ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has demanded an investigation into the collapse of security in Ramadi’s and said culpable commanders should be tried in a military court.
“Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander In Chief of Iraqi Forces Haidar al-Abadi has ordered an inquiry about fall of Ramadi and those commanders who have been guilty for this failure should go to a military courts to be judged,” said Farhan Mohammed, member of the Anbar Provincial council.
Mohammed said the decision comes after a suggestion from members of the Tikrit council who said guilty Anbar officials should be identified.
The Islamic State, or ISIS, seized control of the city of Ramadi on May 17, sending Iraqi forces racing out of the city in a major loss despite the support of US-led airstrikes targeting the extremists.
The loss has led many experts to question the readiness and morale of the Iraqi Army. The Anbar provincial council has also come under criticism this week over the collapse of the city's defenses.
Mohammed Khalaf, an Anbar tribal chiefs, announced Wednesday: “The majority of the Anbar sheikhs [tribal chiefs] and political figures abandoned the province and let it fall to the Islamic State militants, and they are the real mercenaries.”
Khalaf called on the Iraqi government to dismantle the Anbar provincial council.
"What happened in Anbar was the conspiracy of the governor and the provincial council of the province," said Khalaf.
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