U.S., Shiite fighters not working together at Iraq base: Pentagon
Washington, AFP
Wednesday, 24 June 2015
The Pentagon said Tuesday that there are some Shiite fighters at an Iraqi military base where Washington just sent 450 reinforcements, but they were not working with U.S. forces, underscoring concerns over links with the sectarian fighters.
Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steve Warren said that while there is a “small group” of Shiite fighters at the Taqaddum base, there numbered only in the lower double digits, did not form full units and did not interact with U.S. forces.
Taqaddum is a key area in the fight to retake the city of Ramadi and the Sunni province of Al-Anbar from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group.
Shiite and Kurdish fighters have been critical in bolstering a weakened Iraqi military in efforts to fight ISIS. But the United States is hesitant to see Shiite militias involved in its efforts to battle ISIS, despite their battle readiness.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/06/24/U-S-Shiite-fighters-not-working-together-at-Iraq-base-Pentagon-.html