In Iraq, Al Qaeda Has Captured Fallujah, Again

American troops spilled their guts fighting Al Qaeda in Fallujah in 2004.

And now, AQ has driven out all representatives of the Iraqi government and raised its flag over government buildings.

The capture of Fallujah came amid an explosion of violence across the western desert province of Anbar in which local tribes, the Iraqi security forces and al-Qaeda militants have been fighting one another for days in a confusingly chaotic three- way war.

...

Elsewhere in the province, local tribal militias claimed they were gaining ground against the al-Qaeda militants who surged into urban areas from their desert strongholds earlier this week after clashes erupted between local residents and the Iraqi security forces.

Tribal fighters are fighting Al Qaeda, as they did in the Anbar Uprising (which now seems like a century ago, but it was only 2006 or so).

“All the tribes of Anbar are fighting against al-Qaeda,” he said. “We are happy this fight is taking place. We will confront them face to face, and we will win this battle.”

But it was unclear whether all of the tribal fighters battling the al-Qaeda militants were doing so in alliance with the Iraqi government.

The tribal fighters had been battling Maliki's government, but now seem to be focusing on Al Qaeda. For the moment, anyway.

posted by Ace at 07:40 PM

| Access Comments