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Iraq forces start fightback against IS in Ramadi Iraq militias start fightback against IS in Ramadi
(35 minutes later)
Iraqi forces and Shia militias have begun moving against Islamic State militants after the fall of the city of Ramadi last week, officials say. About 3,000 militia members in Iraq have begun moving against Islamic State militants after the fall of the city of Ramadi last week, officials say.
The action was concentrating on the town of Husayba, east of Ramadi.The action was concentrating on the town of Husayba, east of Ramadi.
Shia militias began gathering for a counter-offensive after Ramadi's fall. IS militants moved out to face them.
Ramadi - the capital of Anbar province - is only 110km (70 miles) west of Baghdad. Its fall was seen as a major embarrassment for the government.Ramadi - the capital of Anbar province - is only 110km (70 miles) west of Baghdad. Its fall was seen as a major embarrassment for the government.
About 500 people died in the city, and more than 40,000 - a third of the population - have fled in the past week. About 500 people died in the city, and more than 40,000 - a third of the population - have fled.
"Military operations to liberate Husayba, 7km (4.5 miles) east of Ramadi, have begun," a police colonel told AFP news agency. Analysis: John Simpson, BBC World Affairs Editor, Baghdad
Witnesses also said they had seen troops move out of their base at Habbaniyah, about 20 miles (30km) from Ramadi. It looks very much as though the operation which has begun near Ramadi in Anbar province is being carried out without much involvement by the Iraqi army. Last weekend 200 Islamic State fighters captured Ramadi from 10 times that number of Iraqi army soldiers.
About 3,000 Shia fighters - and Iraqi troops - were involved. Military observers here maintain that the army simply doesn't have the determination to match the commitment of Islamic State, and that the so-called Popular Mobilisation militias are the only ones with the necessary drive and determination.
A senior local official in Anbar told the BBC they now controlled about 90% of Husayba was under their control. There's a problem, though. The majority of the volunteers are Shia Muslims, and there has been anxiety about using them in Anbar province, which is overwhelmingly Sunni. But the groups do contain Sunni fighters as well, and the government maintains they operate under strict control.
Ramadi's fall was a massive blow to the Iraqi army, to Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and to the US, which had encouraged his policy of relying on the official armed forces and police and ruling out a role for Iranian-backed Shia militias, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut. Fears of Shia muscle in Iraq's Sunni heartland
Their action so deep inside the Sunni heartlands will raise fears of sectarian repercussions, our correspondent says. Islamic State: How it is run
But the collapse at Ramadi left Mr Abadi with no choice but to give the green light for the Shia militias of the Popular Mobilisation (al-Hashd al-Shaabi), he says. Reprisals, shootings
The Shia militias played a key role in re-capturing another mainly Sunni provincial capital, Tikrit, from IS militants at the end of March. The Iranian-backed Shia militias of the Popular Mobilisation (al-Hashd al-Shaabi) launched their operation out of the Iraqi air base at Habbaniyah, about 20 miles (30km) from Ramadi.
A senior local official in Anbar told the BBC a part of the town of Husayba was under their control.
Ramadi's fall was a massive blow to the Iraqi army, to Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and to the US, which had encouraged his policy of relying on the official armed forces and police and ruling out a role for the militias, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut.
The Shia militias played a key role in re-capturing another mainly Sunni provincial capital, Tikrit, from IS at the end of March.
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.
Reprisals, shootings
The UN says it is trying to reach the civilians displaced from Ramadi.The UN says it is trying to reach the civilians displaced from Ramadi.
The largest concentration is at the Bzebiz bridge over the Euphrates, on the road to Baghdad. It was closed by the authorities to prevent those fleeing from entering the Iraqi capital.The largest concentration is at the Bzebiz bridge over the Euphrates, on the road to Baghdad. It was closed by the authorities to prevent those fleeing from entering the Iraqi capital.
There are reports of children dying of dehydration in the heat, UN Deputy Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Iraq Dominik Bartsch told the BBC.There are reports of children dying of dehydration in the heat, UN Deputy Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Iraq Dominik Bartsch told the BBC.
It is unclear why the Bzebiz bridge was closed, though there have been concerns that militants could mingle with the displaced and infiltrate Baghdad.It is unclear why the Bzebiz bridge was closed, though there have been concerns that militants could mingle with the displaced and infiltrate Baghdad.
Very little information is available about those still in Ramadi, Mr Bartsch said.Very little information is available about those still in Ramadi, Mr Bartsch said.
"We hear stories of reprisals, of shootings, of individual persecution of civilians who have remained in the city.""We hear stories of reprisals, of shootings, of individual persecution of civilians who have remained in the city."
In addition to Ramadi, this week IS militants have also seized the last Syrian government-controlled border crossing with Syria on Friday and, in Syria itself, the ancient city of Palmyra.In addition to Ramadi, this week IS militants have also seized the last Syrian government-controlled border crossing with Syria on Friday and, in Syria itself, the ancient city of Palmyra.
Some observers said IS now controls 50% of Syria's entire territory - as well as a third of Iraq.Some observers said IS now controls 50% of Syria's entire territory - as well as a third of Iraq.
On Friday, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq warned that fighting IS was no longer a "local matter", and called on the international community to act.On Friday, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq warned that fighting IS was no longer a "local matter", and called on the international community to act.
An international coalition has been carrying out air strikes against the militants in Iraq and Syria for months.An international coalition has been carrying out air strikes against the militants in Iraq and Syria for months.
IS control in Iraq and SyriaIS control in Iraq and Syria