ERBIL, Kurdistan region – Iraq’s prime minister has authorized the deployment of a large number of Shiite fighters in the Anbar province capital of Ramadi, where residents have been fleeing intensified fighting between ISIS and government forces.
A police source said that, late Monday, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered the Shiite Popular Mobilization Units -- also known as Hashd al-Shaabi – to help Iraqi forces wrest control of Ramadi and surrounding regions from ISIS, or the Islamic State.
“Abadi has sent brigade 14 of the Hashd al-Shaabi fighters to help Iraqi forces recapture Ramadi and nearby areas,” the Anbar police source said. He added that the militias are being deployed in the Habanyah military base.
Abadi’s decision comes a day after a group of 80 tribal leaders from the province urged him in writing for more military aid to confront ISIS militants committing atrocities against civilians.
Previously Saad Maan, spokesman of the Iraqi Interior Ministry, had announced that a large number of police forces were also heading to Anbar for the counter-ISIS campaign.
Officials from Hashd al-Shaabi have frequently expressed the group’s will to participate in ongoing military campaigns against the jihadists in Iraq.
Earlier this month Karim Nouri, the Hashd al-Shaabi spokesman, said that at least 60,000 members of the Shiite group are ready to fight alongside Iraqi security forces in Anbar and Mosul.
“The Hashd al-Shaabi has become a strong and influential force to protect all Iraqi provinces against Daesh,” Nouri said, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS.
At least 80 percent of Anbar, the largest province in Iraq, fell to ISIS last year.
A police source said that, late Monday, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered the Shiite Popular Mobilization Units -- also known as Hashd al-Shaabi – to help Iraqi forces wrest control of Ramadi and surrounding regions from ISIS, or the Islamic State.
“Abadi has sent brigade 14 of the Hashd al-Shaabi fighters to help Iraqi forces recapture Ramadi and nearby areas,” the Anbar police source said. He added that the militias are being deployed in the Habanyah military base.
Abadi’s decision comes a day after a group of 80 tribal leaders from the province urged him in writing for more military aid to confront ISIS militants committing atrocities against civilians.
Previously Saad Maan, spokesman of the Iraqi Interior Ministry, had announced that a large number of police forces were also heading to Anbar for the counter-ISIS campaign.
Officials from Hashd al-Shaabi have frequently expressed the group’s will to participate in ongoing military campaigns against the jihadists in Iraq.
Earlier this month Karim Nouri, the Hashd al-Shaabi spokesman, said that at least 60,000 members of the Shiite group are ready to fight alongside Iraqi security forces in Anbar and Mosul.
“The Hashd al-Shaabi has become a strong and influential force to protect all Iraqi provinces against Daesh,” Nouri said, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS.
At least 80 percent of Anbar, the largest province in Iraq, fell to ISIS last year.
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