Iraqi Shia militia rejects U.S. enforcements in Anbar

The Iraqi Shia militia Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi opposed Thursday a U.S. decision to deploy more forces in Anbar province, citing it is an attempt to “steal the militia’s upcoming victory.”

The White House had announced the plan to deploy roughly 450 additional troops to Iraq Wednesday in a bid to offset recent battle losses and help Iraqi forces prepare for a campaign to retake western Iraq’s Anbar province from ISIS.

“The security situation of Anbar province does not require sending more American advisors to the military bases,” Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi spokesman Karim Al-Nouri told reporters.

Al-Nouri stressed that Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi forces have the capacity to “liberate” Anbar province without the international coalition’s support.

“The decision of the U.S. has two goals. The first is to contain the criticism against Washington that it is to blame for the fall of [Anbar provincial capital] Ramadi to Daesh (ISIS),” Al-Nouri said.

“The second goal, which is more distinct, is to send more American military advisors to Anbar to steal the victory that will be achieved by the hands of Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi forces in the cities of Ramadi and Fallujah.”

There are tens of U.S. military experts in three military bases in the central-north Saladin province, near al-Baghdadi district and east of Ramadi in the western Anbar province.

Ramadi fell to ISIS on 14 May, with U.S. officials initially scrambling to minimize the significance of the strategic defeat.

But Defence Secretary Ashton Carter strongly critiqued the performance of Iraqi forces against ISIS last month, questioning if they have the determination to meet ISIS in the battlefield.