Ramadi the capital of iraqs Anbar Province. And lets go to cnns Senior International correspondent arwa damon in baghdad. Is isis being pushed back . Is isis losing ground . Those are two assertions that the white house was making last week to sort of cool down all of the secondguessing thats been taking place here in washington. What can you tell us from the ground there . Reporter first of all, one has to continuously keep in mind the battle lines here are constantly shifting and small chunks of territory do regularly go back and forth. Following the fall of ramadi a week ago, isis did push into other smaller towns located to the east of ramadi. Now, the Iraqi Government has managed to recapture some of them but not only on its own. You had a unit that was comprised of the iraqi army, plus, and was arguably the deciding factor in this, the Popular Mobilization units and that is this Iranianbacked Shia paramilitary force. And it was largely due to them that they were able to accomplis
Descended on city of ramadi and took it over. Ash carter telling cnn exclusively that he is very concerned. That says to me and i think to most of us that we have an issue with the will of the iraqis to fight isil and defend themselves. Cnns athena jones joins me live from the white house. Athena last hour arwa damon in baghdad said clearly the words from the u. S. Defense secretary greatly upset the people of iraq and they said that is not the case that their armed forces do not have the will to fight. Whats the white house saying . Reporter well the white house is not saying anything today, but secretary carton iser sends this message to the iraqi forces. You can bet the white house is aware of what he said and is not speaking out of turn. Ever since the fall of ramadi this week and palmyra in syria theres been pressure on the white house and criticism on the white houses whole strategy regarding isis in the region. Youre hearing from a lot of people saying the white house needs to c