I can actually believe that ISIS was stopped. Figures are hard to come by and believe, but when Ayatollah Sistani called for volunteers, about 1.5 million Iraqis of all ages volunteered. It may be more to the credit of these volunteers than the Iraqi Military that ISIS was stopped dead in its tracks. Further, I have read that the ISIS forces weren’t all that great in number. I remember reading they were about 3,500 to 5000. But that does seem a little low.
In addition, the demographics are changing rapidly as ISIS approaches Baghdad. ISIS has rapidly taken areas with a Sunni majority, here is the victory parade with their new arsenal of equipment in Mosul:
ISIL/ISIS show off there new arsenal in Mosul 13 June 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAxNZfWmhMQ
Baghdad and most all areas to the south have a Shiite majority. There will be no more parades down there.
ISIS will consolidate it’s great gains; now it’s time to recruit and train; and, do a little hearts and minds propaganda.
They just created the largest Islamic fundamentalist state in the world, why risk losing it trying to conquer majority Shiite areas.
They’d be fools to go after Baghdad with a force of 5-12 thousand, unless some game changing event occurs. The army deserts in mass, there is a coup, etc.
I heard the ISIS was about 12,000...and the Iraqi Army general said they killed about 300 in one area they recaptured from ISIS.
I heard the ISIS was about 12,000...and the Iraqi Army general said they killed about 300 in one area they recaptured from ISIS.