This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-32872346

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Iraq will take back Ramadi from IS 'in days' - PM Abadi Islamic State crisis: Iraq will take back Ramadi 'in days' - PM Abadi
(about 2 hours later)
Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi has said that the city of Ramadi could be taken back from Islamic State militants "in days". The Iraqi city of Ramadi could be taken back from Islamic State (IS) militants "in days", Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has told the BBC.
But he told the BBC that more support was needed from international coalition partners. But he said more support was needed from international coalition partners.
Iraqi forces have suffered a number of defeats at the hands of IS over the past year, and fled from a smaller militant force in Ramadi last week.Iraqi forces have suffered a number of defeats at the hands of IS over the past year, and fled from a smaller militant force in Ramadi last week.
US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said on Sunday that the rout showed Iraqi troops lacked the will to fight. On Sunday, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said that the rout showed Iraqi troops lacked the will to fight.
Mr Carter told CNN's State of the Union that the Iraqis had chosen to withdraw despite the fact that they "vastly outnumbered" IS forces. Mr Carter told CNN that the Iraqis had chosen to withdraw despite the fact that they "vastly outnumbered" IS forces.
Meanwhile the leader of the Lebanese Shia Hezbollah movement, Hassan Nasrallah, said the world faced an unprecedented danger from IS and other Sunni militant groups fighting in Syria. Meanwhile, the leader of the Lebanese Shia Hezbollah movement, Hassan Nasrallah, said the world faced an unprecedented danger from IS and other Sunni militant groups fighting in Syria.
Some observers say IS now controls 50% of Syria's entire te rritory - as well as a third of Iraq. Some observers say IS now controls 50% of Syria's entire territory - as well as a third of Iraq.
'Small nuclear bomb''Small nuclear bomb'
In a BBC interview, Mr Abadi said he was surprised at the US defence secretary's comments.In a BBC interview, Mr Abadi said he was surprised at the US defence secretary's comments.
"[Mr Carter] was very supportive of Iraq and I am sure he was fed with the wrong information," he said."[Mr Carter] was very supportive of Iraq and I am sure he was fed with the wrong information," he said.
The prime minister added that his forces were fazed by IS shock tactics.The prime minister added that his forces were fazed by IS shock tactics.
"They have the will to fight but when they are faced with an onslaught by [IS] from nowhere... with armoured trucks packed with explosives, the effect of them is like a small nuclear bomb - it gives a very very bad effect on our forces," he said."They have the will to fight but when they are faced with an onslaught by [IS] from nowhere... with armoured trucks packed with explosives, the effect of them is like a small nuclear bomb - it gives a very very bad effect on our forces," he said.
The Iraqi government has deployed Shia militias to the area to try to stop the IS advance, and Mr Abadi said he was confident that Ramadi could be recaptured.The Iraqi government has deployed Shia militias to the area to try to stop the IS advance, and Mr Abadi said he was confident that Ramadi could be recaptured.
"It makes my heart bleed because we lost Ramadi, but I can assure you we can bring it back soon," he said."It makes my heart bleed because we lost Ramadi, but I can assure you we can bring it back soon," he said.
On Saturday, the militiamen retook Husayba, east of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, with heavy fighting continuing in the area on Sunday. Ramadi and its surrounding area has seen fierce fighting since January 2014 when IS fighters took control of the nearby city of Fallujah.
But the prime minister said Iraq needed more international support as many IS fighters were slipping into Iraq from Syria and bringing new tactics to the fight. On Saturday, Shia militiamen retook Husayba, east of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, from IS with heavy fighting continuing in the area on Sunday.
Prime Minister Abadi said Iraq needed more international support as many IS fighters were slipping into Iraq from Syria and bringing new tactics to the fight.
"Not controlling Syria-Iraq border more closely was an error. Syria is in chaos which made IS become stronger. We've asked our international coalition partners to tighten control over the border," he said."Not controlling Syria-Iraq border more closely was an error. Syria is in chaos which made IS become stronger. We've asked our international coalition partners to tighten control over the border," he said.
Mr Abadi said that Iran and Jordan were providing strong support against terrorism but that although "the Gulf states feel the threat", they were not dealing with it "realistically".Mr Abadi said that Iran and Jordan were providing strong support against terrorism but that although "the Gulf states feel the threat", they were not dealing with it "realistically".
The US has invested in a policy of training and arming the Iraqi forces since it withdrew its combat troops at the end of 2011.The US has invested in a policy of training and arming the Iraqi forces since it withdrew its combat troops at the end of 2011.
But Iraqi forces have on several occasions surrendered US-supplied materiel to IS.But Iraqi forces have on several occasions surrendered US-supplied materiel to IS.
Mr Carter said the situation in Ramadi was "very concerning".Mr Carter said the situation in Ramadi was "very concerning".
"We can give them training, we can give them equipment - we obviously can't give them the will to fight.""We can give them training, we can give them equipment - we obviously can't give them the will to fight."
The fall of Ramadi, just 110km (70 miles) west of Baghdad, was seen as a major embarrassment for the government. Thousands of civilians fled.The fall of Ramadi, just 110km (70 miles) west of Baghdad, was seen as a major embarrassment for the government. Thousands of civilians fled.
Mr Abadi said that dealing with the displaced was a "genuine humanitarian problem" but that he hoped that they would return home as soon as Ramadi was liberated.Mr Abadi said that dealing with the displaced was a "genuine humanitarian problem" but that he hoped that they would return home as soon as Ramadi was liberated.
Anbar province, which is predominantly Sunni, 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, which is predominantly Sunni, 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.
In addition to Ramadi, IS militants have also seized the last Syrian government-controlled border crossing with Iraq. In addition to Ramadi, IS militants have also seized the last Syrian government-controlled border crossing with Iraq.
IS control in Iraq and SyriaIS control in Iraq and Syria
Are you in the region? Have you been affected by the recent violence? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in the region? Have you been affected by the recent violence? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
If you are available to speak to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number.If you are available to speak to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number.
You can send your photos and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international) number. Alternatively you can send pictures via our WhatsApp number +44 (0)7525 900971. Or you can upload here.You can send your photos and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international) number. Alternatively you can send pictures via our WhatsApp number +44 (0)7525 900971. Or you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions.Read the terms and conditions.