Islamic State faces battle in Iraq, bombs in Syria

BAGHDAD/BEIRUT, May 25

Islamic State poured more fighters into Ramadi as security forces and Shi’ite paramilitaries prepared to retake the Iraqi city that fell to the Islamists a week ago in a major setback for the government.

In Palmyra, the Syrian air force struck at buildings captured by the Sunni militant group, whose arrival has raised fears that the city’s famed Roman ruins will be destroyed. The air force levelled Islamic State “hideouts” and killed a large number of its members around Palmyra’s military air base, Syrian state media said.

Islamic State has killed at least 217 people execution-style, including children, since it moved into the Palmyra area 10 days ago, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Another 300 soldiers were killed before the Syrian city was captured, the monitoring group said.

The insurgents reinforced Ramadi on Monday, deploying fighters in preparation for battle against security forces and paramilitary groups advancing on the provincial capital, which lies 110 km (70 miles) northwest of the capital, Baghdad. — Reuters

Iraqi forces lack will to fight: US Defence Secy 

Washington: In a sharp criticism of Washington's ally, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter on Sunday accused the Iraqi army of abandoning Ramadi to a much smaller enemy force. Pentagon chief Ashton Carter argued that the May 17 fall of Ramadi, the worst defeat Baghdad has suffered in almost a year, could have been avoided. PTI 

Observation shocking,  says Iraqi PM

Baghdad: Iraq on Monday rejected accusations by the US defence chief that its security forces dodged battle in Ramadi and lack the will to fight the Islamic State group. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi expressed disbelief at Carter's stinging comments. 'I am surprised why he said that. I am sure he was fed with the wrong information," Abadi told the BBC. AFP