LATEST: Insurgents Close to Full Control of Dhuluiya

MONDAY FEATURES

For the third time in two weeks, Iraq’s Parliament has failed to address the political crisis amid an insurgent offensive that has taken cities such as Mosul and Tikrit and advanced on Baghdad.

Legislators briefly convened on Sunday, but the meeting soon broke up with no advance in the election of a Speaker, President, and Prime Minister.

Sunni blocs, who are guaranteed the Speaker’s post under the Iraqi Constitution, had finally agreed on the nomination of Salim Jobouri to replace Osama al-Nujaifi.

The stated reason for the quick adjournment was the inability of Kurdish MPs to attend, due to bad weather that disrupted flights in and out of Baghdad; however, the session was already overshadowed by Kurdish anger at the Government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Al-Maliki raised the stakes last week when he accused Iraqi Kurdistan’s leaders of harboring members of the Islamic State, Baathists, and Al Qa’eda. The Kurds responded with a boycott of State business, including the despatch of Ministers to Parliament, and repeated calls for Maliki’s resignation.

Kurdish peshmerga forces advanced in northern Iraq, taking oilfields near Kirkuk, the vital city that they secured in June to prevent an insurgent takeover amid the collapse of Iraqi forces.


Insurgents Close to Full Control of Dhuluiya

Insurgents attacked the final area outside their control in the town of Dhuluiya, 70 kilometres (43 miles) north of Baghdad, on Monday.

The opposition fighters, including the Islamic State, took over government buildings on Sunday (see earlier update).

Today the insurgents negotiated with tribal leaders in the Al-Jubur area in southern Dhuluiya, offering to spare the lives of their men and security forces if they surrendered, a local official said.

The tribesmen rejected the offer, and the insurgents renewed their attacks.

A tribal fighter said the group has held out for 48 hours, but need “reinforcements and air cover to restore control over the town”.

Quiet in Haditha After Latest Insurgent Attack

Relative quiet is reported in Haditha, 120 miles northwest of Baghdad, after an insurgent attack on Sunday.

The city is still under a dusk-to-dawn curfew.

Insurgents, including the Islamic State, attacked on three fronts on Sunday. They were confronted by Iraqi forces, Shia militias, and tribal groups.

Clashes were also reported in Ramadi, 65 miles west of Baghdad, with insurgents trying to take the headquarters of the Iraqi army’s 8th Brigade.

Insurgents have been in parts of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar Province, since early this year.

Baathist Leader: Insurgents Will Soon Capture Baghdad

A 15-minute audio recording has been released in which the Secretary General of the Iraqi Baathist Party, Izzat al-Douri, purportedly says that “the revolutionaries’ control of Baghdad will take place very soon” and calls on Iraqis to join the uprising:

Join the ranks of the rebels who liberated half the country.

The liberation of Baghdad is around the corner. Everyone should contribute, to the extent of his ability, to complete the liberation of the beloved country, because there is no honor or dignity without its liberation.

Al-Douri praised the “heroes and knights of al-Qaeda and the Islamic State” in their fight against the “Persian Safavid colonization” of Iraq, and called Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to “repent”.

Insurgents Seize Buildings in Dhuluiya, North of Baghdad

Insurgents attacked Dhuluiya, 70 km (43 miles) north of Baghdad, and seized local government buildings on Sunday, according to police and witnesses.

The fighters arrived in 50-60 vehicles to take control of the mayor’s office, municipal council building, and the police station.

At least eight people were killed in the fighting, including four policemen, two fighters, and two civilians.

An insurgent attack was repelled on June 14.

Local police and tribes were said to be continuing resistance on Sunday, as insurgents bombed a bridge linking Dhuluiya to the nearby town of Balad to the west.

The Institute for Study of War’s updated map of the state of the conflict:

ISW IRAQ MAP 13-07-14