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| Iraqi Tribes to Take Lead in Falluja Fight, U.S. Says | Iraqi Tribes to Take Lead in Falluja Fight, U.S. Says |
| (7 months later) | |
| WASHINGTON — The Iraqi Army is planning to cordon off a key Sunni city now occupied by jihadists so that Sunni tribes can lead the mission to secure it one neighborhood at a time, a senior State Department official told Congress on Wednesday. | |
| “The plan is to have the tribes out in front, but with the army in support,” said Brett McGurk, the State Department’s top official on Iraq, describing preparations to try to oust the jihadists from the city of Falluja, in Anbar Province. | “The plan is to have the tribes out in front, but with the army in support,” said Brett McGurk, the State Department’s top official on Iraq, describing preparations to try to oust the jihadists from the city of Falluja, in Anbar Province. |
| The Iraqi strategy to take on the militants has been developed with advice from American military officers, including General Lloyd J. Austin III, the head of the United States Central Command, who met in Baghdad last week with Iraqi officials and military commanders. | The Iraqi strategy to take on the militants has been developed with advice from American military officers, including General Lloyd J. Austin III, the head of the United States Central Command, who met in Baghdad last week with Iraqi officials and military commanders. |
| Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki said in a weekly address on Wednesday that “the battle is about to end in Anbar.” But Mr. McGurk told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that General Austin had been urging “patience and planning.” | Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki said in a weekly address on Wednesday that “the battle is about to end in Anbar.” But Mr. McGurk told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that General Austin had been urging “patience and planning.” |
| “We’re helping the Iraqis develop a plan,” Mr. McGurk said. | “We’re helping the Iraqis develop a plan,” Mr. McGurk said. |
| As described by American officials, the Iraqi plan reflects a recognition that having the Shiite-dominated Iraqi Army mount a frontal assault on a Sunni city that has long been wary of outsiders could lead to an especially violent round of urban warfare and fan sectarian tensions. | As described by American officials, the Iraqi plan reflects a recognition that having the Shiite-dominated Iraqi Army mount a frontal assault on a Sunni city that has long been wary of outsiders could lead to an especially violent round of urban warfare and fan sectarian tensions. |
| The jihadist strategy appears to be to provoke the Iraqi government to carry out just such an assault. On Jan. 26, Mr. McGurk said, the militant group, known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, captured about a dozen Iraqi soldiers near Falluja, paraded them through the city in a truck flying the black flag of Al Qaeda, then videotaped their execution the next day. | The jihadist strategy appears to be to provoke the Iraqi government to carry out just such an assault. On Jan. 26, Mr. McGurk said, the militant group, known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, captured about a dozen Iraqi soldiers near Falluja, paraded them through the city in a truck flying the black flag of Al Qaeda, then videotaped their execution the next day. |
| “Falluja is the scene of a tense standoff,” Mr. McGurk said. | “Falluja is the scene of a tense standoff,” Mr. McGurk said. |
| In 2004, American forces took control of Falluja from insurgent forces at a considerable cost in American lives. After the “surge” of American troops in 2007 and 2008, American officials portrayed the city as something of a success story. | In 2004, American forces took control of Falluja from insurgent forces at a considerable cost in American lives. After the “surge” of American troops in 2007 and 2008, American officials portrayed the city as something of a success story. |
| But on Jan. 1 of this year, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria militants drove into Falluja and the nearby city of Ramadi in as many as 100 trucks equipped with heavy machine guns and antiaircraft guns, Mr. McGurk said. The jihadists moved quickly to control key intersections and destroy local police stations. | But on Jan. 1 of this year, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria militants drove into Falluja and the nearby city of Ramadi in as many as 100 trucks equipped with heavy machine guns and antiaircraft guns, Mr. McGurk said. The jihadists moved quickly to control key intersections and destroy local police stations. |
| Though Al Qaeda, whose clout is diminishing, has broken with the jihadist group, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria remains a formidable foe. The group, Mr. McGurk said, has about 2,000 fighters in Iraq, and its longer-term objective is to establish a base of operations in Baghdad. The group is led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who has been officially designated as a global terrorist by the State Department. | Though Al Qaeda, whose clout is diminishing, has broken with the jihadist group, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria remains a formidable foe. The group, Mr. McGurk said, has about 2,000 fighters in Iraq, and its longer-term objective is to establish a base of operations in Baghdad. The group is led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who has been officially designated as a global terrorist by the State Department. |
| The jihadist fighters in Falluja, Mr. McGurk said, are well equipped, and include snipers armed with .50-caliber rifles, making for potentially difficult street-to-street fighting. | The jihadist fighters in Falluja, Mr. McGurk said, are well equipped, and include snipers armed with .50-caliber rifles, making for potentially difficult street-to-street fighting. |
| Adding to the difficulties facing the government, some of the Sunni tribes in western Iraq are so alienated from the Shiite-dominated central government in Baghdad that they have aligned themselves with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria extremists in Falluja. Other Sunni tribes are sitting on the fence. | Adding to the difficulties facing the government, some of the Sunni tribes in western Iraq are so alienated from the Shiite-dominated central government in Baghdad that they have aligned themselves with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria extremists in Falluja. Other Sunni tribes are sitting on the fence. |
| American officials have been pressing the Maliki government to build ties with the tribes by giving them the same benefits that Iraqi soldiers receive and promising to integrate them into the security forces. | American officials have been pressing the Maliki government to build ties with the tribes by giving them the same benefits that Iraqi soldiers receive and promising to integrate them into the security forces. |
| Another challenge is a military one. When Mr. Maliki’s forces took Basra in 2008, they did so with the help of American air power. But the Obama administration has not offered to assist the Iraqi forces that are preparing to retake Falluja with American-operated drones or airstrikes. | Another challenge is a military one. When Mr. Maliki’s forces took Basra in 2008, they did so with the help of American air power. But the Obama administration has not offered to assist the Iraqi forces that are preparing to retake Falluja with American-operated drones or airstrikes. |
| Iraq’s air power, which is very modest, includes three Cessna turboprop planes equipped with American Hellfire missiles, unarmored Bell helicopters and four recently purchased Russian Mi-35 attack helicopters. Coordinating the Iraqi military’s air power, artillery fire and mortars with the Sunni tribal fighters is also likely to be a considerable challenge. | Iraq’s air power, which is very modest, includes three Cessna turboprop planes equipped with American Hellfire missiles, unarmored Bell helicopters and four recently purchased Russian Mi-35 attack helicopters. Coordinating the Iraqi military’s air power, artillery fire and mortars with the Sunni tribal fighters is also likely to be a considerable challenge. |
| Only about 100 American military officers are attached to the United States Embassy, including, Mr. McGurk said, about a half-dozen “special operators.” They have been involved in advising the Iraqis and facilitating American arms sales, but have no direct role in military operations in Iraq. | Only about 100 American military officers are attached to the United States Embassy, including, Mr. McGurk said, about a half-dozen “special operators.” They have been involved in advising the Iraqis and facilitating American arms sales, but have no direct role in military operations in Iraq. |
| The Apache attack helicopters that the Obama administration wants to provide to the Iraqis will not arrive in time for the battle for Falluja. The United States plans to lease six Apaches in the late summer or early fall. The Iraqi government is buying 24 more, but the delivery time can be as long as three years. The first of the F-16 fighters that Iraq is buying from the United States are to be delivered next fall. | The Apache attack helicopters that the Obama administration wants to provide to the Iraqis will not arrive in time for the battle for Falluja. The United States plans to lease six Apaches in the late summer or early fall. The Iraqi government is buying 24 more, but the delivery time can be as long as three years. The first of the F-16 fighters that Iraq is buying from the United States are to be delivered next fall. |
| In the meantime, the United States is planning to sell up to 500 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles to supplement the 75 already delivered. | In the meantime, the United States is planning to sell up to 500 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles to supplement the 75 already delivered. |
| On Wednesday, it was the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria that was on the offensive. The group took three villages in a northern province, Salahuddin, which is adjacent to Anbar. It also continued its attacks in Baghdad. For the second consecutive day, the international zone, which is the seat of diplomatic and government offices, was attacked. Two dozen people were killed when suicide bombers and a vehicle packed with explosives detonated at or near entrances to the zone, according to the Interior Ministry. | On Wednesday, it was the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria that was on the offensive. The group took three villages in a northern province, Salahuddin, which is adjacent to Anbar. It also continued its attacks in Baghdad. For the second consecutive day, the international zone, which is the seat of diplomatic and government offices, was attacked. Two dozen people were killed when suicide bombers and a vehicle packed with explosives detonated at or near entrances to the zone, according to the Interior Ministry. |
| In a separate attack on Wednesday, two car bombs exploded near a public market in southern Baghdad, killing 12 people and wounding 23. Two rockets, identified as Katyushas, struck the international zone on Tuesday, killing a soldier. | In a separate attack on Wednesday, two car bombs exploded near a public market in southern Baghdad, killing 12 people and wounding 23. Two rockets, identified as Katyushas, struck the international zone on Tuesday, killing a soldier. |