Posted on Nov 28, 2015
Did you know that Iraqi troops gunning for Ramadi outnumber ISIS 10 to 1?
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Did you know that Iraqi troops gunning for Ramadi outnumber ISIS 10 to 1?
Have the Iraqi's had enough and will they get their country back? Is the training we provided starting to pay off?
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/11/27/no-american-ground-troops-fighting-ramadi-islamic-state/76443524/
Iraqi troops closing in on Ramadi outnumber Islamic State militants by as many as 10 to one, a U.S. official told Military Times on Friday.
The offensive to wrest back control of the city involves between 8,000 and 10,000 Iraqi security forces, said Army Col. Steve Warren, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition overseeing the fight against the Islamic State group.
No American military personnel are on the ground fighting alongside them, he said.
Three U.S.-trained Iraqi brigades are participating in the operation, Warren said. They face between 600 and 1,000 well-entrenched Islamic State fighters.
American and coalition warplanes have conducted airstrikes in and around Ramadi since the summer, aiming to weaken the militants' grip ahead of the highly anticipated ground operation that began Wednesday.
"We believe the Iraqis will finish soon," Warren said, adding that Iraq's government has a "detailed plan to use tribal fighters, federal police and local police for stabilization" once the city is cleared.
Have the Iraqi's had enough and will they get their country back? Is the training we provided starting to pay off?
http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/11/27/no-american-ground-troops-fighting-ramadi-islamic-state/76443524/
Iraqi troops closing in on Ramadi outnumber Islamic State militants by as many as 10 to one, a U.S. official told Military Times on Friday.
The offensive to wrest back control of the city involves between 8,000 and 10,000 Iraqi security forces, said Army Col. Steve Warren, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition overseeing the fight against the Islamic State group.
No American military personnel are on the ground fighting alongside them, he said.
Three U.S.-trained Iraqi brigades are participating in the operation, Warren said. They face between 600 and 1,000 well-entrenched Islamic State fighters.
American and coalition warplanes have conducted airstrikes in and around Ramadi since the summer, aiming to weaken the militants' grip ahead of the highly anticipated ground operation that began Wednesday.
"We believe the Iraqis will finish soon," Warren said, adding that Iraq's government has a "detailed plan to use tribal fighters, federal police and local police for stabilization" once the city is cleared.
Iraq
ISIS
Warfare
Camp Ramadi
Coalition Forces
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 11
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They may be out numbered, but will all of the Iraqi's really stand up and fight...after all many of them turned and ran a few years back.
I sure hope they have finally had enough, gotten their act together and go after them....but I suppose they'll have to fight as dirty as ISIS fights.
I sure hope they have finally had enough, gotten their act together and go after them....but I suppose they'll have to fight as dirty as ISIS fights.
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MCPO Roger Collins
As I understand it, that is the proper ratio for the attacking force, 10:1. You addressed the real issue, will they seriously take on ISIS or run and leave their weapons. This will only be successful, in any battle, if we have USA leadership on the ground.
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MCPO Roger Collins
One can move quickly in strategic withdrawal when unencumbered by those heavy weapons.
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LTC (Join to see)
The question though, is and has been whether the Sunni troops are willing to fight other Sunnis on behalf of the Shia government. That 10 to 1 ratio assumes they all are, and that's not necessarily a valid assumption in the middle east when you bring sectarian differences into the fold.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
The question is even though they outnumber them do they have the mentality and fortitude to defeat them?
The question is even though they outnumber them do they have the mentality and fortitude to defeat them?
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
CPT (Join to see) based on the Intel it looks like they do in this particular case. I would imagine that after all of the killing by ISIS and invasion into Iraq the people will finally have enough and will come together and try to move them out! Just a guess or maybe I'm hoping!
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I was lucky to have been serving in Iraq from March, 2006, through March, 2007. I ran into my friend and colleague, LTC (then) Anthony Deane, who was serving as a Battalion Commander for COL (then) Sean MacFarland, his BCT commander. They were part of a Call Forward Force (CFF) in Kuwait when I was coming through and getting ready to cross the berm into the ITO (Iraqi Theater of Operations). I remember Tony had a map in his office, and TOC of Ramadi, and An Anbar Province. It was not a surprise that about the time we crossed the berm into the ITO, their CFF was called forward, and while we operated in Najaf Province, they went into An Anbar Province. Tony and COL Mac Farland took control of their Area of Operation (AO) and turned the situation around, so that when they were redeploying 6-7 months later, GEN Petraeus visited their AO when he was taking command of MNF-I (Multi National Force - Iraq). Today, we have LTG MacFarland back in charge of ITO and I have every reason to believe that the answer to COL Mike Burroughs question is yes, I think the training of the Iraqi Security Forces will payoff, and they will be able to retake Ramadi, because General MacFarland has accomplished it back in 2006 and I know that he can do it again. I would encourage reading Jim Michael's book recounting Tony and General MacFarland's successful campaign, it will warm your Warrior heart! Incidentally, Colonel (Retired) Tony Deane in his office as the BC - a true Warrior!
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Sgt Kelli Mays
LTC Michael Hrycak yes, but back then when you were there and we still had a presence on the ground...and after you guys took off, didn't a lot of the Iraqi soldiers take off and run? I remember reading an article about it....
Let's hope that they are strong and united and will fight with all of their might and take down or at least break down ISIS.
Let's hope that they are strong and united and will fight with all of their might and take down or at least break down ISIS.
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LTC Michael Hrycak
I was Staff/Maneuver Officer on an 11-man Transition Team (although we only had 10, including a filler). The Iraqis that we worked with were good fighters, and they would die for each other, and in the defense of their family and tribe. But they did not like centralized command and logistics. We had a tough time getting our Iraqis to work with the Iraqi units on their flanks. But, when given a chance, they were not afraid of a fight, nor did they break and run. I don't know how they are doing right now, but my counterpart, an Iraqi Brigadier General, had the education, combat experience, and interest in fighting off the terrorists and restoring security in Iraq. LTG MacFarland is an inspiring and innovational leader, and I think he has what it takes to use the Iraqis' strengths to overcome their weaknesses. I will try to reach out to Tony and ask him what he thinks. This photograph is one of our successes, getting the NCO's to run training. You had to reinforce and recognize success, because it didn't always turn out how you would have expected it to go.
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