ISIS's latest advances in Ramadi, where the extremists seized a government compound, did not represent a setback, said Brig. Gen. Thomas Weidley, chief of staff of the U.S. command overseeing the American-led air war against ISIS.
The general said ISIS had "episodic, temporary successes, but again these typically don't materialize into long-term gains."
"We firmly believe [ISIS] is on the defensive throughout Iraq and Syria," Weidley told reporters in a teleconference.
Despite months of U.S.-led bombing raids, the Iraqi army has struggled to gain the upper hand against ISIS in western Anbar province as well as in Baiji, north of Baghdad.
ISIS fighters had staged a "complex attack" earlier Friday in Ramadi, the capital of western Anbar province, and Iraqi government forces managed "to repel most of these attacks but some gains were made" by the jihadis, Weidley said.
ISIS was trying "to consolidate and defend some of their recent, temporary gains in the east and south of the city" while Iraqi security forces continue to control "most of the key facilities" and were disrupting supply routes for the ISIS in the area, according to Weidley.
Iraqi police said ISIS had seized the government headquarters in Ramadi and raised their black flag.
Weidley could not confirm if the government complex had been taken but acknowledged pro-ISIS photos posted on social media.
No U.S. troops advising Iraqi forces at al-Asad air base in Anbar province have been evacuated from the area due to the fighting in Ramadi, he said.
Meanwhile north of Baghdad, Iraqi troops were engaged in a difficult fight to hold on to the country's largest oil refinery in Baiji in the face of a concerted assault by the ISIS group.
The ISIS militants have "placed continuous, and at times signifcant amounts of pressure on the friendly forces located at the refinery," Weidley said.
U.S.-led coalition aircraft have carried out 165 airstrikes over the past month in support of the Iraq troops trying to defend the refinery, he said.
The ISIS fighters have breached the perimeter and seized control of parts of the facility, and Iraqi forces are being resupplied by aircraft, he said.
Despite the assaults at Ramadi and Baiji, the coalition "campaign is on track" and "the Iraqis with coalition support are making sound progress," Weidley said.
AFP
dailystar.com.lb
15/5/15
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US Vice President Joe Biden spoke with Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi on Friday about the attacks by Islamic State militants on the city of Ramadi, and pledged the United States would expedite US aid to Iraqi forces...
ReplyDelete"This will include delivery of heavy weaponry, including AT-4 shoulder-held rockets to counter vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, additional ammunition, and supplies for Iraqi forces," the White House said in a statement.
jpost.com by Reuters
16/5/15