Two Iraqi Generals Killed in Islamic State Bombing in Anbar Province

Iraqi military sources reported on Thursday, August 27, that a suicide bomber from the Islamic State (ISIS) detonated his vehicle while attacking a military convoy, resulting in the deaths of two Iraqi army commanders. The Associated Press reports that this attack occurred as a column of Iraqi army vehicles advanced north of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province. In addition to the two Iraqi generals, three other soldiers were killed and at least ten were wounded. Since the beginning of this year, when the Islamic State captured the cities of Ramadi and Fallujah, Anbar province has become one of the main battlefronts for the Iraqi army against this group. The Associated Press, citing a statement from the Iraqi armed forces broadcasted on the country's state television, reported that in the suicide bombing north of Ramadi, Major General Abdulrahman Abu Raghif, the deputy commander of operations in Anbar province, and Brigadier General Safin Abdulmajid, commander of the 10th division of the Iraqi army, were killed. A memorial ceremony for them was held on Thursday at the Iraqi Ministry of Defense building in Baghdad, attended by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi. The Iraqi army, along with allied Shiite and Sunni militias, has been engaged in battles with Islamic State fighters in Anbar province in recent months, but their advances have been minimal so far. Brigadier General Yahya Zubaidi, a spokesman for the Iraqi armed forces, attempted to downplay the psychological impact of the deaths of these commanders, stating, 'We will not stop our operations and will continue to advance.' The Islamic State has not yet commented on this suicide bombing. The group currently controls about one-third of the territory of Syria and Iraq. Since late last summer, an international coalition led by the United States has begun airstrikes against this group's positions. Currently, Iraqi army forces and their allied militias are under heavy attacks from ISIS fighters in the city of Baiji, located north of Baghdad. Government forces recaptured Baiji late last year, but ISIS has recently taken an offensive position and captured half of the city and its refinery. The Prime Minister of Iraq stated a few days ago that victory in the battle for control of Baiji is key to defeating ISIS. In Syria, the Islamic State has captured five villages that were under the control of other rebel groups while advancing towards the strategic city of Mare near the Turkish border. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and other local activists report that the Islamic State has used suicide bombings in the outskirts of Mare during heavy battles in the area. The Turkish news agency Dogan has also reported an escalation of clashes between the Islamic State and other Syrian rebel groups near the Turkish borders, adding that coalition aircraft led by the United States have attacked ISIS positions in this region. Recent advances by ISIS are occurring in the rural areas of northern Aleppo province, the same area where the U.S. and Turkey agreed to provide protection and prevent ISIS from entering. In this context, the Iraqi parliament has held the former Prime Minister responsible for the fall of Mosul.