US: We Will Help Iraq Retake Ramadi

U.S. officials announced on Monday that Washington, along with its allies in the international coalition, will assist the Iraqi government in retaking the city of Ramadi from the Islamic State group. Eric Schultz, White House spokesman, stated, "It cannot be denied that this {fall of Ramadi} is a defeat, but it also cannot be denied that we are helping the Iraqis to retake Ramadi." Schultz added that the U.S. believes "Iraqi forces have the capability to regain full control of Ramadi with the support of coalition forces." These remarks came just hours after Reuters reported from military commanders and U.S. political officials that while the United States supports Iraq in retaking Ramadi and other areas under Islamic State control, it has no intention of sending ground troops to the country. Two U.S. military commanders told Reuters that "sending soldiers to this battle would create many problems" and "such an option is not under consideration." A U.S. civilian official also stated, "What is needed is for the Iraqis to defend their own country so that in the end, the victory belongs to the Iraqis." He added, "Let us remember who this country belongs to and who should take responsibility for it. It is not the United States; it is the Iraqis who must take responsibility for their country." These statements from U.S. officials followed the complete fall of the city of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, to the Islamic State group (ISIS). The Iraqi government has begun its efforts to retake this city, which is located 110 kilometers from Baghdad (the capital). Reuters reports that about 3,000 Shiite militia members entered a military base near the city on Monday to participate in the operation to liberate it again. However, the report cites eyewitnesses and a military officer stating that ISIS forces have moved towards this military base with combat vehicles. A U.S. official stated that he does not believe President Barack Obama's strategy in Iraq will change, noting that in Ramadi, "not all Iraqi power, including Shiite militias, was present." He added, "I don't think the President's strategy will change, but something clearly needs to change. It is the Iraqis who must work harder to defend their country." The U.S. leads an international coalition that attacks ISIS positions and forces in Syria and Iraq, but this coalition has so far refrained from sending ground troops into the conflicts. In a statement released on Monday, the coalition announced that in the early hours of Sunday, it conducted 25 airstrikes against Islamic State forces in Iraq and Syria. Six strikes targeted vehicles and military positions of ISIS around Hassakeh, Syria, and 19 strikes targeted buildings and vehicles of this group in Fallujah, Ramadi, Sinjar, and other cities in Iraq.