar's territory.IS reportedly controls more than half of Anbar's territory.
Troubled history of Anbar provinceTroubled history of Anbar province