Suicide attacks, clashes kill 17 troops near Fallujah

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region ─ Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Saturday ordered a court-martial to investigate Iraqi military officials who are suspected of abandoning their positions when ISIS seized Ramadi. Baghdad-based analyst Jasim al-Bahadli said Abadi was wise to focus his reforms on the security forces.”Abadi’s decision to refer military commanders to trial is a clear attempt to send a strong message to all other army officers that he will show zero tolerance with any future retreat in the fight against Daesh (Islamic State)”, said Bahadli, a former army general and an expert on Shi’ite armed groups.

Clashes broke out afterward, and 15 troops were wounded, said the officials, both of whom spoke to AP on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to release information. This move allowed for the swift takeover of the city by “Islamic State”.

Baghdad’s forces have since regained some ground from the IS fighters, but much of western Iraq, including the majority of Anbar province, remains under IS control. There were fears the extremists could capture the entire Sunni province, which saw intense fighting after the 2003 US-led invasion of the country to topple dictator Saddam Hussein.

The prime minister’s office said in a statement that Baghdad administration would refer “a number of the leaders to the military judiciary for leaving their positions without orders and contrary to instructions (and) despite the issuance of a number of orders not to withdraw”.

The ministries of defense and interior will form investigative boards to look into why troops abandoned their weapons and equipment while fleeing, the statement added.

Government-backed forces, which include the Iraqi military, Shiite militias and Sunni tribes, are also now assembling around the militant-held city of Fallujah, which was the first major city in Iraq to fall to the militant group in early 2014.

Iraqi government forces recaptured the Ramadi university, located 5 kilometres (3 miles) south of Ramadi, from IS militants on Sunday, as part of their broader offensive.