The fall of Ramadi could be destroying Sunni support for Iraq’s effort to rid the country of the Islamic State militants. Sunni politicians are blaming Baghdad for the capture of the city. In recent months, local security forces had to beg residents and businessmen for the money to buy weapons that the federal government had refused to send. Now those security forces and Sunni leaders have either fled the city or have been killed.
Baghdad has authorized the deployment of Shi’ite militiamen, but many believe the militiamen could further aggravate sectarian relations. The U.S. government says it is looking into more training and weapons for local tribes. Meanwhile, local security forces in Anbar complained they have not received any support from Baghdad.
At least 61 were killed and 28 were wounded:
Five refugees died, including two children, while waiting to cross into Baghdad from Anbar at the Bzeibez Bridge.
Two policemen were killed and six were wounded during a clash near Ramadi.
Militants executed a journalist in Mosul. A number of militants were killed near the Mosul Dam. Militants killed two of their leaders.
Coalition strikes killed 23 militants and wounded 30 more in Sinjar.
Airstrikes in Falluja left 19 militants dead.
Five militants were killed and two more were wounded in Garma.
In Tabja, security forces killed four militants.
