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Iraq general: driving al-Qaida from Fallujah will take a few days Iraq general: driving al-Qaida from Fallujah will take a few days
(about 3 hours later)
A senior Iraqi military commander has said that it will take a few days to fully dislodge al-Qaida-linked fighters from two key western cities.A senior Iraqi military commander has said that it will take a few days to fully dislodge al-Qaida-linked fighters from two key western cities.
Lt Gen Rasheed Fleih, who leads the Anbar military command, told state television on Sunday that "two to three days" were needed to push the militants out of Fallujah and parts of Ramadi. Fleih added that pro-government Sunni tribes were leading the operations while the army offered aerial cover and logistics on the ground. He did not elaborate on the operations. Lieutenant General Rasheed Fleih, who leads the Anbar military command, told state television on Sunday that "two to three days" were needed to push the militants out of Fallujah and parts of Ramadi. Fleih added that pro-government Sunni tribes were leading the operations while the army offered aerial cover and logistics on the ground. He did not elaborate on the operations.
"The quiet and safe life that is sought by the Anbaris will not be completely restored before few hours or two to three days, God willing," Fleih said."The quiet and safe life that is sought by the Anbaris will not be completely restored before few hours or two to three days, God willing," Fleih said.
Residents say it has been quiet since Saturday night in Fallujah, where militants still control the centre of the city. Sporadic clashes took place on Sunday in and around Ramadi. Residents say it has been quiet since Saturday night in Fallujah, where militants still control the centre of the city.m Sporadic clashes took place on Sunday in and around Ramadi.
The Islamic State in Iraq and Levant has seized control of Fallujah and Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's Anbar province. Ramadi was a stronghold of Sunni insurgents during the US-led war. Al-Qaida militants largely took over both cities last week and have been fending off incursions by government forces there since.The Islamic State in Iraq and Levant has seized control of Fallujah and Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's Anbar province. Ramadi was a stronghold of Sunni insurgents during the US-led war. Al-Qaida militants largely took over both cities last week and have been fending off incursions by government forces there since.
ISIL is also one of the strongest rebel units in Syria, where it has imposed a strict version of Islamic law in territories it holds and kidnapped and killed anyone it deems critical of its rule. Also on Saturday, it claimed responsibility for a suicide car bombing in a Shia-dominated neighbourhood in Lebanon.ISIL is also one of the strongest rebel units in Syria, where it has imposed a strict version of Islamic law in territories it holds and kidnapped and killed anyone it deems critical of its rule. Also on Saturday, it claimed responsibility for a suicide car bombing in a Shia-dominated neighbourhood in Lebanon.
Tensions in Anbar have run high since 28 December, when Iraqi security forces arrested a Sunni lawmaker sought for terrorism charges. Two days later, the government dismantled a months-old, anti-government Sunni protest camp, sparking clashes with militants.Tensions in Anbar have run high since 28 December, when Iraqi security forces arrested a Sunni lawmaker sought for terrorism charges. Two days later, the government dismantled a months-old, anti-government Sunni protest camp, sparking clashes with militants.
To ease the tension, the Shia-led government withdrew army forces from the cities. Sunni lawmakers see the army as a tool of the prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, to target his rivals and consolidate power.To ease the tension, the Shia-led government withdrew army forces from the cities. Sunni lawmakers see the army as a tool of the prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, to target his rivals and consolidate power.
The US secretary of state, John Kerry, said America would support Iraq combat al-Qaida, but without sending troops on ground. The US secretary of state, John Kerry, said America would support Iraq combat al-Qaida, but without sending troops on ground. The US was "very, very concerned" by the fighting, Kerry told reporters as he left Jerusalem for Jordan and Saudi Arabia on Sunday in his efforts to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The US recently supplied Iraq with Hellfire missiles often used against militants.
The US was "very, very concerned" by the fighting, Kerry told reporters as he left Jerusalem for Jordan and Saudi Arabia on Sunday in his efforts to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians. However, he said the US would not send ground troops to support Iraqi forces.
The US recently supplied Iraq with Hellfire missiles often used against militants.
Violence in Iraq spiked in April after the government staged a deadly crackdown on a Sunni protest camp. Iraq's al-Qaida branch has fed on Sunni discontent and on the civil war in neighbouring Syria, in which mostly Sunni rebels fight a government whose base is a Shia offshoot sect.
Militants have targeted civilians, particularly in Shia areas of Baghdad, with waves of co-ordinated car bombings and other deadly attacks.
According to the United Nations, Iraq had the highest annual death toll in 2013 since the worst of the sectarian bloodletting began to subside in 2007. The UN said violence killed 8,868 last year.
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