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Iran-backed militias 'head for Iraq's IS-held Ramadi' IS-held Ramadi: Shia militias gather near Iraqi city
(about 3 hours later)
The Iraqi government is reported to be sending Iran-backed Shia militias to Ramadi to recapture the city seized by Islamic State (IS) militants on Sunday. A day after Islamic State (IS) militants completed their capture of Ramadi, Shia militias are assembling east of the Iraqi city ready for a possible counter-attack.
About 500 people are reported to have died when the Iraqi military abandoned positions in the city - only 70 miles (112km) west of Baghdad. Iraqi state TV described columns of tanks and other military vehicles entering al-Habbaniyah military camp.
A regional government official spoke of people fleeing Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, "in great numbers". The Iraqi government called for help from the Iran-backed militias after the military was routed on Sunday.
But the US has said it is confident the capture of Ramadi can be reversed. About 500 people died in the city - only 70 miles (112km) west of Baghdad.
Speaking in South Korea, Secretary of State John Kerry said: "I am convinced that as the forces are redeployed and as the days flow in the weeks ahead that's going to change." Shia forces at Habbaniya, about 20km (12 miles) from Ramadi, were "now on standby," the head of the Anbar provincial council, Sabah Karhout, was quoted by Reuters as saying.
The Shia militias, known as the Popular Mobilisation (Hashid Shaabi), were key to the recapture from IS of another city, Tikrit, north of Baghdad, in April. But their use has raised concern in the US and elsewhere. In a statement, the council said about 3,000 Shia fighters had arrived in Anbar to take part in "the liberation of all Ramadi areas in which IS militants took positions".
The militias pulled out of Tikrit following reports of widespread violence and looting.
In another move, the Iranian Defence Minister, Hossein Dehghan, has arrived in Baghdad on a visit arranged before the latest developments in Ramadi.
Analysis: Jim Muir, BBC BeirutAnalysis: Jim Muir, BBC Beirut
The fall of Ramadi is a disaster for the Iraqi army and government, and especially its Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi.The fall of Ramadi is a disaster for the Iraqi army and government, and especially its Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi.
After the recapture of another provincial capital, Tikrit, at the end of March, he announced the start of a similar campaign to "liberate" Anbar province (the country's biggest) and flew to Ramadi to kick it off.After the recapture of another provincial capital, Tikrit, at the end of March, he announced the start of a similar campaign to "liberate" Anbar province (the country's biggest) and flew to Ramadi to kick it off.
Now Ramadi has gone, and along with it the military command centre for the whole province. A few days before the final collapse on Sunday, Mr Abbadi said he would not allow it to fall.Now Ramadi has gone, and along with it the military command centre for the whole province. A few days before the final collapse on Sunday, Mr Abbadi said he would not allow it to fall.
It did.It did.
Now he and the largely Sunni provincial council have had to do what they didn't want - to call in the Iranian-backed Shia militias who were instrumental on the ground in recapturing Tikrit.Now he and the largely Sunni provincial council have had to do what they didn't want - to call in the Iranian-backed Shia militias who were instrumental on the ground in recapturing Tikrit.
They will play the lead role if Ramadi is to be recaptured. Will the Americans bomb to support them, and help spread Iranian penetration and control in Iraq?They will play the lead role if Ramadi is to be recaptured. Will the Americans bomb to support them, and help spread Iranian penetration and control in Iraq?
Can Iraq's army dislodge Islamic State?Can Iraq's army dislodge Islamic State?
Iraq: Growth of the Shia militiaIraq: Growth of the Shia militia
The US has said it is confident the capture of Ramadi can be reversed.
Speaking in South Korea, Secretary of State John Kerry said: "I am convinced that as the forces are redeployed and as the days flow in the weeks ahead, that's going to change."
The Shia militias, known as the Popular Mobilisation (Hashid Shaabi), were key to the recapture from IS of another city, Tikrit, north of Baghdad, in April.
But their use has raised concern in the US and elsewhere that it could provoke sectarian tension in Sunni areas such as Ramadi.
The militias pulled out of Tikrit following reports of widespread violence and looting.
In another move, the Iranian Defence Minister, Hossein Dehghan, has arrived in Baghdad on a visit arranged before the latest developments in Ramadi.
'Purged' city?'Purged' city?
The police and military made a chaotic retreat from Ramadi, which has been contested for months, after days of intense fighting.The police and military made a chaotic retreat from Ramadi, which has been contested for months, after days of intense fighting.
A statement purportedly from IS said its fighters had "purged the entire city". It said IS had taken the 8th Brigade army base, along with tanks and missile launchers left behind by troops.A statement purportedly from IS said its fighters had "purged the entire city". It said IS had taken the 8th Brigade army base, along with tanks and missile launchers left behind by troops.
A very well-placed source in the Anbar governor's office told the BBC Ramadi was now under the full control of IS, and all government troops had withdrawn. An Iraqi army officer told the BBC that most troops had retreated to a military base in the city of Khalidiya, east of Ramadi, despite an order from Prime Minister Abadi for them to stand firm.
An army officer told the BBC that most troops had retreated to a military base in the city of Khalidiya, east of Ramadi, despite an order from Prime Minister Abadi for them to stand firm. The US-led coalition says it has carried out 19 air strikes near Ramadi over the past three days.
Government troops were running out of ammunition and could not repel the massive onslaughts by IS, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. However, they appear to have failed to hinder the IS advance.
US air strikes in support of Iraqi forces on Sunday appear to have failed to hinder the IS advance. Reports said Iraqi forces had fled following a series of suicide car bomb attacks on Sunday.
Reports said Iraqi forces fled following a series of suicide car bomb attacks on Sunday. Four almost simultaneous explosions hit police defending the Malaab district in southern Ramadi. Later, three more suicide bombers drove explosives-laden cars into the gate of the provincial military headquarters, the Anbar Operation Command, officials said.
Four almost simultaneous explosions hit police defending the Malaab district in southern Ramadi. Later, three more suicide bombers drove explosive-laden cars into the gate of the provincial military headquarters, the Anbar Operation Command, officials said. Anbar province covers a vast stretch of the country west from Baghdad to the Syrian border, and contains key roads that link Iraq to both Syria and Jordan. Ramadi's loss is seen as a severe setback for the government.
Anbar province covers a vast stretch of the country west from the capital Baghdad to the Syrian border, and contains key roads that link Iraq to both Syria and Jordan. Ramadi's loss is seen as a severe setback for the government.
IS reportedly controls more than half of Anbar's territory.IS reportedly controls more than half of Anbar's territory.
The deputy head of Anbar council, Faleh al-Issawi, told the BBC that more than 500 people had been killed in the last two days of fighting in and around Ramadi, including policemen who had run out of ammunition, and civilians caught in the crossfire. Some 8,000 people have been displaced by the latest bout of fighting in Ramadi, according to the International Organisation for Migration.
Some 8,000 people have been displaced over the same period, according to the International Organisation for Migration.
Troubled history of Anbar provinceTroubled history of Anbar province