An Analysis On The Islamic State's Weapons And Tactics Used In Defeating The Iraqi Army In Ramadi

Wall Street Journal: How Islamic State’s Win in Ramadi Reveals New Weapons, Tactical Sophistication and Prowess

Examination of Ramadi’s downfall reflects complex plans and new weapons

In late April, a commander for Islamic State said his forces were ready to launch an offensive to take Ramadi, and the group called for fighters to redeploy to Iraq from Syria.

Three weeks later, the jihadist group seized the capital of Anbar province after relentless waves of suicide bombings.

U.S. defense chief Ash Carter has blamed Ramadi’s fall mainly on Iraqi forces’ lack of will to fight. But Islamic State’s battlefield performance suggests the terrorist group’s tactical sophistication is growing—a development the Iraqis and the U.S.-led coalition have so far failed to counter, said Iraqi officials, former U.S. officials and military analysts studying the organization.

Update: Why Are the Islamic State's Commanders so Much Better than the Iraqi Army? -- Foreign Policy

WNU Editor: I would also add that many of these Islamic State fighters are willing to die for their cause. but what struck me about this report was the use of suicide bombers. Launching at least 27 suicide attacks with vehicles that have payloads equal to the force of the Oklahoma City bombing over a three day period .... the impact on a city like Ramadi must have been incredible and devastating. If the same thing was to happen in a major U.S. city like New York, Washington, or Chicago .... the utter panic and destruction .... wow .... I would not want to live through that.