http://rt.com/news/167636-iraq-cities-captured-isis/
One of the captured towns, Rutba, with a population of about 55,000, is situated in a strategic location about 150 kilometers east of the Jordanian border, with the Amman-Baghdad road and the Mosul–Haifa oil pipeline passing nearby.
http://rt.com/news/167636-iraq-cities-captured-isis/
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ISIS militants seize 3 new Iraqi cities in Anbar province - reports
Published time: June 22, 2014 09:23 Edited time: June 22, 2014 10:50 Get short URL
A picture taken on June 21, 2014 in the city of Ramadi, west of the capital Baghdad shows a building that was damaged during the fightings between the Sunni anti-Al-Qaeda militia Sahwa (Awakening) and anti-government militants, including from the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Anbar province (AFP Photo / STR)
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The militants of the Al-Qaeda splinter group ISIS, also known as ISIL, have managed to capture three new towns in Iraq’s western province of Anbar on Sunday, Reuters reported, citing eyewitnesses and security sources.
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"Army troops withdrew from Rawah, Anah and Rutba this morning and ISIS moved quickly to completely control these towns," an unnamed military intelligence official told Reuters.
Iraqi troops have ceded control of four towns in the last two days.
On Saturday, the town of Qaim was captured by insurgents.
Staff in Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s office are preparing to hold a press conference later Sunday to comment on the confused retreat of the country’s army.
One of the captured towns, Rutba, with a population of about 55,000, is situated in a strategic location about 150 kilometers east of the Jordanian border, with the Amman-Baghdad road and the Mosul–Haifa oil pipeline passing nearby.
READ MORE: All you need to know about ISIS and what is happening in Iraq
Anonymous sources told AP that the army intends to fight back to recapture Rutba and threatened to start shelling. This prompted the town’s residents, among whom there could be up to 20,000 refugees from Fallujah and Ramadi, to negotiate with the invading militants to leave the city peacefully.
Two other captured cities, Rawah and Anah, stand on the banks of the Euphrates River. The militants appear likely to head for the city of Haditha, where an important dam is positioned. The Iraqi military has reportedly dispatched 2,000 additional troops to protect this dam, but whether the army will be capable of fulfilling the task remains to be seen.