ISIS edging closer to Baghdad despite U.S.-led bombing campaign

[Valin]

National Post:

Ruth Sherlock in Beirut, Robert Tait in Mursitpinar, Turkey and Carol Malouf,

September 29, 2014

 

The Islamic State of Iraq & Al-Sham made fresh advances in both Syria and Iraq Monday in defiance of the escalating U.S.-led bombing campaign against the jihadist group.

 

For almost two months now, Tomahawk missiles and F22 Raptor jet fighters have bombarded the bases, strategic assets and front-line positions of ISIS.

 

But the group’s encroachment on Baghdad is steadily progressing and it is also close to seizing a key Kurdish town on the Syria-Turkey border.

 

In Iraq, ISIS gunmen were reported to be only 10 kilometres from some points of the capital Baghdad and were holding their ground at a front line on the major northern highway to Fallujah. In Syria, its fighters were closing in on Kobani on the Turkish border.

 

In the past year, ISIS has grown to become the world’s best equipped militia group. Kobani came under a bombardment from the group, prompting fears from locals the town might soon fall.

 

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Location: The militants are understood to have had their advance halted by airstrikes yesterday at Ameriyat Al-Falluja yesterday - a small city about 18 miles south of Fallujah and 40 miles west of Baghdad. But the clashes did not force the bulk of the fighters - with many of them now having made their way to the Baghdad suburbs

 

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