On Monday, May 18, news emerged that Shia militias in Iraq are moving towards the city of Ramadi, located 100 kilometers west of Baghdad, to assist the Iraqi army in retaking the city from Islamic State forces. According to AFP, this comes despite Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, the United States, and Sunni leaders in Anbar province avoiding the involvement of Iranian-backed Shia groups in the Ramadi battle. Much of Ramadi fell to Islamic State forces after besieged Iraqi army troops retreated from their last garrison in the city on Sunday. Ramadi, a Sunni-majority city, is the center of Iraq's largest province, and reports indicate that thousands of families have fled the city since Sunday, as the black flag of ISIS flies over the Anbar provincial governor's office. ISIS has utilized 'waves of suicide car bomb attacks' to seize the city over the past Thursday and Friday, with Anbar officials reporting at least 500 deaths in Ramadi over the past three days. The Iraqi government prefers to use local Sunni forces in the Ramadi battle, but Shia militia leaders argue that recent developments show the Iraqi government cannot succeed against ISIS without the use of Shia battalions known as the 'Popular Mobilization Forces' (Hashd al-Shaabi). Various Shia militia groups have stated that they have already deployed their units in different areas of Anbar province, including around the cities of Fallujah and Habaniyah, and are prepared to tighten the noose around Ramadi and drive ISIS out. The fall of Ramadi and the advance of ISIS in Anbar province have increased the threat of this group against the city of Karbala and Shia holy sites in western Iraq. According to Reuters, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry stated on Monday at a press conference in Seoul that he is confident Ramadi will be 'out of ISIS control in the coming weeks.' The Mehr news agency reports that Iran's Minister of Defense arrived at Baghdad airport on Monday at the head of a high-ranking defense delegation and was welcomed by General Babakir Zebari, Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army. According to this report, Hossein Dehghan's visit, made at the official invitation of Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi, will involve discussions with various Iraqi officials on 'exploring ways to enhance cooperation in the decisive fight against terrorism and to establish security.'
Shia Militias Head to Ramadi for Battle
Shia militias are mobilizing to assist the Iraqi army in retaking Ramadi from ISIS, despite previous hesitations from Iraqi leadership and the U.S. to involve them. The situation has escalated with significant casualties reported and the threat to Shia holy sites increasing. This development highlights the complex dynamics of sectarian forces in Iraq's ongoing conflict.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Shia militias are mobilizing towards Ramadi to assist the Iraqi army in combating ISIS, despite prior opposition from Iraqi leadership and the U.S. This escalation follows significant casualties and the fall of parts of the city to ISIS forces.
- Ramadi is a Sunni-majority city and has seen heavy fighting with over 500 reported deaths in recent days.
- The Iraqi government prefers to use local Sunni forces but Shia militias argue they are necessary for success against ISIS.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iraq has been embroiled in conflict since the rise of ISIS, which has exploited sectarian divisions. The Popular Mobilization Forces represent a significant Shia response to this threat.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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