Iraqi forces take center of Ramadi
ISIL is losing the battle of Ramadi. It has the best troops in the region, but they are badly outnumbered and have no defense against US airpower. There are still pockets in the city controlled by ISIL. It took seven months to get this far in Ramadi and the halting steps show the continued ineptitude of the Iraqi army.
Significantly. the Shia militias sat on the sidelines in this battle – a sure sign of US pressure. The US wants to keep the militias out of this because they are undisciplined and prone to sectarian vengeance. The battle of Ramadi dies not give us an indicator of the effectiveness of the Iraqi army as a whole. The fighting is being done by elite units; the bulk of the army remains ineffective.
Is Mosul next? Probably not. Fallujah is more likely.
Battle for Sangin continues in Afghanistan
The Taliban seized most if not all of the northern Helmand district. It took several days for Kabul to bring in reinforcements. This is shameful. It will undermine morale in Afghan troops, who will now wonder if anyone has their proverbial backside. The war is essentially a stalemate – nd a war of attrition.