Sunni tribes growing discontent with central government paved ground for growth of Al-Qaeda-link activity [EPA]
Iraqi military has launched a major operation on
Ramadi to expel armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda and end their
weeks-long partial control of parts of the city.
Troops on Sunday, backed by helicopter cover, imposed a ban on
movement within the city, military spokesman Mohammed al-Askari told
state television.
A police lieutenant colonel in Ramadi city, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the military operation had begun.
The army's intervention, which has been resisted by Sunni anti-government tribesmen, comes after a pact was sealed on January 8 entailing that tribes will fight alongside local police to face ISIL's presence.
"The Iraqi army launched a large operation with helicopter cover against Daash, Al-Qaeda and terrorists in Ramadi," Askari said, according to Iraqiya TV, referring to terms frequently used by Iraqi security forces to describe armed groups.
The police officer said those taking part in the operation included policemen, tribal fighters, and SWAT forces. He said helicopters were also firing on targets in the sprawling militant-held Malaab neighbourhood in the centre of the city.
The army's intervention, which has been resisted by Sunni anti-government tribesmen, comes after a pact was sealed on January 8 entailing that tribes will fight alongside local police to face ISIL's presence.
"The Iraqi army launched a large operation with helicopter cover against Daash, Al-Qaeda and terrorists in Ramadi," Askari said, according to Iraqiya TV, referring to terms frequently used by Iraqi security forces to describe armed groups.
The police officer said those taking part in the operation included policemen, tribal fighters, and SWAT forces. He said helicopters were also firing on targets in the sprawling militant-held Malaab neighbourhood in the centre of the city.
Meanwhile, gunmen dressed in army uniforms killed at least six
government-backed Sunni Muslim fighters at a checkpoint near the Iraqi
city of Baquba, 65 kilometres northeast of Baghdad.
Police said the victims included the local leader of the "Sahwa" (Awakening) tribal militia, along with two of his sons.
Iraq has witnessed a recent pick up in violence, especially with
increased activity of Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL), an
Al-Qaeda-inspired armed group that is also active in neighbouring Syria.
With strife deepening between Sunni Iraqi tribes and the Shia-led
central government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, radical fighters
have found opportunity to seize control of parts of the mostly-Sunni
Anbar province, especially Fallujah and provincial capital of Ramadi.