Iraqi Forces Take Ramada In Upset Victory

2015-05-18T13:11:49-04:00

From "Reuters"

Shi'ite forces move in on Iraqi city taken by Islamic State

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/18/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-idUSKBN0O20M020150518

A column of 3,000 Shi'ite militia fighters arrived at a military base near Ramadi on Monday as Baghdad moved to retake the western Iraqi city that has fallen to Islamic State militants in the biggest defeat for the government since mid-2014.

Setting the stage for renewed fighting over the city, Islamic State militants advanced in armored vehicles from Ramadi towards the base where the Shi'ite paramilitaries were massing for a counter-offensive, witnesses and a military officer said.

At the same time, U.S.-led warplanes stepped up raids against the Islamists, conducting 19 strikes near Ramadi over the past 72 hours at the request of the Iraqi security forces, a coalition spokesman said.

The Shi'ite militia, known as Hashid Shaabi or Popular Mobilisation, was ordered to mobilize after the city, the capital of Anbar province, was overrun on Sunday.

EDITORIAL COMMENT:- It's somewhat of a difficult situation when the "citizens" believe that the "government" is worse than the "insurgents". After all, a Sunni can hope to be seen as a "Good Sunni" in the eyes of ISIL much more realistically than they can hope to be seen as a "Good Shi'ite" in the eyes of the Shi'ite militias.

Shi'ite forces move in on Iraqi city taken by Islamic State

Thousands of Shi'ite militiamen on Monday prepared to fight Islamic State insurgents who seized the Iraqi provincial capital Ramadi at the weekend in the biggest defeat for government forces in nearly a year.

Response by SFC Joseph James made May 18 at 2015 1:12 PM

2015-05-18T13:12:49-04:00

Well there goes the neighborhood!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 18 at 2015 1:42 PM

2015-05-18T13:42:29-04:00

This is proof what a group of passion can accomplish.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made May 18 at 2015 2:19 PM

2015-05-18T14:19:08-04:00

Great job by the Iraqi militia forces. but my question is: How long can they keep it, or can they keep it? Here's hoping they can and continue to carry the battle to the insurgents, correction, terrorists. Forget political correctness, this was not workplace violence, this is war against an institution of terrorism!