Fierce Fight Around Baghdad; US May Train Iraqi Troops

The ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) militants who are advancing to Baghdad had fierce fight with security forces on Baquba-37 miles northeast of Baghdad. Earlier, the militants made their intentions clear: capture of Baghdad and the military procession towards Karbala, the Shiite holy city.

Meanwhile Baiji, the biggest olil refinary in Iraq, was closed down and the foreign staff evacuated. The militants advanced towards the refinery and surrounded it.

The Associated Press, citing three US officials, reported early Tuesday that the White House is considering sending up to 100 special troops to advise and train Iraqi troops.

The troops would fall under the authority of the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad and would not be authorized to engage in combat, another U.S. official said. Their mission would be “non-operational training” of both regular and counterterrorism units, which the military has in the past interpreted to mean training on military bases, the official said.

interactive editor