Updates from Iraq (June 14, 2014)
Shiite militants that were busy helping Bashar Al Asad remain in power in Syria until a week back, are not being ordered to move to Iraq to stop advancing Al Qaeda-aligned fighters defend Baghdad and surrounding areas where a number of Shiite holy shrines are situated.
With the ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) marching toward Baghdad and other key Shiite strongholds after capturing Mosul and Tikrit, grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, powerful Shiite cleric who has followers across Iraq, Iran and Syria, has called for young Iraqis to assist security forces and defend holy shrines situated in Baghdad and neighbouring cities.
The current picture of Tikrit is that ISIS has taken over security forces' facilities and the arsenal that was provided to the US-trained security forces is now in insurgents' custody.
Iraq is predominantly a Shiite country and has seen the majority rule since the US handed over the security and administration to Iraqis. During these years, Sunni insurgency had been contained. However, a fresh crisis in neighbouring Syria changed the scenario.
Syrian crisis that started about three years ago breathed new life into Sunni insurgency as Europe and the United States felt Syrian regime has close ties to Iran and Sunni majority in the country can cut Asad the Dictator down to size.
Shiite militants that were busy helping Bashar Al Asad remain in power in Syria until a week back, are not being ordered to move to Iraq to stop advancing Al Qaeda-aligned fighters defend Baghdad and surrounding areas where a number of Shiite holy shrines are situated.
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| Fighters from Islamic State of Iraq and Syria take positions after capturing Tikrit |
With the ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) marching toward Baghdad and other key Shiite strongholds after capturing Mosul and Tikrit, grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, powerful Shiite cleric who has followers across Iraq, Iran and Syria, has called for young Iraqis to assist security forces and defend holy shrines situated in Baghdad and neighbouring cities.
The current picture of Tikrit is that ISIS has taken over security forces' facilities and the arsenal that was provided to the US-trained security forces is now in insurgents' custody.
Iraq is predominantly a Shiite country and has seen the majority rule since the US handed over the security and administration to Iraqis. During these years, Sunni insurgency had been contained. However, a fresh crisis in neighbouring Syria changed the scenario.
Syrian crisis that started about three years ago breathed new life into Sunni insurgency as Europe and the United States felt Syrian regime has close ties to Iran and Sunni majority in the country can cut Asad the Dictator down to size.
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