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                 Suicide Bombings Kill Pro-Iraq Forces in Anbar

   by VOA News

   Suicide bombings killed at least 17 Iraqi soldiers in Anbar province
   overnight, as pro-government forces in Iraq continue their newly
   launched campaign to disrupt the Islamic State group in the area.

   Iraqi military officials said the attacks outside the IS-held city of
   Fallujah late Tuesday came hours after the launch of an offensive to
   retake parts of the province from militants.

   The military and militias are focusing on areas outside of the
   provincial capital of Ramadi in an attempt to cut the militants' supply
   lines before moving in on the city itself.

   ''

   US provides fresh support

   The operation began Tuesday with fresh support from the United States
   as White House officials sought to reaffirm their commitment to Iraqi
   forces following comments from Defense Secretary Ashton Carter
   questioning the military's will to fight.

   White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the U.S. will make sure the
   Iraqi military has the equipment it needs, including an anti-tank
   weapon that is highly successful at destroying car bombs.

   Earnest also said the U.S. believes the fight in Ramadi will require a
   multi-sectarian force to succeed.

   "And the reason for that is Iraq is a very diverse country and they're
   going to need every element of their diversity to counter this specific
   threat ... and it's going to require a multi-sectarian security force
   to take the fight to ISIL and to not just drive ISIL out of the
   country, but also to hold the ground," Earnest said, using an acronym
   for the Islamic State group.

   Earnest said this strategy -- a multi-sectarian force under central
   Iraqi command, backed by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes -- worked when
   Iraqi forces retook the important city of Tikrit from Islamic State
   fighters.
   WATCH: Related video report by Zlatica Hoke

   ''Iraqi PM expresses confidence in troops

   Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said Ramadi would be retaken
   in a matter of days, and that he has confidence in the ability of his
   troops.

   Anbar is a vast desert area stretching from just west of Baghdad to the
   Iraqi borders with Jordan, Syria and Saudi Arabia. Islamic State has
   controlled most of Anbar since last year, including the city of
   Fallujah.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/pro-iraq-forces-continue-push-against
   -islamic-state-in-anbar/2792203.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/pro-iraq-forces-continue-push-against-islamic-state-in-anbar/2792203.html