News

Americans cannot save Ramadi; US troops hold back to protect civilians

Reports of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) supremacists taking over Ramadi, the capital of Sunni Anbar province has caused frustration among Iraqi army troops and police units.

Recently, Ramadi was taken over by Isil, resulting to thousands of casualties while survivors continued to plead for international help on their pitiful plight.

The incident has sparked controversies and debates on whether or not U.S. military troops should have sent Hashed al-Sha'abi militias to fight Isil, instead of relying on the defense of local Sunni tribes who fought alongside with the Iraqi army, police as well as the US-led coalition team in defending the capital, but only to lose it in the end.

In earlier news, it was reported that before Ramadi fell, the capital was heavily fought over by Iraqi troops on one side and Isil on the other, since early 2014.

Reports of U.S. troops holding back to battle Isil, caused a lot of harsh criticisms from various military leaders in Iraq, including Mr. Ameri, leader of Hashed al Sha'abi.

Ameri leads the Popular Mobilisation Units which comprises the coalition of militias in Iraq who are reportedly doing most of the fighting against Isil. He is also regarded as the country's powerful military chief.

In a recent interview, he stated that he was quite dismayed with the recent defeat of Ramadi citing the incident as a political disaster for the United States.

"The Americans told Anbar not to let the Hashed in, and that they would guarantee Ramadi wouldn't fall to Isil", said Ameri.

"We don't want to shed the blood of our youth so cheaply for people who say they don't want us," he said.

"It's a lesson to them that they should learn, they cannot save Ramadi and the Americans cannot save Ramadi. Now they know that there is no force that can save Ramadi except for the Hashed." Ameri added.

Meanwhile, American officials have stated that the reason why they are not giving out significant air strikes on Isil in the capital of Ramadi, for fear of killing innocent civilians.

The Americans added that permitting the militias to retake a Sunni area would risk 'sectarian reprisals', that could empower Isil support even more.


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