Mosul has fallen

[mrjarrell]

The US is running out of options in Iraq.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-embracing-dark-reality-iraq-153200566.html

 

[T.Lex]

With time running out, nothing signals "strength" like an incomplete strategy.
US strategy on Iraq 'not yet complete' - Obama - BBC News

 

[T.Lex]

More boots on the ground in Iraq, but only 500 more.

For now.

Obama 'to send 500 more troops to Iraq' - BBC News

He is considering up to 500 additional troops as well as a new training base in Iraq's Anbar province, unnamed US officials were quoted as saying.

Wonder if we'll be training the regular army or the militias.

Wait.

Never mind.

Kinda the same thing.

 

[T.Lex]

Pentagon slams Iraqi forces for 'failing to fight' in Ramadi

Well, looks like the Iraqi gov't is fighting for Ramadi now.
IS conflict: Iraqi forces 'retake key Ramadi district' - BBC News

Anbar's police chief, Maj Gen Hadi Irzayij, also confirmed that Tamim, which is separated from the centre of Ramadi by a tributary of the Euphrates, had been retaken.
It is the first significant incursion into Ramadi since the army dropped leaflets over the centre last week warning residents to leave.

"It's a matter of days to control other districts in the heart of the city," an Iraqi army source told the BBC.
"We have retaken key districts like Tamim in the west, Albu Farraj and Albu Ziyab in the north, Tash and Anbar University in the south."

Although, honestly, hearing all these cities' names again reminds me of 1984.

The enemy of the moment always represented absolute evil, and it followed that any past or future agreement with him was impossible.

 

[IndyDave1776]

More boots on the ground in Iraq, but only 500 more.

For now.

Obama 'to send 500 more troops to Iraq' - BBC News



Wonder if we'll be training the regular army or the militias.

Wait.

Never mind.

Kinda the same thing.

I can't let you get away with that! It would be 1000 boots unless Obama is economizing by sending one-legged soldiers!

 

[T.Lex]

I can't let you get away with that! It would be 1000 boots unless Obama is economizing by sending one-legged soldiers!

haha

Math is not my strong suit. Except I'm good at multiplying in 6 minute increments.

 

[IndyDave1776]

haha

Math is not my strong suit. Except I'm good at multiplying in 6 minute increments.

 

[T.Lex]

Its a crazy, mixed up, jumbled up world.
Islamic State assault repulsed in northern Iraq - BBC News

Kurdish forces backed by coalition air strikes have repulsed the most serious attack by Islamic State group in Iraq in five months, US officials say.
IS militants mounted a co-ordinated assault on several locations near the northern city of Mosul on Wednesday.
About 180 IS fighters were killed in the strikes that continued until Thursday morning, the US officials said.

Wonder if Iraq would like to see some of those Kurds come back that they asked to leave.

 

[mrjarrell]

Iraqi forces are declaring victory in Ramadi. They've retaken the center of the city and pushed the IS forces out. If it's true this is a significant strike. Next up comes Mosul.

https://news.vice.com/article/iraq-declares-victory-over-islamic-state-in-ramadi

 

[T.Lex]

Iraqi tribes clash with jihadists in IS stronghold of Fallujah - BBC News

It appears that, even under Daesh, the natives sometimes grow restless.

Local tribesmen have reportedly clashed with fighters from the so-called Islamic State (IS) in the IS stronghold of Fallujah in western Iraq.
Government sources told the BBC that the tribal fighters set fire to a building used by the militants.

...
He said the violence stemmed from tensions over increasingly difficult living conditions while Fallujah is besieged by Iraqi security forces.
Sheikh Majeed al-Juraisi, a leader in the al-Juraisat tribe, told AFP the clashes were part of an uprising against IS fighters in the city and called on the government and security forces to help.

 

[mrjarrell]

IS is attacking the outskirts of Baghdad. This bodes ill for the Iraqi's, even though they have made gains against them in other areas. IS is far from defeated or on the run.

https://news.vice.com/article/the-islamic-state-has-launched-an-assault-on-the-outskirts-of-baghdad

 

[T.Lex]

Boots on the ground in Iraq.

'Two and a Half Front War' is well under way - BBC News

Up to now Washington has largely taken the fight to IS from the air. But there are indications that special operations on the ground are also being stepped up.
Just a few days ago it was announced that US Special Forces had seized a key IS operative in Iraq.
This seems to be the first significant operation by a 200-strong team of Delta Force commandos who arrived in the country in recent weeks.

Did I miss the domestic news reports about us sending DF to Iraq?

 

[mrjarrell]

Coalition fighters bombed the university at Mosul. Looks like they killed a bunch of IS people and maybe a bunch of civilians.

https://news.vice.com/article/the-u...mosul-for-being-an-islamic-state-headquarters

 

[T.Lex]

The Christian militia fighting IS - BBC News

A group of Christians in Iraq have formed their own militia to protect people from the so-called Islamic State group. The leader of the Babylon Brigade says they were left with no choice but to take up arms when IS fighters targeted Christians.
...
Most [militias] are Shia Muslim. A handful are Sunni Muslim, one is Christian - the Babylon Brigade.

 

[ArcadiaGP]

US to send 200 more troops, Apache helicopters to fight Islamic State in Iraq amid push to retake city of Mosul

https://twitter.com/BreakingNews/status/722064087547555840

 

[KG1]

US to send 200 more [STRIKE]troops[/STRIKE] battalion level advisors, Apache helicopters to fight Islamic State in Iraq amid push to retake city of Mosul

https://twitter.com/BreakingNews/status/722064087547555840

FIFY

 

[T.Lex]

Recent videos of bumbling Daesh members notwithstanding, they remain a real threat.

US serviceman killed in Iraq as IS breaches Peshmerga lines - BBC News

A US serviceman has been killed in northern Iraq, US Defence Secretary Ash Carter has said.
Mr Carter told reporters that the death was the result of enemy fire, but provided no further details.
...

He was killed about 5km (3 miles) behind the Peshmerga's frontline with IS after militants penetrated it using a convoy of truck bombs, it added.
A senior Peshmerga official told the Reuters news agency that the death occurred near Tel Asqof, a town 28km (17 miles) north of Mosul, which was overrun by IS on Tuesday.
Tal Asqof, a predominantly Christian town, was later recaptured by the Peshmerga fighters and Christian militiamen.
The Peshmerga official said early information suggested the soldier was killed by a sniper.

.

 

[T.Lex]

Daesh attacks in Sadr City.

IS conflict: Dozens killed in Baghdad car bombings - BBC News

Our correspondent says the bombings come in the midst of an acute political crisis in the city, with parliament unable to meet and the government effectively paralysed by factional disputes.
In the aftermath of the Sadr City bombing, he adds, angry survivors blamed the politicians for failing to protect them and ensure security

 

[mrjarrell]

The Iraqi forces have been ordered to retake Fallujah from IS. As a defence IS has taken civilians and moved them to the city center to use as human shields. This is going to be a really ugly battle.

https://news.vice.com/article/the-i...civilians-to-use-as-human-shields-in-fallujah

 

[mrjarrell]

Fallujah is surrounded and cut off by Iraqi forces. Now the real battle begins. It'll be house to house combat and no mercy from either side and the civilians are caught in the middle.

Fallujah: Iraqi forces 'closing in' on ISIL-held city