27 Iraqi soldiers die in battle to recapture Ramadi

The push to recapture Ramadi, situated about 120km from the capital, Baghdad, which was captured by ISIL in May witnessed another attempt by the Iraqi army which proved costly in term of casualty suffered.

Iraqi military sources say at least 27 Iraqi soldiers have been killed in two suicide attacks northwest of Ramadi- a crucial city in the fight against ISIL and its capture by the armed group which is seen as a very big defeat by the Iraqi army, Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan informed.

In the last two months, the Iraqi forces have managed to claw back some territory. Military sources say it now controls more than half the city, including a key military command centre.

“ISIL has been shelling government troops advancing in Ramadi,” Khan reported from Erbil.

“It’s the biggest city in Iraq’s largest province and the heartland of the Sunni community of Iraq. It’s a big trading post for the country as well, with roads leading into Jordan and Syria.”

Read also: Iraqi army shelling kills 5 civilians

Thursday’s clashes came after US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter called on allies to intensify their effort against ISIL.

“The international community – including our allies and partners – has to step up before another attack like Paris,” he told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday.

“Turkey must do more to control its often-porous border. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states joined the air portion of the campaign in the early days – only the air part – but have since been preoccupied by the conflict in Yemen.
“And just this past week, I personally reached out to my counterparts in 40 countries to ask them to contribute and, in many cases, contribute much more to enhancing the fight against ISIL.” Carter added.

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