The city of Ramadi currently appears to be the focus of a Coalition operation. Four soldiers were killed in the city on Monday, and today two Marines were killed in separate attacks. Capt. Nasir Al-Alousi of the Ramadi police reports fighting has broken out after U.S. forces airlifted equipment into the stadium and has since moved into an industrial complex. The movement of equipment to the stadium may indicate it will be used as a staging area within the city. A look at the map shows the stadium is just south of the industrial zone, where the fighting moved, so it is possible the industrial park is a haven for terrorists. West of Ramadi, Coalition forces conducted operations in and around the town of Baghdadi [not to be confused with Baghdad].
There is at least a battalion of Marines stationed in Ramadi, with Army units attached (as the MNF-Iraq press release on the soldier’s deaths indicates – “Several U.S. Army units are attached to II MEF (Fwd))” . Just downriver from Ramadi, there are about 3,000 members of the Iraqi Intervention Force in the town of Habbaniyah (page 7, September 17, 2005 edition of The Advisor).
There are numerous American battalions “missing” from the battlefield (I will not disclose the unit designations or number of battalions, let the enemy figure that out for themselves). Ramadi is the capital of the Anbar province, a city of 300,000. The force needed to clear Ramadi depends on the security situation in the city. A police force does exist, so operations may be limited to clear several pocket in troubled neighborhoods. It is unclear if an operation the size of Fallujah or Tal Afar is required.
The question is whether the recent clashes in Ramadi are the precursor to or beginning of an attempt to clear and hold the city, or just isolated incidents of violence. If Ramadi is indeed another clear and hold operation, then we will have a better picture of the status of the Iraqi Security Forces and the Iraqi government’s willingness to use them.
13 Comments
Nice running list of operations in Northern Iraq. Also operations of 1/25th units in Anbar
http://www.gulf1.com/Military/All/Mosul/index.asp
From a photo at DefendAmerica.gov:
Company C, 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd is in Bagdadi
cjr,
good post. Bagdhadi, out by the Syrian border.
Thanks, cjr. One down…..
The media couldn’t be any more negative on the War on Terror then they are today. And, it is not just the US, it is the entire Western world.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16699737%5E28737,00.html
hamidreza, here is something for you. I can tell you that Allawi is very happy about this, and I figured he wouldn’t support any bloc, he has been very unhappy with the current government. This is very good news for the future of Iraq.
Al Sistani is not Supporting Any Bloc in the Elections
Ali Al Adeeb, a leader in the Islamic Da’wa party and an MP, confirmed that the Shiite reference Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani is not supporting any slates or identities in the coming elections.
After visiting Al Sistani in Al Najaf, he said to Al Hayat that the religious reference “does not have a preferable slate entering the coming elections, except for the extent of participation in serving the country, especially the poor and deprived.” As regards the situation of the Shiite Coalition, with respect to the elections, Al Adeeb said that his bloc is currently holding “intensive meetings for establishing and stressing the unity of the coalition, in addition to attempting to add new elements to be the fundamental pivot during the coming elections.” Meanwhile, he denied the separation of Al Jelbi and Adel Abdel Mahdi from the bloc. He said, “Talking about the creation of a special bloc for Mr. Ahmed Al Jelbi and Adel Abdel Mahdi has not been heard from the competent persons.” As regards the objectives of his visit to Al Sistani, Al Adeeb said, “It is within the framework of communication with the religious reference and introducing Al Sistani to the full picture of the development of events in Iraq, especially the security conditions, the plebiscite on the constitution and the coming elections.”
http://www.almendhar.com/english_6384/news_print.aspx
http://www.coxandforkum.com/archives/05.09.20.TalAfar-X.gif
hamidreza, here is something for you. I can tell you that Allawi is very happy about this, and I figured he wouldn’t support any bloc, he has been very unhappy with the current government. This is very good news for the future of Iraq.
Al Sistani is not Supporting Any Bloc in the Elections
Ali Al Adeeb, a leader in the Islamic Da’wa party and an MP, confirmed that the Shiite reference Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani is not supporting any slates or identities in the coming elections.
After visiting Al Sistani in Al Najaf, he said to Al Hayat that the religious reference “does not have a preferable slate entering the coming elections, except for the extent of participation in serving the country, especially the poor and deprived.” As regards the situation of the Shiite Coalition, with respect to the elections, Al Adeeb said that his bloc is currently holding “intensive meetings for establishing and stressing the unity of the coalition, in addition to attempting to add new elements to be the fundamental pivot during the coming elections.” Meanwhile, he denied the separation of Al Jelbi and Adel Abdel Mahdi from the bloc. He said, “Talking about the creation of a special bloc for Mr. Ahmed Al Jelbi and Adel Abdel Mahdi has not been heard from the competent persons.” As regards the objectives of his visit to Al Sistani, Al Adeeb said, “It is within the framework of communication with the religious reference and introducing Al Sistani to the full picture of the development of events in Iraq, especially the security conditions, the plebiscite on the constitution and the coming elections.”
http://www.almendhar.com/english_6384/news_print.aspx
http://www.coxandforkum.com/archives/05.09.20.TalAfar-X.gif
hamidreza,
Like I was hearing from the grape vine. Sistani is not going to bless any list in Iraq this time around because he is unhappy with the religious parties. Which will be a very big boon for the secular parties and Allawi.
Al Sistani is not Supporting Any Bloc in the Elections
Ali Al Adeeb, a leader in the Islamic Da’wa party and an MP, confirmed that the Shiite reference Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani is not supporting any slates or identities in the coming elections.
After visiting Al Sistani in Al Najaf, he said to Al Hayat that the religious reference “does not have a preferable slate entering the coming elections, except for the extent of participation in serving the country, especially the poor and deprived.” As regards the situation of the Shiite Coalition, with respect to the elections, Al Adeeb said that his bloc is currently holding “intensive meetings for establishing and stressing the unity of the coalition, in addition to attempting to add new elements to be the fundamental pivot during the coming elections.”
http://www.almendhar.com/english_6384/news.aspx
Wow the posts just wacked out.
Ramadi injured soldier giving his regards to the terrorists
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1490526/posts
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050924/D8CQSRB88.html
West of Baghdad, U.S. forces kept up pressure on insurgents near their Ramadi stronghold. Al-Sharqiyah television said the Americans operating in Hit detained more than 40 men who served in Saddam’s armed forces in ranks ranging from major to brigadier general.
Ramadi police Lt. Yarub al-Duleimi said American forces blew up three houses in the region,