WASHINGTON
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden assured Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi that the U.S. would expedite assistance to the Iraqi forces as Daesh seized the city of Ramadi.
According to a White House statement, Biden told Abadi in a phone call that the U.S. would deliver heavy weapons, including AT-4 shoulder-held rockets, to counter Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices, additional ammunition and supplies for Iraqi forces.
“Both leaders agreed on the importance and urgency of mobilizing tribal fighters working in coordination with Iraqi Security Forces to counter ISIL (Daesh) and to ensure unity of effort among all of Iraq’s communities,” the statement read.
Daesh has seized control of an Iraqi government complex in central Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, on Friday.
Iraqi security forces withdrew from the buildings after fierce clashes and the militants later raised Daesh's flag on the government complex.
Brigadier General Thomas D. Weidley, Chief of Staff of the body leading the U.S.-led coalition operations, characterized the pictures and videos released by Daesh purporting the seizure of the government complex in Ramadi as “social media propaganda,” saying the area was already contested between the militants and Iraqi forces.
However, Iraq’s parliament speaker earlier in the day warned of a “possible close collapse” of Anbar province’s security situation.
Daesh has also managed to seize the eastern part of Fallujah in Anbar province after fierce clashes with security forces.
