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Iraq violence: Air strike 'kills 25 militants' | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Iraqi troops have killed 25 al-Qaeda-linked fighters in Ramadi in an air strike, the government says as it battles militants in Anbar province. | |
Residents told the BBC Iraqi special forces were also working with Sunni tribesmen to dislodge the militants. | |
Ramadi and the city of Fallujah have been infiltrated by an al-Qaeda-affiliated group known as ISIS. | |
But an assault on Fallujah has been delayed because of fears of civilian casualties. | |
The government lost control of Fallujah to ISIS - the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - and allied Sunni Arab tribesmen at the weekend. | |
Hundreds of residents have been fleeing shelling and air strikes by government forces. | |
At the same time, the militants have called on Sunni tribes in the area to support them and have urged families who have fled the city to return to their homes. | At the same time, the militants have called on Sunni tribes in the area to support them and have urged families who have fled the city to return to their homes. |
Fighting in Anbar province in recent days has led to some of the heaviest clashes in Iraq for years. | |
Ramadi, the provincial capital, is reported to be under the control of powerful Sunni tribes working with local police to counter ISIS. | |
Despite long-standing grievances against the central Shia-led government, the Ramadi tribes have renewed a pact with senior Iraqi army leaders to dislodge any ISIS presence. | |
One resident told the BBC Iraqi special forces were conducting hit-and-run operations in areas where the militants have taken refuge. | |
Giving details of the air strike in Ramadi, Mohammad al-Askari, spokesman for the Iraqi defence ministry said the air force had targeted vehicles carrying heavy weapons, killing 25 "armed men". | |
Sunni anger | Sunni anger |
The latest upsurge in violence began last month after troops broke up a protest camp by Sunni Arabs in Ramadi. | The latest upsurge in violence began last month after troops broke up a protest camp by Sunni Arabs in Ramadi. |
Many Sunnis in Iraq claim they are being marginalised by Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's Shia-led government. | |
BBC Middle East correspondent Jim Muir says Islamist militants have been able to benefit from those deep-seated grievances. | BBC Middle East correspondent Jim Muir says Islamist militants have been able to benefit from those deep-seated grievances. |
Mr Maliki's drive to restore control is being seen by many Sunnis as an attempt at domination and oppression, and it is taking Iraq back to the brink of a sectarian civil war, he adds. | Mr Maliki's drive to restore control is being seen by many Sunnis as an attempt at domination and oppression, and it is taking Iraq back to the brink of a sectarian civil war, he adds. |
After the 2003 US-led invasion, al-Qaeda based itself in Fallujah where several beheadings and killings of foreigners took place. | After the 2003 US-led invasion, al-Qaeda based itself in Fallujah where several beheadings and killings of foreigners took place. |
The US is accelerating the delivery of military equipment to Iraq to help the government fight ISIS and other militant groups. | |
Additional surveillance drones will arrive within weeks and more Hellfire missiles in the next few months. | |
Correspondents say that despite withdrawing from Iraq at the end of 2011, the US remains a key security partner, providing more than $14bn (£8bn) worth of weapons to Baghdad since 2005. | Correspondents say that despite withdrawing from Iraq at the end of 2011, the US remains a key security partner, providing more than $14bn (£8bn) worth of weapons to Baghdad since 2005. |
In other violence in Iraq, a suicide bomber in a lorry killed at least two people and injured many more at a police station in the northern city of Kirkuk. |