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Islamic State seizes third Iraqi army base in Anbar after military retreat Islamic State seizes third Iraqi army base in Anbar after military retreat
(about 1 hour later)
BAGHDAD — Islamic State fighters seized control of another Iraqi army base Monday — the third to fall in three weeks — to give the militants a further key foothold in the western approach to Baghdad. BAGHDAD — Islamic State fighters seized control of another Iraqi army base Monday — the third to fall in three weeks — to give the militants a further foothold in attempts to push closer toward Baghdad.
Iraq officials described the pullback from Hit as a “tactical retreat” and claimed it hauled away all equipment and burned food supplies to deny the Islamic State more provisions and firepower. Iraq officials described the pullback from near Hit — about 85 miles west of the capital — as a “tactical retreat” and claimed it hauled away equipment and burned food supplies to deny the Islamic State more provisions and firepower.
But the Islamic State’s gain in the Anbar Province — this time 85 miles west of Baghdad — was a major blow to security forces struggling to hold territory despite U.S.-led airstrikes. Sunni-dominated Anbar has become a critical battleground in attempts to keep the Islamic State offensive from reaching Iraq’s capital. But the Islamic State’s gain in the Anbar Province was a major blow to security forces struggling to hold territory despite U.S.-led airstrikes. Sunni-dominated Anbar has become a critical battleground in attempts to keep the Islamic State offensive from reaching Iraq’s capital.
Sporadic clashes have already reached some of the outlying areas west of Baghdad.
In a sign of the concern, Iraqi officials are considering trying to bolster defenses by recruiting Sunni tribal militias to join the fight — a plan once used by the Pentagon against insurgent forces linked to al-Qaeda.In a sign of the concern, Iraqi officials are considering trying to bolster defenses by recruiting Sunni tribal militias to join the fight — a plan once used by the Pentagon against insurgent forces linked to al-Qaeda.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Martin Dempsey, said he did not foresee the Islamic State preparing for a direct assault on Baghdad, but predicted the city will face “indirect fire” — a term that often refers to long-range shelling.
“I have no doubt there will be days when they use indirect fire into Baghdad,” Dempsey said in an interview Sunday with ABC’s “This Week.”
Meanwhile in Syria, at least four U.S. airstrikes were carried out since Sunday in attempts to drive back Islamic State fighters around the border town of Kobane, the U.S. Central Command said.Meanwhile in Syria, at least four U.S. airstrikes were carried out since Sunday in attempts to drive back Islamic State fighters around the border town of Kobane, the U.S. Central Command said.
The battle for Kobane also has sharpened the talks between the United States and NATO ally Turkey over ways to expand the attacks against the Islamic State. Turkey has refused to send its powerful military over the border while it presses its demands, including creation of a border buffer zone in Syria.The battle for Kobane also has sharpened the talks between the United States and NATO ally Turkey over ways to expand the attacks against the Islamic State. Turkey has refused to send its powerful military over the border while it presses its demands, including creation of a border buffer zone in Syria.
On Monday, Turkey denied it had reached any “new agreement” with the United States over the use of an American air base Incirlik in southern Turkey for attacks against the Islamic State, refuting claims by Department of Defense officials.On Monday, Turkey denied it had reached any “new agreement” with the United States over the use of an American air base Incirlik in southern Turkey for attacks against the Islamic State, refuting claims by Department of Defense officials.
In Iraq, the Islamic State used the loudspeakers of mosques to trumpet its takeover of the Iraqi 7th Division base near Hit. The town on the Euphrates River was seized by the militants on Oct. 2.In Iraq, the Islamic State used the loudspeakers of mosques to trumpet its takeover of the Iraqi 7th Division base near Hit. The town on the Euphrates River was seized by the militants on Oct. 2.
The string of defeats in Anbar have exposed the limitations of the U.S. and coalition airstrikes in combating Islamic State with Iraqi ground forces in disarray.The string of defeats in Anbar have exposed the limitations of the U.S. and coalition airstrikes in combating Islamic State with Iraqi ground forces in disarray.
U.S. Central Command said coalition strikes an Islamic State armed vehicle and an armored personnel carrier in the vicinity of Hit on Sunday, but the militants still managed to launch an offensive on the army base, soldiers said. By 3 a.m., the approximately 400 troops received orders to retreat. But British Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond said Iraq’s commanders and political leaders — particularly in Anbar — must rise to the challenge posed by the Islamic State.
“The coalition can only deliver effective support to the Iraqi government and Iraqi security forces,” he said during talks in Baghdad, according to the Associated Press. “The Iraqi people, the Iraqi security forces and Iraqi government will have to take the lead on the ground.”
The U.S. Central Command said coalition strikes an Islamic State armed vehicle and an armored personnel carrier in the vicinity of Hit on Sunday, but the militants still managed to launch an offensive on the army base, soldiers said. By 3 a.m., the approximately 400 troops received orders to retreat.
“We don’t have any leadership,” complained one officer who was present and declined to give his name for fear of being reprimanded. “We could have kept our base with some simple reinforcements and ammunition.”“We don’t have any leadership,” complained one officer who was present and declined to give his name for fear of being reprimanded. “We could have kept our base with some simple reinforcements and ammunition.”
Suleman al-Qubaisi, a spokesman for Anbar provincial council, said officials in the region have put in an urgent request to Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi for 4,000 additional soldiers to be dispatched to the region.Suleman al-Qubaisi, a spokesman for Anbar provincial council, said officials in the region have put in an urgent request to Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi for 4,000 additional soldiers to be dispatched to the region.
Militants first gained a foothold in Anbar — the most deadly province for U.S. troops during the Iraq War — in January, and Iraqi security forces have been struggling to reverse their gains ever since.Militants first gained a foothold in Anbar — the most deadly province for U.S. troops during the Iraq War — in January, and Iraqi security forces have been struggling to reverse their gains ever since.
“We are very much afraid,” said one 36-year-old resident of Hit. “Now there are Islamic State checkpoints and they are in the government buildings. If the military start bombing them it will be the civilians who suffer.”“We are very much afraid,” said one 36-year-old resident of Hit. “Now there are Islamic State checkpoints and they are in the government buildings. If the military start bombing them it will be the civilians who suffer.”
loveday.Morris@washpost.com loveday.morris@washpost.com
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Mustafa Salim in Baghdad and Liz Sly in Sanliurfa, Turkey, contributed to this report.Mustafa Salim in Baghdad and Liz Sly in Sanliurfa, Turkey, contributed to this report.