Mediaboss Marketing

The violence was sparked by the demolition of the country's main Sunni Arab anti-government protest camp near Ramadi in late 2013

VIOLENCE. Members of the Iraqi Shiite militia, Asaib Ahl Al-Haq parade during a rally in Karbala city, southern Iraq, 14 August 2014. File photo by Alaa Al-Shemaree/EPA

BAGHDAD, Iraq (UPDATED) Violence in Iraq killed more than 15,000 civilians and security personnel in 2014, government figures showed on Thursday, January 1, making it one of the deadliest years since the 2003 US-led invasion.

Figures compiled by the health, interior and defence ministries put the death toll at 15,538, compared with 17,956 killed in 2007 during the height of Sunni-Shiite sectarian killings.

Last year's toll was also more than double the 6,522 people killed in 2013.

Iraq Body Count, a Britain-based non-governmental organization that tracks violence in Iraq, gave an even higher toll for 2014, saying that 17,073 civilians were killed, which would make it the third deadliest year since 2003.

"For Iraqis, it has been the most difficult and painful of years because of the attack of the (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria group) terrorist gangs," Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a New Year's speech, referring to jihadists responsible for much of the bloodshed.

The year got off to a bloody start, with the government losing control of parts of Anbar provincial capital Ramadi and all of Fallujah -- just a short drive from Baghdad -- to anti-government fighters.

The violence was sparked by the demolition of the country's main Sunni Arab anti-government protest camp near Ramadi in late 2013.

It spread to Fallujah, and security forces later withdrew from areas of both cities, leaving them open for capture.

Read more:
Iraq violence killed 15,000 in 2014, worst in 7 years govt

Violence in Iraq killed more than 15,000 civilians and security personnel in 2014, according to government figures, making it one of the deadliest years since the 2003 US-led invasion.

Figures compiled by the health, interior and defence ministries put the death toll at 15,538, compared with 17,956 killed in 2007 during the height of Sunni-Shia sectarian killings.

Last year's toll was also more than double the 6,522 people killed in 2013.

Iraq Body Count, a Britain-based NGO that tracks violence in Iraq, gave an even higher toll for 2014, saying that 17,073 civilians were killed, which would make it the third deadliest year since 2003.

"For Iraqis, it has been the most difficult and painful of years because of the attack of the (Islamic State group) terrorist gangs," Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a New Year's speech, referring to jihadists responsible for much of the bloodshed.

The year got off to a bloody start, with the government losing control of parts of Anbar provincial capital Ramadi and all of Fallujah to anti-government fighters.

The violence was sparked by the demolition of the country's main Sunni Arab anti-government protest camp near Ramadi in late 2013.

It spread to Fallujah, and security forces later withdrew from areas of both cities, leaving them open for capture.

In June, the Islamic State (IS) group spearheaded a major militant offensive that swept security forces aside.

The militants overran Iraq's second city Mosul and then drove south towards Baghdad, raising fears that the capital itself would be attacked.

Go here to read the rest:
More than 15,000 killed in Iraq in 2014

Turkey, Iraq vow to expand cooperation against IS -, IS
And staying in the war-torn region. Iraq and Turkey have come together to strengthen their resolve in fighting the Islamic State militant group. Paul, Turkey...

By: ARIRANG NEWS

See the original post here:
Turkey, Iraq vow to expand cooperation against IS -, IS - Video

U.S. soldiers patrol the Taji base complex which hosts Iraqi and U.S. troops north of the capital Baghdad. Taji is one of an eventual five sites where the U.S. and allied countries aim to train 5,000 Iraqi military personnel every six to eight weeks for combat against the so-called Islamic State. Ali al-Saadi /AFP/Getty Images hide caption

U.S. soldiers patrol the Taji base complex which hosts Iraqi and U.S. troops north of the capital Baghdad. Taji is one of an eventual five sites where the U.S. and allied countries aim to train 5,000 Iraqi military personnel every six to eight weeks for combat against the so-called Islamic State.

Three years after the U.S. military officially withdrew from Iraq, 2,000 U.S. troops are back. They're restoring the old buildings they'd left behind and renewing contacts with Iraqi officers they knew before.

They're also taking incoming rocket fire at their bases.

This week began an ambitious training program to put 5,000 Iraqi soldiers through boot camp every six weeks.

It is a little spooky to walk out there and ... things are pretty much exactly as people pulled out.

- Maj. Patrick Kiley

Operation Inherent Resolve was designed by the U.S. to build a coalition of states to strike back against the so-called Islamic State, or ISIS, in Iraq and Syria. The operation has seen a return of U.S. troops to Iraq, mainly as advisers and trainers. Another 1,000 are expected in the coming weeks.

Many of those troops have deployed here before, and have mixed feelings about coming back to a country where America spent years at war and where many believe they had helped create a stable country.

Their commander is Maj. Gen. Dana Pittard, and one recent evening he flew by helicopter to the military base Taji, just north of Baghdad, to meet about 180 U.S. troops stationed there.

Read the original:
There And Back Again For U.S. Military In Iraq

Bible Prophecy ISIS, Islamic State in Iraq and Syria: Significance in End Time Prophecy
Bible Prophecy ISIS, Islamic State in Iraq and Syria: Significance in End Time Prophecy Bible Prophecy ISIS, Islamic State in Iraq and Syria: Significance in End Time Prophecy Bible Prophecy...

By: 🙂

See the article here:
Bible Prophecy ISIS, Islamic State in Iraq and Syria: Significance in End Time Prophecy - Video