Iraqi forces need to take action to retake the ISIS-controlled city of Ramadi as soon as possible to prevent resupply and fortification by the terrorist group, US Central Command said Friday. Iraq has enough troops and equipment near the city to attack ISIS, but they “have not made any significant forward movement recently,” CENTCOM spokesman Col. Patrick Ryder said. Iraqi troops have been taking positions around the city, but significant “defensive obstacles” remain in their way. “We’re consulting with their leaders and their forces to move, when they are ready, as quickly as possible,” Ryder said. The US has trained 14,000 Iraqis to help with Operation Inherent Resolve, and there is another 1,900 currently in training. CENTCOM expects that number to increase after the Eid al-Adha holiday, with a class of 2,000 set to begin training Oct. 1.
A recent seven-day exercise sent Air Force F-22s—along with other USAF aircraft—to austere, challenging environments across Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Agile Reaper, taking place for the second time after its inaugural edition last year, featured 800 Airmen and 29 aircraft across five different locations from April 10-16, training…