Blog #2 Islamic State: Key Iraqi town near US training base falls to jihadists

 

Summary:

The Islamic State (IS) has captured an Iraqi town 5 miles from an air base housing hundreds of US troops, the Pentagon says. Al-Baghdadi is within striking distance of the Ain al-Asad air base. The air base was attacked on Friday by IS but the attackers were reppelled. Al-Baghdadi was one of the few towns in the western Anbar province still held by the Iraqi army. According to Rear Adm John Kirby, a pentagon spokesman, it was the first time in the last couple of months that the militant group had taken new ground. On Friday a team of suicide bombers tried to attack the base, Rear Adm Kirby said. Eight militants were killed in the subsequent counter-attack, US and Iraqi officials reported, saying that the jihadists were pushed back by Iraqi troops backed by coalition fighter planes.


Analysis:

Currently viewing this conflict from my view which is limitied, I have noticed that the IS have not been gaining ground recently. It seems that the US wants to only take on an advisor role so the Iraqi army can be more effective. In the mean time they are waging an air campaign to keep the rebels back. Seeing that they recently took a town which is very close to an air base it gives them the ability to stage attacks. If the air campaign does not hold them back then the president might order more boots on the ground. The populace in these local cities must be wondering if the US is going to stick around to help.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31449976