Iraqi Army, Shiite militias report success in Baiji

Long War Journal ^ | October 19, 2015 | BILL ROGGIO AND CALEB WEISS

[Freemeorkillme]

The Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and their Shiite militia allies have reported major successes after launching an operation to recapture the central Iraqi city of Baiji last week,. The Islamic State is said to be holed up in just a pocket of the city after the Iraqi forces retook the Baiji oil refinery, the city center, and several districts.

According to Reuters last week, “The Hashid Shaabi militiamen and Iraqi army soldiers began their assault from the south.” Hashid Shaabi is the Arabic name for the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), an umbrella under which a number of Shiite militias, including many that are backed by Iran, operate since banding together to fight the Islamic State last year. Just two days after launching the assault, the Iraqi forces reported recapturing 60 percent of the city. A day later, the nearby oil refinery, which has been contested for well over a year, was also reported to have been cleared of Islamic State fighters.

Iraqi forces have reported making more advances today, and claimed to have captured the city center and cleared the Tamim neighborhood. Fighters from the Liwa Ali al Akbar militia has also been photographed near the Al Fatah Mosque in the city center, with the group’s flag flying over what remains of the mosque.

Asaib Al Haq (League of the Righteous), Kataib Hezbollah (Hezbollah Brigades), and the Badr Corps, three of the larger Iranian-backed militias, have all released footage showing their troops taking part in the fighting. In one video from the Hezbollah Brigades, a huge convoy of the group’s fighters and Iraqi Army personnel can be seen moving into the nearby town of Siniyah. Hezbollah Brigades, which is backed by Iran, is a US-designated foreign terrorist organization that has been involved in killing American soldiers in Iraq.

[Thunder 6]

Fate can be cruel.

[Freemeorkillme]

Caption on the headline pic has me seeing red:

“Qais al Khazali, the leader of Asaib al Haq, a militia supported by Iran, at the Baiji oil refinery. The US detained Khazali, who is thought to have been involved in the murder of five US soldiers in Karbala in 2007, for two years before releasing him in 2009.”

[thackney]

This particular refinery has been a battle for over a year.

Oil Nears $107 as Iraq Refinery Attacked
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3169244/posts
June 18 2014

Hundreds of Troops Remain Surrounded in Iraq’s Key Refinery, Says US Official
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3170891/posts
6/21/2014

ISIS sets fire to Iraq’s largest oil refinery
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3203751/posts
9-13-14

Iraq forces break IS siege on key oil refinery
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3227661/posts
2014-11-16

Iraqi troops reportedly advance against ISIS in key refinery town
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3297810/posts
June 7, 2015

[Freemeorkillme]

Yep. Well aware, thanks.