(Reuters) - Around 200 Iraqi soldiers were trapped in the Abu Etha Iraqi army camp about 10 km south of the city of Ramadi on Wednesday, besieged by Islamic State militants. "There are troops behind us but they can't reach us because the whole area is planted with roadside bombs and land mines," said Hussein Thamir, a soldier who spoke to Reuters from inside the camp.
"There was an army group in front of us whom (Islamic State) destroyed completely six days ago," said Thamir.
"If we withdraw, will be killed."
Using similar tactics, Islamic State insurgents on Sunday overran an army base in Saqlawiya, just 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad, killing or capturing between 400 to 600 soldiers, a senior Iraqi security official said.
Former National Security advisor Mowaffaq al-Rubaie blamed the army's performance on endemic problems..."I'm afraid I will give you bad news, but it will get worse before it gets better, because the threat to national security is overwhelming and on Baghdad in particular." |