ISIS in Iraq: Terrorist Group Closes in on Baghdad; Obama Meets with Military Commanders
President Barack Obama will meet with top military commanders Tuesday afternoon to discuss the fight against ISIS.
The Islamic State militants who aimed to move through the terrain in Iraq and Syria in order to capture Baghdad are uncomfortably close to achieving their goal.
Reports late Monday revealed that IS (formerly ISIS and ISIL) militants have surrounded Iraq's capital on three sides, causing 180,000 Iraqis to flee the area.
Time reported that Iraqi security forces left the base at Anbar province, which is to the west of Baghdad and about 80 percent controlled by the militants.
This news comes almost two weeks after the militants captured Heet, on Oct. 2, which lies just 85 miles west of Baghdad.
IS militants have also taken control of areas to the north and east of Baghdad, including Tikrit, Saadiyah and Jalawla, according to The News Commenter.
Turkey offered support to the U.S. late Sunday by allowing access to their air bases, the New York Post reported.
But Sen. John McCain said the efforts on the part of the U.S. has not been enough to stop the militants, and air strikes need to increase before IS controls the Syrian border city of Kobani, the Post reported.
The U.S. is pressing Arab nations to send special forces into the battle zone in Syria, CBS reported.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel also said that many of those in the coalition against ISIS will be discussing the duties and responsibilities of each nation. This includes allies such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Britain, France and Turkey.
The militants are now controlling a large swath of territory that stretches across the northern regions of Iraq and Syria, and specifically connects Baghdad to Syria, CBS reported.
Turkey said the airstrikes are helping strengthen Syrian regime, and are pursuing a no-fly zone over northern Syria.
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