The Islamic State taking control of Ramadi, capital of Iraq’s largest province, is “indeed a setback” in the campaign against the terrorist outfit, the White House said as it vowed to help the Iraqi forces to reverse the IS gains.
“Ramadi has been contested over the last 18 months. We’ve always known the fight against ISIl would be long and difficult, particularly in Anbar Province.
“There’s no denying that this is, indeed, a setback. But there’s also no denying that we will help the Iraqis take back Ramadi,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz said, using an alternative acronym for the IS or the ISIS.
US President Barack Obama is being kept up to date on the situation in Ramadi, he said.
“We are supporting the Iraqi security forces and the Government of Iraq with precision airstrikes and advice to the Iraqi forces. Our aircraft are in the air right now and searching for ISIl targets. “They will continue to do so until Ramadi is retaken,” he said on Monday.
Schultz said 32 airstrikes have been conducted in Ramadi in the past three weeks, including eight over the past 24 hours and these strikes will be continuing.