Iraq PM’s helicopter takes ISIL ground fire in Ramadi

The capture of Ramadi, capital of mainly Sunni-Muslim Anbar province in the Euphrates River valley west of the capital, deprives Islamic State militants of their biggest prize of 2015.

“Mosul needs good planning, preparations, commitment from all the key players”, Zebari, a Kurd, said on Monday in Baghdad.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Monday that Islamic State would be defeated in 2016 with the army preparing to move on Mosul.

Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has vowed to continue pro-government forces’ success in recapturing Ramadi, vowing to oust Islamic State militant group (ISIS) from the country completely.

“Then over the border in Iraq, in addition to Ramadi – which we have to remember ISIS only took in May this year – the extremists have been pushed out of several cities – Tikrit, Sinjar, Bayji – sometimes by security forces, sometimes by an array of ethnic or religious militias”.

Mosul, northern Iraq’s main city, is by far the largest population centre in the self-proclaimed caliphate ISIL rules in Iraq and Syria.

Iraqi forces on Monday raised the national flag above the main government complex in Ramadi.

But retaking the city would mean different ethnic groups and political factions working together.

Mosul had about 2 million residents before it fell to IS in June 2014 as they swept through northern and western Iraq, largely unopposed by the Iraqi army.

Allen predicted that an operation to take back Mosul could begin in months but said it is dependent on what al-Abadi wants to do.

Iraqi Brig. Gen. Ahmed al-Belawi said “heavy and concentrated airstrikes” by the U.S.-led coalition killed Islamic State fighters, destroyed their vehicles and blew up suicide auto bombs before they could be deployed, allowing his forces to advance into the city.

The U.S. and its allies have also used airstrikes to attack ISIS and targeted the group’s finances, which rely on oil sales and other measures.

Most of the Islamic State militants in the area had probably fled the city already for their stronghold in Fallujah nearer to Baghdad, al-Dulaimi said.

The Iraqi Kurdish president, Massoud Barzani, discussed plans for the liberation of Mosul with Lieutenant General Tom Beckett, Britain’s senior defence adviser, in September, according to Kurdish TV Rudaw.

“These gains attest to the growing confidence and capability of Iraqi forces who are fighting bravely against a ruthless adversary employing suicide bombers, snipers, and improvised explosive devices”, Kerry added.

Such a strategy would echo the U.S. military’s “surge” campaign of 2006-2007, which relied on recruiting and arming Sunni tribal fighters against a precursor of Islamic State.