"Islamist Fighters Reportedly Attempting To Encircle Baghdad " Topic

" Iraq's dire situation has gone from bad dream to nightmare in two weeks of fighting that have seen Sunni Muslim gunmen assert control over a growing area, including, Kurdish officials said Tuesday, at least two towns that lie on a crucial supply route linking Baghdad, the capital, with the mostly Shiite Muslim south.

The fall of towns in an area that American troops knew as the "triangle of death" because of its propensity for violence provided an ominous signal, the Kurdish officials said, that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and its Sunni allies are working to encircle Baghdad.

"The picture is no longer scary," said Shafin Dizayee, the spokesman for the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government in Irbil. "It has become close to a nightmare scenario, where we see Daash expanding and taking control of its borders." "Daash" is the Arabic acronym for ISIS…"

Full article here
link

Amicalement
Armand

We all "knew" this could happen after US troops pulled out of Iraq. Without a strong US military presence, the Iraqi army is inadequately trained and unprepared to withstand the onslaught of battle-hardened Islamists forged in 3 years of Syrian civil war.

Of course, the US can't be expected to maintain a garrison in Iraq forever after the invasion of 2003, which in hindsight was a mistake because it is highly unlikely ISIS/ISIL would have been able to defeat Saddam Hussein's army and Republican Guards so easily.

interestingly the Kuridish seem to be doing well for themselves.

Kurds seem more organized than the other Iraqis are. They also seem to have less issues with different militias in their areas too.

Where's my chariot wing when I need it.

The Kurds are th best in the area and I hope they get their own country finally …

Legion 4, you are correct sir.

They certainly deserve one.

Iraq's Largest And Most Important Air Base Is About To Fall To Islamic Militants

"In its march to Baghdad, ISIS seized the heavy weapons of a modern army. Now, the jihadists are attacking Iraq's biggest air base – and could soon be able to attack from the sky.

The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham is threatening to take control of Balad Airbase, Iraq's largest airfield and one of America's most important military outposts during its occupation of the country.

Today, Balad still has plenty of vehicles and aircraft on the base that any terrorist group would covet, including Russian-made transport helicopters, surveillance planes, and a fleet of pickup trucks fitted with heavy machine guns…"

Full article here
link

Amicalement
Armand

ISIS Holds A Massive Military Parade In Mosul With Captured US Military Vehicles

"The Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham's Ninewa Division continues to crank out images of its conquest of Mosul and the surrounding province. Earlier today, the Ninewa Division released photographs of its forces seizing control of several bases, displaying captured military hardware, and executing Iraqi soldiers. Then, the Ninewa Division published a set of photographs of a military parade in the city of Mosul.

The photographs provide a glimpse of the ISIS' military strength in Mosul. Scores of ISIS technicals, as well as several captured US-supplied Humvees, armored cars, and even artillery pieces are shown. Hundreds of ISIS fighters are involved in the parade, which begins during the day and goes on through the night…"

Full article here
link

Amicalement
Armand

Literally "The Enemy at the Gates" …

What you said my friend.

Amicalement
Armand