Posted on 06/12/2014 5:49:26 PM PDT by Hojczyk
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham's rapid advance southward to Baghdad after taking control of Mosul just three days ago appears to have been halted outside of the gates of Samarra, home to one of the holiest shrines in Shia Islam.
Iraqi security forces in Samarra blunted the ISIS' assault from the north late yesterday, stopping an armed convoy from entering the city. The military is said to have deployed aircraft while battling the ISIS vanguard.
The Iraqi military's stand in Samarra stands in contrast to its performance in Mosul, Tikrit, Bayji, and other cities and towns taken over by the ISIS. Iraqi forces often surrendered or melted away in these cities, leaving behind weapons, ammunition, and police and military vehicles. Thousands of prisoners have been freed during the ISIS onslaught.
The attack on Samarra is the second in a week. On June 5, the ISIS assaulted Samarra from the west, and took control of five neighborhoods before being ejected by the military and police. [See LWJ report, ISIS takes control of areas in central Iraqi city.]
Samarra is home to the al Askaria Mosque, one of the most holy shrines in Shia Islam. Al Qaeda in Iraq, the predecessor of the ISIS, bombed the Golden Dome of the al Askaria Mosque in February 2006, sparking massive sectarian fighting between Iraq's Shia and Sunnis.
The ISIS has threatened to destroy the mosque if Iraqi forces refuse to withdraw from the city.
The Shia-led Iraqi government will likely make a stand at Samarra, given the importance of the mosque. Additionally, there are reports that Shia militias are beginning to organize and deploy forces to protect religious sites.
(Excerpt) Read more at longwarjournal.org ...
ISIS may have just met their Waterloo
This is the group that used to be run Al Zarqawi before he blown up 8 years ago.
Unlikely. They’re testing the resolve. Mosul fell with very little effort. Now ISIS has several military vehicles and even aircraft. With a driving advance, they could send these guys running no doubt. The Iraq military has been allowed to decay as Col. Hunt has said.
” home to one of the holiest shrines in Shia Islam. “
Everywhere that Mohammed stopped to crap is a holy place to those savages.
I think I foresee a solution in all this:
Attacking forces are Sunni, while Iran has pledged to send many fighters “to help the Shite cause”.
Did you enjoy the Iran/Iraq War..? I did.
I think we might see another war, but this time Iran/Proto-Al Qaeda —not so bad.
I hope each sides kills VERY MANY of the other.
This does not look like it’s going to be a positive chapter in the history books for Sunni-Shia cooperation.
The muzzie rag heads let the SHTF when someone draws a cartoon of Mohammed.
What will happen if a holy shrine is destroyed?
Really really pi** off the defenders, one would hope.
If Iran enters Iraq what will Saudi Arabia do? This can get really ugly.
They had to stop and fill up their Toyota pickups and clean their windshields.
Ah, yes, another war between the Shittites and the Sunniites. The USA should sell unlimited bullets to both sides.
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