This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/sunni-tribesmen-clash-with-islamic-state-in-fallujah-as-resentment-boils/2016/02/19/2a21ce95-e7c0-4a3c-89e8-f02005d9400b_story.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Islamic State facing new trouble in Fallujah as Sunni tribesmen target them | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| BAGHDAD – Sunni tribesmen have attacked Islamic State militants in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, the Iraqi military and local officials said Friday, overrunning and burning one of their headquarters as resentment against the group grows. | BAGHDAD – Sunni tribesmen have attacked Islamic State militants in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, the Iraqi military and local officials said Friday, overrunning and burning one of their headquarters as resentment against the group grows. |
| Sporadic violence was continuing Friday afternoon in the city’s southern district of Nazzal after the initial clashes a day earlier, officials said. Fallujah’s mayor in exile, Eissa al-Eissawi, warned that there would be “mass slaughter” unless the tribesmen received support. | Sporadic violence was continuing Friday afternoon in the city’s southern district of Nazzal after the initial clashes a day earlier, officials said. Fallujah’s mayor in exile, Eissa al-Eissawi, warned that there would be “mass slaughter” unless the tribesmen received support. |
| Ill-will against Islamic State in Fallujah has been growing in recent months, as food and medicine have become scarce. Iraqi forces have progressed against Islamic State in the surrounding region of Anbar, retaking its provincial capital of Ramadi, 40 miles to the west, and now have Fallujah encircled. | Ill-will against Islamic State in Fallujah has been growing in recent months, as food and medicine have become scarce. Iraqi forces have progressed against Islamic State in the surrounding region of Anbar, retaking its provincial capital of Ramadi, 40 miles to the west, and now have Fallujah encircled. |
| The military siege of the city has prevented supplies from entering, while the Islamic State has not allowed civilians to leave. | The military siege of the city has prevented supplies from entering, while the Islamic State has not allowed civilians to leave. |
| “The people are so frustrated because of the siege,” said Rageh Barakat, a member of Anbar provincial council’s security committee. “The situation is dire, there is no food and they know the [Islamic State] is hoarding it. They’ve had enough.” | “The people are so frustrated because of the siege,” said Rageh Barakat, a member of Anbar provincial council’s security committee. “The situation is dire, there is no food and they know the [Islamic State] is hoarding it. They’ve had enough.” |
| There were varying reports of how the clashes erupted; with mobile phone networks cut in the city, communication is difficult. | There were varying reports of how the clashes erupted; with mobile phone networks cut in the city, communication is difficult. |
| Barakat, who said that for the past four months he’s been contacting groups in the city who are against the Islamic State’s rule, said clashes began in the northern Jolan neighborhood Thursday. Militants from Islamic State’s “hisbah” – who enforce the group’s moral code on the street – “humiliated” two elderly men when they complained about a lack of food supplies, he said. | Barakat, who said that for the past four months he’s been contacting groups in the city who are against the Islamic State’s rule, said clashes began in the northern Jolan neighborhood Thursday. Militants from Islamic State’s “hisbah” – who enforce the group’s moral code on the street – “humiliated” two elderly men when they complained about a lack of food supplies, he said. |
| “Then [Sunni tribesmen] burned the headquarters,” he said, adding that four militants were killed. | “Then [Sunni tribesmen] burned the headquarters,” he said, adding that four militants were killed. |
| Issawi, the mayor, also said the hisbah headquarters was overrun and burned, saying the death toll among the militants was 10 people. Neither Issawi or Barakat had a figure for deaths of Sunni tribesmen. Clashes spread to Nazzal neighborhood Friday, they both said. | Issawi, the mayor, also said the hisbah headquarters was overrun and burned, saying the death toll among the militants was 10 people. Neither Issawi or Barakat had a figure for deaths of Sunni tribesmen. Clashes spread to Nazzal neighborhood Friday, they both said. |
| “There is a volcano of resentment boiling inside Fallujah,” the Iraqi military said in a statement detailing the clashes. Civilians are waiting for the security forces to enter to “carry out a revolution,” it said. | “There is a volcano of resentment boiling inside Fallujah,” the Iraqi military said in a statement detailing the clashes. Civilians are waiting for the security forces to enter to “carry out a revolution,” it said. |
| The uprising was led by the Jeresat tribe, with the Halabsa and Mohamda tribes joining in support, the military said. | The uprising was led by the Jeresat tribe, with the Halabsa and Mohamda tribes joining in support, the military said. |
| Barakat said that communications with those on the ground was not being led by traditional tribal leaders. | Barakat said that communications with those on the ground was not being led by traditional tribal leaders. |
| “It’s not the tribes fighting,” he said. “It’s the young people rising up.” | “It’s not the tribes fighting,” he said. “It’s the young people rising up.” |
| He said that when they first began to contact tribesmen four months ago, there were only a small number of dissenters willing to organize, but that number has burgeoned as the humanitarian situation in the city has grown worse. | He said that when they first began to contact tribesmen four months ago, there were only a small number of dissenters willing to organize, but that number has burgeoned as the humanitarian situation in the city has grown worse. |
| “We tried to deliver them some weapons a month ago but it wasn’t possible,” he said. | “We tried to deliver them some weapons a month ago but it wasn’t possible,” he said. |
| The support of Iraq’s Sunni population in the fight against Islamic State is seen as key. Issawi urged the government to take action to build on the momentum inside the city, which could “fall very quickly,” he said. | The support of Iraq’s Sunni population in the fight against Islamic State is seen as key. Issawi urged the government to take action to build on the momentum inside the city, which could “fall very quickly,” he said. |
| “If those groups inside aren’t supported, Daesh will have huge revenge,” he said. “There will be the biggest bloodshed ever.” | “If those groups inside aren’t supported, Daesh will have huge revenge,” he said. “There will be the biggest bloodshed ever.” |