"Iraq And The U.S. Are Losing Ground To The Islamic State" Topic

"Jalal al-Gaood, one of the tribal leaders the United States has been cultivating in hopes of rolling back extremists in Iraq, grimly describes how his home town in Anbar province was forced this week to surrender to fighters from the Islamic State.

The extremists were moving Wednesday toward Gaood's town of Al-Zwaiha, the stronghold of his Albu Nimr clan just east of the Euphrates River. The attacking force had roughly 200 fighters and about 30 armed trucks. Al-Zwaiha's defenders were running out of ammunition and food and wondered whether they should make a deal with the marauding jihadists…"

Full article here
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Amicalement
Armand

I just don't understand how they are doing it. They are subject to being worn down by casualties. Have they got vast reserves of men, material, fuel, repair facilities? or is no one shooting at them?

I don't believe these people could plan and execute this campaign on their own. There have to be some state actors helping them.

Maybe they're allied with the Djinn?

Weirding modules.

Chortle – why couldn't they plan it on their own?

Given a lot of them are from Saddams' Army it shouldn't be beyond them.

Stu, re-read that statement

Regardless … as long as most of the locals can't take care of themselves. Even after all the training and equipment that was made available to many in the region. Most of the locals in the regioon have proven to be unwilling [Turks, Saudis, etc.], as much as more so than unable [Iraqis, Syrians, etc.] to fight the direct threat effectively. Will the War against Deash be won by a handful Kurds supported by the West ? My $$$ says no … unfortunately at this time …

Stu, re-read that statement

LOL

ISIL Pounded As Iraqi And Kurd Forces Advance.

"Peshmerga and Iraqi forces say they have retaken key areas of in Iraq's north and south, supported by 22 US air strikes.

Ground offensives by the Iraqi army and Kurdish forces, backed my a barrage of US air raids, have forced ISIL fighters from several key towns in the north and south of Iraq, officials said.

Kurdish peshmerga forces said on Saturday they had recaptured several towns and villages held by the ISIL in northern Iraq, while Iraqi government forces claimed to have retaken the town of Jurf al-Sakhr, 50km to the south of Baghdad.

The ground forces were backed by 22 air strikes by US-led forces over Friday and Saturday, the US central command said, which targeted ISIL forces in Mosul in the north, Fallujah in the western Anbar province, and the oil-rich area around Baiji…"
Full article here
link

Amicalement
Armand

Hopefully … this is true. I believe the Peshmerga's success … I'm still doubtful about anything the Iraqi military and security forces say and do …

I heard today, the Shia militia was the one kicking ISIS butt outside of Bagdhad … not the actual Iraqi Army …

I have been told that, outside of Iran, the Sunni's were the great majority of the faithful and far outnumbered the Shia. Anyone know if this is true?

Depends how you reckon it, 49mountain, and how alliances stack up.

I expect that the vast majority of Muslims world-wide are Sunni. But in the near east, there are substantial numbers of Shia even outside of Iran.

For instance, there's a clear Shia majority in Iraq, although there's a historical tendency for the Sunni to run the country.

All down the west coast of the Persian/Arab Gulf, the Arab population is largely Shia, ruled over by royal families who are descended from Beduin conquerers. There are enough Shia on Saudi's Gulf coast to really worry the House of Saud.

There are Shia Houthis in Yemen who seem to be holding their own against their government (nominally Baathist, Sunni dominated) and al-Quaeda.

Then in Syria and Lebanon, there are both orthodox Twelver Shia such as Hezbollah, and Assad's own Alawi sect. The Alawi are considered Shia, but they're heterodox. Right now the Alawi have support from Iran and from Hezbollah. The Alawi and the Twelver Shia would probably fight each other if they could ever decisively defeat Daesh.

So. In the Arab countries proper, the Sunni/Shia balance is close enough to make a fight of it. But the non-Arab, neighboring Turks are mostly Sunni. Under the Ottoman Caliphate the Turks swung the regional balance decisively to Sunni dominance.

Iraq is 60% Shia …