ISIS fighters now 'at the gates of Baghdad': Islamic militants fighting 'just one mile from Iraqi capital' despite days Western airstrikes
- Fierce clashes between jihadists and government forces near Iraqi capital
- Militants understood to be attempting to enter and seize control of Baghdad
- Reports of militants' proximity to Baghdad came from Canon Andrew White
- He is vicar of the city's St George's Church - Iraq's only Anglican church
- News comes despite ongoing Western airstrikes against ISIS targets in Iraq
Fierce
fighting has been reported on the outskirts of Baghdad where ISIS
militants are attempting to seize control of the Iraqi capital - despite
ongoing Western airstrikes against the terror group.
The
fighting is taking place just one mile to the west of the city, with
government forces desperately trying to hold off the militants, who
allegedly killed up to 1,000 soldiers during clashes yesterday.
ISIS
have held a number of towns and villages close to the Iraqi capital
since earlier in the year, when government troops melted away following a
lightning advance in the west of the country - enabling the terrorist
group to seize further swaths of territory for their so-called
caliphate.
Under attack: An Iraqi army soldier
aims his weapon during clashes with ISIS militants in Jurf al-Sakhar -
43 miles south of Baghdad - at the weekend. ISIS militants reportedly
killed 1,000 such soldiers yesterday
Defence: Fierce fighting has been
reported on the outskirts of Baghdad where ISIS militants are attempting
to seize control of the Iraqi capital. In this image taken at the
weekend, peshmerga forces are seen holding a post in the strategic
Jalawla area, considered a gateway to the city
Peshmerga fighters hold a position at a
post in the strategic Jalawla area near Baghdad during a battle with
Islamic State militants at the weekend. The location is considered a
gateway to the Iraqi capital
Location: The militants are understood
to have had their advance halted by airstrikes yesterday at Ameriyat
Al-Falluja yesterday - a small city about 18 miles south of Fallujah and
40 miles west of Baghdad. But the clashes did not force the bulk of the
fighters - with many of them now having made their way to the Baghdad
suburbs
Reports
that ISIS militants are now just one mile from Baghdad came from
the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East - an
organisation supporting the work of Canon Andrew White, vicar of the
city's St George's Church, the only Anglican church in Iraq.
In
a message posted on Facebook, the group said: 'The Islamic State are
now less than 2km away from entering Baghdad. They said it could never
happen and now it almost has.
'Obama
says he overestimated what the Iraqi Army could do. Well you only need
to be hear a very short while to know they can do very very little,'
they added.
The
claims were backed up by Canon White himself, who shared the message
just hours after he had earlier suggested the group were approximately
six miles from the centre of Baghdad.
In
a message he also posted on Facebook, Canon White had said: 'The
Islamic State are now within 10km of entering Baghdad. Over a 1000 Iraqi
troops were killed by them yesterday, things are so bad. As I said all
the military air strikes are doing nothing. If ever we needed your
prayer it is now.'
The
militants are understood to have had their advance halted by airstrikes
yesterday at Ameriyat Al-Falluja yesterday - a small city about 18
miles south of Fallujah and 40 miles west of Baghdad.
But
the clashes did not force the bulk of the fighters - with many of them
now having made their way to the Baghdad suburbs for this morning's
fighting.
Approaching: Reports that ISIS
militants are now just one mile from Baghdad came from the Foundation
for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East - an organisation
supporting the work of Canon Andrew White
Fear: Canon Andrew White, is the vicar
of Baghdad's St George's Church - the only Anglican church in Iraq.
Earlier Canon White had claimed the terrorist group were six miles from
the city
No protection: Canon Andrew White later updated his Facebook page questioning the ability of the Iraqi Army
The
news comes as RAF jets flew armed sorties for a second day over Iraq
yesterday – but despite having now sent out jets five times, they again
failed to locate any suitable targets for their weapons.
Defence
chiefs insisted that the flights by Tornado GR4 fighter-bombers were
invaluable for gathering intelligence on the Islamist jihadists who have
swept across large swathes of Iraq and Syria, carrying out massacres.
But
the failure to unleash any firepower has fuelled concern that Britain
is failing to pull its weight in the international coalition against
Islamic State
It
came as military commanders warned that Britain should brace itself to
be dragged into a ground war in Iraq to crush IS, which is also known as
Isis and Isil.
Former top brass also warned that the air campaign would be futile unless the UK could target the terrorists in Syria.
While
the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the RAF's third mission had –
like on Saturday – failed to locate any targets, US-led coalition
aircraft targeted four makeshift oil refineries under IS control in
Syria, as well as a command centre.
The mobile refineries generate up to £1.2million a day for the militants.
On a mission: The RAF jets seek out their terror targets in Iraq - which they failed to find and bomb, again
Strong presence: Military leaders have
said about two-thirds of the estimated 31,000 Islamic State militants
were in Syria. But ISIS have held a number of towns and villages close
to the Iraqi capital since earlier in the year, when government troops
melted away following a lightning advance in the west of the country
Meanwhile,
U.S. President Barack Obama has acknowledged that US intelligence
agencies underestimated the threat posed by ISIS extremists in Syria,
and overestimated the capabilities of the Iraqi army.
Obama added that breaking up the terrorist cell will be a complicated battle involving both military and political action.
The
president spoke about the multi-national effort against ISIS in a
televised interview with 60 Minutes, which aired Sunday night.
Citing
earlier comments by James Clapper, director of national intelligence,
Mr Obama acknowledged that U.S. intelligence didn't take seriously
enough what had been taking place in Syria.
'Well
I think, our head of the intelligence community, Jim Clapper, has
acknowledged that I think they underestimated what had been taking place
in Syria,' Mr Obama said.
Conversely,
the United States overestimated the ability of the Iraqi army to fight
the militant groups, Obama said in the interview taped on Friday, days
after the president made his case at the United Nations for action.
President Obama says the US
intelligence agencies underestimated Islamic State activity in Syria and
overestimated the Iraqi army's role to fight back against militants
Speaking to CBS's 60 Minutes, he said
the militants had used the chaos of the Syrian civil war, when large
swathes of the country were ungoverned, to 'reconstitute themselves'
Militants: The terrorist-group ISIS
has been taking large swaths of Syria and Iraq in the recent absence of a
permanent U.S. military presence in Iraq
KEY PARTNERS IN THE COALITION AGAINST THE ISLAMIC STATE
The
U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group is growing, with
dozens of countries among its ranks. The coalition is contributing a
wide range of efforts, from carrying out airstrikes to providing
military assistance and humanitarian aid.
Here are some of the key partners in the coalition.
UNITED STATES
The
U.S., which is leading the coalition, has launched dozens of airstrikes
on Islamic State targets. It also has sent military advisers, supplies
and humanitarian aid to help Iraqi troops and Kurdish forces beat back
the insurgents.
GULF STATES
Saudi
Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have participated in
airstrikes in Syria. A fourth, Qatar, has played what the Pentagon
called a supporting role.
The
Emirates and Qatar also host air bases that are being used for the
coalition's aerial campaign against the Islamic State group. U.S. Navy
ships involved in the airstrikes are assigned to the Bahrain-based Fifth
Fleet. Saudi Arabia has agreed to host training facilities for Syrian
rebels on its territory.
JORDAN
Jordan
has launched airstrikes against Islamic State positions, with
government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani calling the move 'necessary in
light of continuous attempts to infiltrate our borders.' The kingdom
didn't give any specifics about its operations, but said the airstrikes
aim to insure the country's security.
EGYPT
Egypt
hasn't announced any specific participation in airstrikes, but
President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi told the AP that Egypt is 'completely
committed to giving support,' and will do 'whatever is required' to
support the coalition.
ISRAEL
Israel
is offering intelligence estimates and concrete intelligence to the
U.S. on the Islamic State group as part of ongoing intelligence sharing
between the two countries, an Israeli defense official said. But, he
added, Israel wasn't asked to contribute anything beyond that. The
official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to
speak publicly on the issue. The prime minister's office declined to
comment.
BRITAIN
Britain
said that Tornado fighter bombers, supported by air-to-air refueling
aircraft and signals intelligence, are operating over Iraq. Britain's
media has widely reported that six warplanes are on standby in Cyprus,
but defense officials have declined to offer specific numbers. Ben
Goodlad from IHS Jane's has said that the Tornado jets offer the
coalition enhanced capability to engage moving targets. Britain also has
two weapons for long-range strikes: the Tornado's Storm Shadow cruise
missile and the submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missile, he said.
FRANCE
France
has carried out airstrikes in Iraq on two occasions since joining the
U.S.-led coalition on Sept. 19, firing laser-guided bombs from Rafale
fighter planes upon munitions and military hardware stockpiles — first
near northern Mosul, then on Thursday, near Fallujah. France is
conducting the operations in Iraq from a French air base in the United
Arab Emirates. The base, with about 750 French service personnel and six
Rafales, is 1,700 kilometers (1,050 miles) from Mosul, meaning that the
planes need refueling in flight to strike in Iraq.
AUSTRALIA
An
Australian air force contingent, including eight F/A-18 Hornet jet
fighters and two support aircraft, has arrived in the United Arab
Emirates. About 600 troops — most of them air force personnel — are
being deployed with the aircraft. The jets are expected to be used in
airstrikes against Islamic State fighters in Iraq, although the
Australian government has yet to commit to a combat role.
BELGIUM
Six
F-16 multirole fighters and a contingent of 120 support staff,
including eight pilots, to be based in Jordan. Authorized to take part
in operations over Iraq for one month, subject to extension if approved
by the Belgian government.
DENMARK
Denmark
has pledged seven F-16 fighter jets — four operational planes and three
reserve jets along with pilots and support staff for 12 months. The
U.S. also has asked Danes to provide military trainers to Iraq to school
Iraqi and Kurdish fighters battling the Islamic State group on the
ground. Denmark has already contributed a transport plane with personnel
to a U.S.-led humanitarian operation in northern Iraq.
CANADA
Canada
has contributed about 70 special operations soldiers to offer
instruction to Kurdish forces battling Islamic State militants in
northern Iraq. Early this week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Cabinet
will be considering a U.S. request to support airstrikes against Islamic
State forces. This could include five to eight CF-18 fighter aircraft
as well as tanker aircraft. Canada has already contributed two military
cargo planes that carried weapons to Kurdish fighters.
GERMANY
Germany
isn't participating in any airstrikes against the Islamic State group.
They have sent weapons to Kurdish fighters in Irbil, and a group of
Kurdish peshmerga fighters arrived in Germany to receive weapons'
training here by the German army. There's also German military in Irbil
to train the peshmerga fighters in Irbil.
GREECE
Greece
is participating with humanitarian aid and by sending ammunition for
Kurdish forces fighting the Islamic State group. They haven't specified
any more details on quantities or type of humanitarian aid.
GEORGIA
Georgia
will be providing humanitarian assistance, not military aid, according
to comments made by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday to
local news websites.
HUNGARY
Hungary
has promised to send 15 types of ammunition totaling nearly 6 million
units to Iraqi Kurds. Most of the ammunition, 4.1 million cartridges,
was the M43 type for the AK-47 assault rifle.
ROMANIA
Prime
Minister Victor Ponta said his country would offer 'logistic,
operational and humanitarian' support to the coalition, but not troops.
He provided no details of the assistance.
POLAND
Poland supports the coalition against the Islamic State, but is not actively engaged in combat.
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