Iraqi Popular Forces Reject Withdrawal from Ramadi, Voice Opposition to Great Satan US Partnership in Anbar Battle

“The US will not sacrifice even one of its soldiers for Iraq and their present meddling in the government’s affairs is a plot to disintegrate Iraq,” Karim al-Nouri, a commander of the popular forces, was quoted by Iraq’s Arabic-language Ware’e news agency as saying.

He reminded that Al-Hashad Al-Shabi has earned many victories against the terrorists, and said, “Therefore, the popular forces will not wait for anyone’s permission and will continue fighting against the ISIL.”

Earlier this month, former Iraqi Transport Minister Salam al-Maliki underlined that Washington was on the same side with the ISIL, and urged his country’s popular forces to expedite uprooting the terrorists in Al-Anbar province.

“There are compelling evidence which prove that the US has supplied the ISIL with weapons and intelligence,” Al-Maliki told FNA.

He noted that the recent statements of the US officials indicated that they were willing to prolong the battle for winning back Anbar province.

Al-Maliki, however, said that the Iraqi forces were preparing for fresh operations in Fallujah and Ramadi in Anbar province.

A senior Iraqi intelligence official revealed in July that the US helicopters dropped weapons and other aids for the ISIL terrorists in the Western province of al-Anbar.

“The fighters present at the forefront of fighting against the ISIL always see US helicopters flying over the ISIL-controlled areas and dropping weapons and urgent aids for them,” the official who called for anonymity told FNA.

Yet, he said the helicopters could have also been sent from Turkey or Israel.

He added that in addition to dropping aids, the helicopters transferred the ISIL ringleaders and wounded members from the battleground to some hospitals in Syria or other countries which support the terrorist group.

The official cautioned that such assistance further prolonged the conflicts in Anbar, adding that when the Iraqi army and popular forces purged the terrorists from Anbar province, the US helicopters would transfer the ISIL ringleaders to other regions to prevent the Iraqi forces’ access to ISIL secrets.