The Iraqi Defense Ministry confirmed on Friday that members of the Islamic State group have moved on Abu Ghraib, which puts them roughly eight miles from Baghdad’s international airport.
The advance of the terrorist army comes just one day after a suicide bomber detonated a car at a police checkpoint 35 miles outside the capital. The blast in Baqouba killed a number of policemen and wounded 11 others, an official who spoke on condition of anonymity told The Associated Press on Thursday.
An Iraqi officer told CBS on Friday that U.S.-led airstrikes around the city are helping to create a buffer zone against the Islamic State group, but that the Iraqi army’s ability to repel a major offensive is unclear.
Although 60,000 Iraqi troops have been tasked with defending Baghdad, CBS News correspondent David Martin reported Thursday that troops west of the capital have performed poorly when tested in battle.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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