ISIL Takes Control of Anbar City of Al-Baghdadi

Islamic State insurgents took control on Thursday of most of the western Iraqi city of al-Baghdadi, about 85 km (50 miles) northwest of Ramadi in Anbar province, Reuters reported. The town had been besieged for months by ISIL.

“Ninety percent of al-Baghdadi district has fallen under the control of the insurgents,” district manager Naji Arak said. (Reuters, 12 February)

ISIL fighters attacked al-Baghdadi from two directions earlier today and later advanced on the town.

The insurgents are now only five kilometers from Ain al-Asad airbase, where U.S. marines are training members of the Iraqi Army 7th Division. Pentagon spokeswoman Elissa Smith confirmed the fighting at al-Baghdadi, but said the airbase did not come under direct fire. She added there were reports of ineffective indirect fire in the vicinity of the base.

Map credit: Business Insider

First Video of Leader of Islamic State

Leading Friday’s Prayer in Mosul

Islamic State’s “Emir al-Momenin” (Defender of the Faith) leading the Friday Prayer in Mosul; 4 July 2014. (Islamic State/YouTube)

Convoy of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State, heading to the mosque in Mosul. (Twitter/pic.twitter.com/T8Q1c8WBhh)