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| U.S.-Trained Iraqi Troops Deployed to Help Retake Ramadi From ISIS | U.S.-Trained Iraqi Troops Deployed to Help Retake Ramadi From ISIS |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| BAGHDAD — Around 3,000 newly American-trained Iraqi troops have been deployed to help in an expected government offensive to retake the Sunni stronghold of Ramadi from Islamic State militants, Pentagon officials said during a trip to Baghdad on Thursday. | |
| As Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter huddled with his Iraqi counterparts to discuss the looming assault, Defense Department officials in the delegation insisted, however, that the growing force would not include any Shiite militiamen, many of whom are supported by Iran. | As Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter huddled with his Iraqi counterparts to discuss the looming assault, Defense Department officials in the delegation insisted, however, that the growing force would not include any Shiite militiamen, many of whom are supported by Iran. |
| “As of now, the government of Iraq has indicated that they have no intention of using the Shia militias in the liberation of Ramadi,” said Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman. | “As of now, the government of Iraq has indicated that they have no intention of using the Shia militias in the liberation of Ramadi,” said Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman. |
| The Iraqi forces suffered a big public relations blow 10 weeks ago after their frenetic retreat from Ramadi, a pivotal western Iraqi city in the Sunni Arab heartland of Anbar Province. Since the Islamic State seized Ramadi in May, around 2,000 militant fighters are said to have been building up defenses, including rigging empty buildings with explosives. | The Iraqi forces suffered a big public relations blow 10 weeks ago after their frenetic retreat from Ramadi, a pivotal western Iraqi city in the Sunni Arab heartland of Anbar Province. Since the Islamic State seized Ramadi in May, around 2,000 militant fighters are said to have been building up defenses, including rigging empty buildings with explosives. |
| But as the push to begin the Ramadi offensive has grown more urgent in recent days, the Obama administration has applied heavier pressure on the Iraqi government not to include Shiite militiamen — despite the fact that the groups have been among the most effective in fighting the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. | But as the push to begin the Ramadi offensive has grown more urgent in recent days, the Obama administration has applied heavier pressure on the Iraqi government not to include Shiite militiamen — despite the fact that the groups have been among the most effective in fighting the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. |
| One major concern is that the militiamen would inflame sectarian tensions in the Sunni-dominated region. Sunnis’ fears about Shiite militiamen have been a big factor in alienating them from the government and in attracting more support to ISIS forces. | One major concern is that the militiamen would inflame sectarian tensions in the Sunni-dominated region. Sunnis’ fears about Shiite militiamen have been a big factor in alienating them from the government and in attracting more support to ISIS forces. |
| Also, American officials appeared to have decided that it was crucial to show that the Iraqi military can take back a major city on its own, minus the militia help. | Also, American officials appeared to have decided that it was crucial to show that the Iraqi military can take back a major city on its own, minus the militia help. |
| That distinction, however, does not seem to apply to Falluja, another Islamic State-dominated Sunni city in Anbar that the Iraqi government wants back. American officials said they expected that Shiite militias would be part of that fight. And earlier this year, the militias were central to the government’s victory in the city of Tikrit. | That distinction, however, does not seem to apply to Falluja, another Islamic State-dominated Sunni city in Anbar that the Iraqi government wants back. American officials said they expected that Shiite militias would be part of that fight. And earlier this year, the militias were central to the government’s victory in the city of Tikrit. |
| Efforts to retake Ramadi, announced to have begun by the Iraqi government earlier this month, have been slowed by a number of things, including the Ramadan holiday this month and temperatures of more than 110 degrees Fahrenheit. | Efforts to retake Ramadi, announced to have begun by the Iraqi government earlier this month, have been slowed by a number of things, including the Ramadan holiday this month and temperatures of more than 110 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| As recently as Wednesday, Pentagon officials said that the Ramadi assault force would not include Iraqi forces trained recently by American military advisers. But upon arriving in Baghdad on Thursday, coalition military officials told Mr. Carter that two American-trained Iraqi brigades — each with about 1,500 troops — joined the fight this week. Officials said the forces were focusing on taking the approaches to the city in order to cut off lines of resupply for Islamic State fighters. | As recently as Wednesday, Pentagon officials said that the Ramadi assault force would not include Iraqi forces trained recently by American military advisers. But upon arriving in Baghdad on Thursday, coalition military officials told Mr. Carter that two American-trained Iraqi brigades — each with about 1,500 troops — joined the fight this week. Officials said the forces were focusing on taking the approaches to the city in order to cut off lines of resupply for Islamic State fighters. |
| American officials also announced that about 500 Sunni tribal fighters who have in recent weeks been trained by members of the American-led coalition against the Islamic State were joining the Ramadi operation. | American officials also announced that about 500 Sunni tribal fighters who have in recent weeks been trained by members of the American-led coalition against the Islamic State were joining the Ramadi operation. |
| Colonel Warren portrayed the addition of Sunni tribesman fighters to the Ramadi battlefield as a big step forward. “Participation of Sunni fighters in the battle for Ramadi is exactly what we’ve been talking about, exactly what we’ve been looking for,” he told reporters traveling with Mr. Carter. | Colonel Warren portrayed the addition of Sunni tribesman fighters to the Ramadi battlefield as a big step forward. “Participation of Sunni fighters in the battle for Ramadi is exactly what we’ve been talking about, exactly what we’ve been looking for,” he told reporters traveling with Mr. Carter. |
| Colonel Warren said that one of the newly trained Iraqi brigades had advanced about four miles closer to Ramadi in just the past day. “This is an important development because these personnel are well trained and much more well equipped,” he said. | Colonel Warren said that one of the newly trained Iraqi brigades had advanced about four miles closer to Ramadi in just the past day. “This is an important development because these personnel are well trained and much more well equipped,” he said. |
| An Iraqi war plan that has been shaped by American advisers sent to a Iraqi base east of Ramadi called Al Taqqadum put the number involved in the effort to retake Ramadi at about 6,000 troops. On Thursday, Defense Department officials refused to say how many troops were now on the ground around Ramadi. | An Iraqi war plan that has been shaped by American advisers sent to a Iraqi base east of Ramadi called Al Taqqadum put the number involved in the effort to retake Ramadi at about 6,000 troops. On Thursday, Defense Department officials refused to say how many troops were now on the ground around Ramadi. |
| The plan calls for an Iraqi follow-on force of up to 5,000 tribal fighters, along with Iraqi provincial police officers to be assigned to hold the city and nearby areas of Anbar Province if they are retaken from the Islamic State. | The plan calls for an Iraqi follow-on force of up to 5,000 tribal fighters, along with Iraqi provincial police officers to be assigned to hold the city and nearby areas of Anbar Province if they are retaken from the Islamic State. |
| The base at Al Taqqadum, an Iraqi post near the town of Habbaniya in eastern Anbar, is supposed to be a model for other military hubs that may be set up in other parts of the country, American officials said. American military advisers at the base have been training Sunni tribesman to join the fight; so far some 1,800 Sunnis have gone through training, Pentagon officials said. | The base at Al Taqqadum, an Iraqi post near the town of Habbaniya in eastern Anbar, is supposed to be a model for other military hubs that may be set up in other parts of the country, American officials said. American military advisers at the base have been training Sunni tribesman to join the fight; so far some 1,800 Sunnis have gone through training, Pentagon officials said. |
| One focus for the Americans is to try to accelerate the integration of Sunni fighters into the Iraqi Army, which is dominated by Shiites. | One focus for the Americans is to try to accelerate the integration of Sunni fighters into the Iraqi Army, which is dominated by Shiites. |
| In Baghdad, Mr. Carter met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Iraqi defense and military officials, and went to see Iraqi counterterrorism troops, in their trademark all-black uniforms, maneuver and fire at silhouette targets at a firing range. | In Baghdad, Mr. Carter met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Iraqi defense and military officials, and went to see Iraqi counterterrorism troops, in their trademark all-black uniforms, maneuver and fire at silhouette targets at a firing range. |
| Just before leaving Baghdad, Mr. Carter explained the American strategy in Iraq to members of the United States 82nd Airborne Division stationed in the country as part of the training and assistance force. | Just before leaving Baghdad, Mr. Carter explained the American strategy in Iraq to members of the United States 82nd Airborne Division stationed in the country as part of the training and assistance force. |
| “If all there was to this was to beat them once, you could do it,” he said, referring to the Islamic State. “To keep them beaten requires the capable motivated forces here in Iraq.” | “If all there was to this was to beat them once, you could do it,” he said, referring to the Islamic State. “To keep them beaten requires the capable motivated forces here in Iraq.” |