Iraq may follow U.S. Marines’ blueprint to defeat Islamic State in Anbar

Iraq may follow U.S. Marines’ blueprint to defeat Islamic State in Anbar

“It’s a good way to take smaller bites, use them to ‘blood’ the army, work out any problems and use the time to work out better arrangements with the Sunnis before going after the daunting challenge of Mosul,” Mr. Pollack said, mentioning Iraq’s second-largest city, now under Islamic State rule. “I think it is very smart. And Abadi will hopefully get a bunch of wins under his belt that will create a sense of momentum going his way.”

Mr. al-Abadi said Tikrit is now in government hands. But the victory remains uneven, with reports of Shiite-on-Sunni atrocities, looting and burnings.

The Islamic State, also known as ISIL and ISIS, typically launches suicide bombing attacks on cities it does not control, such as Baghdad. It also has shown that it can dispatch its fighters on other objectives, such as smaller towns or oil refineries, to keep the U.S.-led coalition off balance.

But it is clear that Mr. al-Abadi is a wartime prime minister who plans to take the fight to the terrorists as often as possible.

“I think making a move in Al Anbar is smart and sophisticated,” said retired ArmyLt. Gen. James Dubik, who was in charge of training Iraqi troops. “It forces ISIS to look in more than one direction. It shows an ability to campaign in more than one area of operation. A move in Al Anbar also is a demonstration by Prime Minister Abadi that he takes the Sunnis seriously and he wants to be the leader of all Iraqis. This is important on the political front as it is on the security front.”

Anbar presents new challenges. Tikrit was a smaller war theater inhabited by Shiites and Sunnis. Anbar is a Sunni stronghold and is home to several cities and towns along the Euphrates River Valley. The valley is a well-worn artery for Islamic State fighters to flow into and out of Iraq.

Gen. Dubik said one of many tests is whether Iraq can shut off the Islamic State’s resupply lines.

“It will require greater coordination among airstrikes — close and deep — Iraqi counterterrorist units, Sunni tribal fighters, Iraqi Security Forces, and a variety of tribal and political leaders,” said Gen. Dubik, an analyst at the Institute for the Study of War in Washington.

In other words, the Iraqi forces and U.S. advisers moving into Anbar must learn from the Marines’ actions in the mid-2000s.

Story Continues →

via NorthEast Calling http://necalling.com/iraq-may-follow-u-s-marines-blueprint-to-defeat-islamic-state-in-anbar-32114