The U.S. Is Pushing Iraq To Retake The City Of Ramadi

Reuters: U.S. urges Iraqi forces to move 'as quickly as possible' to retake Ramadi

The United States is encouraging Iraqi forces to move to retake the city of Ramadi from Islamic State militants "as quickly as possible" to deny them the chance to regroup, a U.S. military spokesman said on Friday.

The militants seized Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, in May, extending its control over the Euphrates valley west of Baghdad and handing the Iraqi army its worst defeat since June 2014 when Islamic State swept through northern Iraq.

The military setback has renewed questions about the ability of Iraq's Shi'ite-led government in Baghdad to overcome the sectarian divide that has helped fuel the militants' expansion in Iraq's Sunni heartland.

Update: Iraq's stalemate in Ramadi raises doubts about US strategy -- AP

WNU Editor: This is not going to be an easy battle as this France 24 reveals. Here is another ominous sign that U.S. influence is on the wane in Iraq .... Iraq to share intelligence on IS with Russia, Iran and Syria (AP)