Posted on 02/13/2015 7:10:41 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
The Islamic State has taken control of large portions of the town of al Baghdadi in Iraq's Anbar province. The town, which is 50 miles northwest of Ramadi, has been under siege for months after the Islamic State launched an offensive in Anbar last summer and took control of the nearby town of Hit.
According to Reuters, a district manager said that "Ninety percent of al-Baghdadi district has fallen under the control of the insurgents." Reuters goes on to say that the Islamic State attacked from two directions, and then proceeded to advance into the town. The Washington Post reported that an estimated 1,000 fighters took part in the offensive in al Baghdadi. This number cannot be independently verified, however, given the strategic importance of the objective, it is likely that a large numbers of Islamic State militants are taking part in the offensive.
Other Iraqi officials claimed that Iraqi Security Forces and their Sunni tribal allies in the Awakening were able to drive the Islamic State attackers back. However, Sheikh Naim of the Albu Nimr tribe countered these claims by saying that the Islamic State now controls large portions of al Baghdadi, according to Almada. Naim goes on to say that, "the security forces did not launch until now any military operation to retake areas seized by the organization [Islamic State]."
Additionally, a small group of Islamic State fighters attacked the nearby Al Asad airbase after gaining ground in al Baghdadi. The Washington Post reported that eight jihadists, including three suicide bombers, launched a suicide assault on the base but were all killed. No significant damage to the base was reported.
The Islamic State took credit for attacking Al Asad, in a message released in its daily radio announcements.
"In addition, the army of the Caliphate made progress in the area of al Baghdadi, as soldiers of the Islamic State targeted the Safavid [a derogatory term for Shiites referring to the ancient Persian dynasty] al Asad Base in al-Baghdadi, where the American military trains forces of the Safavid army," the statement, which was translated by SITE Intelligence Group, said.
The Islamic State also talked about its advances the town in the same statement. "Also, soldiers of the Caliphate took control over the Citizenship Department, in which the Safavids had fortified themselves," the statement said, "and the al Baghdadi police station, and a barracks of the Safavid army, and the shameful Awakenings [Sunni tribal allies of the ISF] on the Wahid bridge in Jubah, and also cut off the al Baghdadi - Haditha highway."
The Islamic State was able to advance into al Baghdadi despite Coalition air support in the area. US officials confirmed that American troops based at Al Asad did not directly engage the Islamic State attackers on the ground. However, Coalition aircraft launched "five airstrikes" near Al Asad "between 8 a.m. yesterday and 8 a.m. today" and "struck four ISIL [Islamic State] tactical units and destroyed an ISIL VBIED, an ISIL checkpoint and an ISIL armored earth mover," according to a statement by US Central Command.
Currently, around 320 US Marines are stationed at Al Asad. The Marines are there to train and reorganize the Iraqi Security Forces and Sunni tribal fighters to fight the Islamic State. Al Asad also hosts the Iraqi Army's 7th Division, which has suffered several setbacks in the region. [For more, see LWJ reports Islamic State ambushes Iraqi military column near Ramadi, Islamic State overruns Iraqi military base in Anbar, Islamic State photos highlight group's grip on Ramadi, and Islamic State photos detail rout of Iraqi Army at Camp Saqlawiya.]
The Iraqi Army and police were demoralized and largely defeated in northern, central, and western after the Islamic State launched its offensive beginning in June 2014. Several divisions have been rendered combat ineffective due to heavy losses and desertions. The Iraqi government has turned to Shiite militias to bolster the security forces. The militias, which are backed by Iran and include groups that are listed by the US as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, have been instrumental in reinforcing Iraqi forces, and have helped retake some areas in Iraq, including Jurf al Sakhar and Amerli.
Where are the air strikes?
Pretty soon....., because of the utter ineptitude and downright willful negligence and lack of treasonous total support to our fighting troops that are already there,...we will likely see American troops captured by ISIS with some ‘inside’ help surrounding our troops there.
It’s going to get real ugly pretty soon.
There can be no doubt that our combat troops have been compromised from within..
300 Marines. They are already getting “300” tattoos, making 300 red T-shirts, and telling each other they will fight in the shade. You cannot imagine their morale right now. For them, Obama may as well be on another planet.
Just watch USMC culture,,, and see if I ain’t right.
Obama was on the West Coast so maybe he didn't get them approved ...
You know they are going after that base,....got potential Hostages there...the Marines.
Gonna get ugly!
Particularly when our commander in chief..can not be counted ,,,on..
“we will likely see American troops captured by ISIS “
You will not see a Marine surrender to ISIS. Take it to the bank....
ISIS has never won a single battle against anything like Marines or Rangers. Near Baghdad last year, they attacked a Special Forces position and were repelled with very heavy casualties. And 300 in a defensive perimeter, god help anyone that attacks them.
ISIS isn’t 10 feet tall. They have generally faced nothing but scattered resistance and a fleeing Iraqi Army. They roll into town, shooting and executing and beheading helpless people.
They will get their asses handed to them by the USMC if they dare approach anywhere they are.
ISIS isn’t the VC, NVA, Chinese or Japanese army. They have nowhere near the disciplined units it would take to go up against two grunt rifle companies.
Taking selfies and Skyping with his Iran buddies, that is what our “leader” is all about. I’ll bet he wears “Hello Kitty” panties, too..
the Islamic State attacked from two directions, and then proceeded to advance into the town. The Washington Post reported that an estimated 1,000 fighters took part in the offensive in al Baghdadi.
The Islamic State took credit for attacking Al Asad, in a message released in its The Islamic State took credit for attacking Al Asad, in a message released in its daily radio announcements
Well...this tells us that the islamics were around al Baghdadi for some months...then an estimated 1,000 fighters advanced from 2 directions....
So where were the air strikes....inquiring minds seek to know....
and the icing on the cake so to speak is "a message released in its daily radio announcements"....so don't the military have radio direction finding equipment to get the coordinates of the transmitter....even if its moving every day...they can get a fix on it and drop a cruse missile ....so how come it's still transmitting propaganda.
Yes. I wonder which General will cross the Rubicon.
Worst President Ever..
He belongs in remakes of Pee Wee’s Playhouse..... NOT in The Whitehouse
Yea, that’s about right.
Pee Wee’s Playhouse was actually a competently produced and very funny show. All the things the Obama administration isn’t.
L
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