The Islamic State is preparing to leave Fallujah with instructions to fighters to dress as Iraqi security forces and commit atrocities as their calling card.
The instructions, in a document seized by Iraqis, seems to be a concession that the government’s long military push in western Anbar province will eventually evict the Islamic State.
The document tells fighters to blow up mosques, torture and kill residents, and break into homes, says Army Col. Steve Warren, the top U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad.
“We’re starting to see changes in behavior that may be signs of desperation,” Col. Warren told reporters at the Pentagon via a phone hookup on Tuesday.
The Islamic State, also known as ISIL and ISIS, began taking territory in Sunni-dominated Anbar Province in December 2013 and captured the city of Ramadi last summer.
Iraqi forces, backed by American airpower, now seem poised to retake the city held by about 300 ISIL fighters. Forces have moved into city center but must avoid numerous improvised explosive devices.
“There’s still a long way to go,” Col. Warren said. “There’s a lot of dense terrain here that needs to be negotiated.”
As for the thousands of civilians escaping Ramadi, “It’s going to be hard for them,” the spokesman said.
“I think the fall of Ramadi is inevitable,” he said.
The Iraqis around Ramadi are made up primarily by Sunni tribal members trained by the U.S. and Anbar police officers trained by Italians, plus some regular Iraqi Security Forces.
He said it is “impossible to know” if ISIL plans to unleash atrocities in Ramadi.
• Rowan Scarborough can be reached at rscarborough@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.