Iraqi Army Liberates Al-Baghdadi District from ISIL

Iraqi security forces have liberated the center of al-Baghdadi district, located in the east of the city of Ramadi, the capital of the western al-Anbar Province from ISIL terrorists.

“The security forces have also killed dozens of ISIL militants in their operation to recapture al-Baghdadi district’s center,” Iraq’s Alsumaria news agency reported, quoting Aziz Khalaf al-Tarmouz, the security deputy of Anbar governor.

“The army and police forces backed by anti-ISIL tribesmen launched a military operation Saturday morning to liberate the center of al-Baghdadi district”, Tarmouz added.

The strategic district is situated near the Iraqi air base of Ayn al-Asad, which reportedly houses more than 300 US marines.

The liberation came one day after the ISIL terrorists launched an attack on the air base.

The army has struggled to recapture even smaller towns that pose less of a challenge than Mosul – Iraq’s second-largest city, which is still full of civilians and heavily defended by the militants.

“Our assessment shows an offensive against Mosul is not imminent,” said MasrourBarzani, the head of the Kurdistan Region Security Council. He said it would take more time to train security forces, and a greater effort by Iraq’s central government was needed to win the support of local residents and tribes around Mosul.

Iraq Calls on New Zealand to Help in ISIL Fight

On the other hand, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafariasked New Zeland for military help in its fight against the ISIL terrorist group.

In a press conference with his counterpart Murray McCully during a visit to New Zealand on Friday, Jaafari told the government in Auckland today Iraq needed help with training and other areas.

Jaafari said Iraq was looking forward to support from the international community including “friendly” New Zealand in terms of training, logistics and support, aerial support, intelligence sharing and humanitarian assistance.

“The support from the international coalition is limited to providing advisory training. We have not demanded and do not require fighting battalions or grounds troops to be engaged in the fight,” he said.

The Iraqi Army, National Guard, tribal forces, volunteers and the Peshmerga forces in the north were already fighting the group, The Iraqi minister said.

The advisory support would be in close coordination with the Iraqi forces so it can make the most of it without endangering troops from other countries, Jaafari said.

While there was no specific invitation for New Zealand to help, both countries would work through the “right mechanisms and techniques” of getting forces on the ground which don’t breach Iraqi law or sovereignty – the same process as it did with other countries.

Al – Manar News

R.S