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Iraq crisis: Rutba latest western town to fall to Isis Iraq crisis: Rutba latest western town to fall to Isis
(about 3 hours later)
Sunni militants have seized another town in Iraq's western Anbar province - the fourth in two days.Sunni militants have seized another town in Iraq's western Anbar province - the fourth in two days.
Fighters of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis) captured Rutba, 90 miles (150km) east of Jordan's border, officials said.Fighters of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis) captured Rutba, 90 miles (150km) east of Jordan's border, officials said.
They earlier seized a border crossing to Syria and two towns in western Iraq as they advance towards Baghdad.They earlier seized a border crossing to Syria and two towns in western Iraq as they advance towards Baghdad.
The insurgents intend to capture the whole of the predominantly Sunni Anbar province, a spokesman told the BBC.The insurgents intend to capture the whole of the predominantly Sunni Anbar province, a spokesman told the BBC.
Also on Sunday, Meanwhile, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said he "strongly opposes" US intervention in Iraq.
"The main dispute in Iraq is between those who want Iraq to join the US camp and those who seek an independent Iraq," he said, adding that Washington was simply seeking to keep Iraq within its own sphere of power.
Analysis from BBC Persian's Bozorgmehr Sharafedin
The Obama administration is signalling that it wants a new government in Iraq without Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki before launching any attack on Isis, but Iran's Supreme Leader has rejected both ideas.
Ayatollah Khamenei strongly opposed "the intervention of the US and others in the domestic affairs of Iraq", and said the US is not pleased with the results of the new election and "is seeking an Iraq under its hegemony and ruled by its stooges".
Khamenei's anti-US remarks weaken the possibility of military cooperation. Iran feels it has the upper hand in Iraq and would try to resolve the crisis by the help of "Iraqi people, government and Shia clerics".
Also on Sunday:
Isis on the EuphratesIsis on the Euphrates
Rutba is strategically placed on the main road between Baghdad and Jordan.Rutba is strategically placed on the main road between Baghdad and Jordan.
It is the fourth town in what is Iraq's largest province to fall in two days to the Sunni rebel alliance, which Isis spearheads.It is the fourth town in what is Iraq's largest province to fall in two days to the Sunni rebel alliance, which Isis spearheads.
On Saturday the militants said they had taken the towns of Rawa and Anah, along the Euphrates river.On Saturday the militants said they had taken the towns of Rawa and Anah, along the Euphrates river.
And Iraqi officials admitted Isis fighters had also seized a border crossing near the town of Qaim, killing 30 troops after a day-long battle.And Iraqi officials admitted Isis fighters had also seized a border crossing near the town of Qaim, killing 30 troops after a day-long battle.
According to the rebels, army garrisons, including at the area's command centre, abandoned their bases and weapons, and fled.According to the rebels, army garrisons, including at the area's command centre, abandoned their bases and weapons, and fled.
An Iraqi military spokesman described the withdrawal from Rawa, Anah and Qaim as a "tactical move... for the purpose of redeployment".An Iraqi military spokesman described the withdrawal from Rawa, Anah and Qaim as a "tactical move... for the purpose of redeployment".
Isis in IraqIsis in Iraq
Isis grew out of an al-Qaeda-linked organisation in IraqIsis grew out of an al-Qaeda-linked organisation in Iraq
Jihadi groups around the worldJihadi groups around the world
The capture of the frontier crossing could help Isis transport weapons and other equipment to different battlefields, analysts say.The capture of the frontier crossing could help Isis transport weapons and other equipment to different battlefields, analysts say.
The rebels are confident that towns they do not already control along the Euphrates valley will fall without much of a fight, with the help of sympathetic local tribes, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Irbil.The rebels are confident that towns they do not already control along the Euphrates valley will fall without much of a fight, with the help of sympathetic local tribes, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Irbil.
Since January, they have held parts of the provincial capital Ramadi, and all of nearby Falluja, half an hour's drive from Baghdad.Since January, they have held parts of the provincial capital Ramadi, and all of nearby Falluja, half an hour's drive from Baghdad.
A spokesman for the Military Councils, one of the main Sunni groups fighting alongside Isis, told the BBC the rebels' strategic goal was the capital itself.A spokesman for the Military Councils, one of the main Sunni groups fighting alongside Isis, told the BBC the rebels' strategic goal was the capital itself.
In the meantime they are clearly trying to take the string of towns along the Euphrates between Falluja and the western border, says our correspondent.In the meantime they are clearly trying to take the string of towns along the Euphrates between Falluja and the western border, says our correspondent.
Baghdad fearsBaghdad fears
There is deep pessimism in Baghdad about the government's war against Isis, which appears better trained, equipped and more experienced than the army, diplomats and politicians have told the BBC.There is deep pessimism in Baghdad about the government's war against Isis, which appears better trained, equipped and more experienced than the army, diplomats and politicians have told the BBC.
The Sunni extremists attacked the city of Mosul in early June and have since seized swathes of territory across Iraq.The Sunni extremists attacked the city of Mosul in early June and have since seized swathes of territory across Iraq.
The Iraqi government has urged the US, Europe and the UN to take immediate action to help deal with the crisis - including targeted air strikes.The Iraqi government has urged the US, Europe and the UN to take immediate action to help deal with the crisis - including targeted air strikes.
Iraq's air force ran out of American Hellfire missiles two weeks ago, and only has two Cessna planes capable of firing the missiles.Iraq's air force ran out of American Hellfire missiles two weeks ago, and only has two Cessna planes capable of firing the missiles.
But Isis has established secure safe havens, including some in neighbouring Syria, which will be difficult to target, experts say.But Isis has established secure safe havens, including some in neighbouring Syria, which will be difficult to target, experts say.
And experts warn that using air strikes now would endanger civilians.And experts warn that using air strikes now would endanger civilians.
"[The militants are] now fully enmeshed with the civilian population and it's just almost impossible to use air power or cruise missiles to strike at fighters that way," said Christopher Harmer, an analyst from the Institute for Study of War in Washington."[The militants are] now fully enmeshed with the civilian population and it's just almost impossible to use air power or cruise missiles to strike at fighters that way," said Christopher Harmer, an analyst from the Institute for Study of War in Washington.
"You will end up killing a lot of civilians," he told the BBC."You will end up killing a lot of civilians," he told the BBC.
The US, which pulled out of Iraq in 2011, is sending some 300 military advisers to Iraq to help in the fight against the insurgents there.The US, which pulled out of Iraq in 2011, is sending some 300 military advisers to Iraq to help in the fight against the insurgents there.
But the White House insists there is no purely military solution to the crisis.But the White House insists there is no purely military solution to the crisis.
Mr Obama believes Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki has endangered the country by ignoring Sunni concerns and governing in the interests of the Shia majority, correspondents say.Mr Obama believes Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki has endangered the country by ignoring Sunni concerns and governing in the interests of the Shia majority, correspondents say.
Are you in Iraq or do you have family there? Have you been affected by recent events? You can send details of your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using 'Iraq' in the subject line.Are you in Iraq or do you have family there? Have you been affected by recent events? You can send details of your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using 'Iraq' in the subject line.