Syrian state media say IS fighters executed at least 400 people since capturing the town of Palmyra last week, which is also known as Tadmor.
In neighboring Iraq, where the Islamic State group took control of the Al-Walid border post in the last 24 hours, military and paramilitary forces are mounting a counteroffensive against the insurgents in Anbar province.
But in an interview that aired Sunday, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter criticized Iraq's reaction to Islamic State. He told CNN the IS takeover of Ramadi one week ago shows Iraqi forces do not have the "will to fight."
"What apparently happened is the Iraqi forces just showed no will to fight. They were not outnumbered," Carter said. "In fact, they vastly outnumbered the opposing force. That says to me, and I think to most of us, that we have an issue with the will of the Iraqis to fight ISIL and defend themselves."
National Security Advisor Susan Rice echoed Carter's concerns in an interview on CBS.
"Iraqi security forces face their own internal challenges... It's an uneven force in terms of will, equipment and leadership," Rice said, adding that the United States is working with them to address what she categorized as "weaknesses."...............http://www.voanews.com/content/us-defense-secretary-iraqi-forces-lack-will-to-fight/2788622.html
24/5/15
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Iraqi Forces liberate Husayba near Ramadi...
ReplyDeleteThe Iraqi forces retook the town of Husayba, which lies 7km east of Ramadi, Al-Etejeah TV reported.
Iraq’s volunteer groups have paticipated in liberating the western province of Anabr from the ISIL militant group. The Iraqi army and volunteers have launched a counteroffensive against ISIL after the group captured Anbar's provincial capital last week.
Operations to liberate the militant-held city of Ramadi have commenced.
After the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi gave the volunteers the green light to enter the western province of Anbar, around three thousand fighters are now standing at the doorstep of Ramadi. Besides the volunteers, police, tribesmen, Special Forces, and army regulars have been deployed to take part in the battle against the ISIL terrorist group.
One of the volunteer factions, the Hezbollah Brigades, has also secured the nearby city of Khalidia after heavy clashes erupted with the militants a day earlier.
almanar.com.lb
24/5/15
Pentagon chief blasts Iraqis for lacking 'will to fight' ...
ReplyDeleteIn a rare departure from the White House's reaffirmed support for the Iraqi government after occupation of the crucial Iraqi city Ramadi by the extremist group Islamic State (IS), U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Sunday blamed the Iraqis for lacking will to fight.
"They (Iraqi forces) were not outnumbered, but in fact they vastly outnumbered the opposing force, and yet they failed to fight. They withdrew from the site," Carter told the U.S. TV networks CNN Sunday. "What apparently happened was that the Iraqi forces just showed no will to fight."
IS fighters took full control of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, Iraq, a week ago after the Iraqi security forces withdrew from their positions, a provincial security source earlier told Xinhua, confirming reports that the Iraqi force chose to leave, rather than being driven out of the region.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Iraqi military units stationed in the Eighth Brigade headquarters north of Ramadi pulled out fully towards the 160 kilometer area west of Ramadi before IS fighters took control of the headquarters.............http://www.china.org.cn/world/2015-05/25/content_35651154.htm
The United States and Turkey have agreed "in principle" to give air support to some forces from Syria's Western-allied opposition, Turkey's foreign minister said, in what if confirmed could mark an expansion of U.S. involvement in the conflict...
ReplyDeleteThere was no immediate comment from U.S. officials on the assertion -- though Washington has so far refrained from committing to enforcing a "safe zone" for Syrian rebels, as it could be seen as a declaration of war on the Syrian state....REUTERS