Expelling ISIS from Ramadi: Why It Matters
- 8 years ago
The expulsion of ISIS fighters from the Iraqi city of Ramadi is a morale-boosting victory for the Iraqi Security Forces after a thoroughly forgettable 2015, good news for beleaguered Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi - and another sign that ISIS is stretched thin across its vast territory in Iraq and Syria.
The recapture of central Ramadi - occupied by ISIS seven months ago as Iraqi troops fled in disarray - is also a sign that closer coordination between Iraqi forces on the ground and coalition airpower is having results, even in a crowded urban area.
The United States had already begun retraining Iraqi army brigades in the aftermath of a chaotic retreat from Mosul in June 2014.
In June this year, U.S. authorities dispatched a further 450 military trainers to work with Sunni tribal militia, and greater attention was devoted to dealing with ISIS' use of IEDs and vehicle suicide bombs.
The recapture of central Ramadi - occupied by ISIS seven months ago as Iraqi troops fled in disarray - is also a sign that closer coordination between Iraqi forces on the ground and coalition airpower is having results, even in a crowded urban area.
The United States had already begun retraining Iraqi army brigades in the aftermath of a chaotic retreat from Mosul in June 2014.
In June this year, U.S. authorities dispatched a further 450 military trainers to work with Sunni tribal militia, and greater attention was devoted to dealing with ISIS' use of IEDs and vehicle suicide bombs.