BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Shiite militias Tuesday launched an offensive intended to put a stranglehold on Islamic State fighters in Ramadi, taking the lead from Iraqi security forces that lost the western city to the extremists just over a week ago.
The operation to cut supply lines and besiege the city from the northeast is “led and managed and planned” by Iraq’s popular mobilizations units, a loose formation of Shiite militia groups and volunteers, said Ahmed al-Assadi, a spokesman for the units. There is “coordination and cooperation” with other military forces, he said.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had initially held back from sending the Shiite militias amid sensitivities over dispatching them to a majority Sunni area.
They were ordered to the province last week after the fall of Ramadi highlighted weaknesses in Iraq’s regular forces and the local council requested the militias’ assistance. U.S. officials have indicated that they do not object as long as militias are commanded by the Iraqi government.
