Iraq holds parade to celebrate victories over ISIS [PIC]

[Blackmoon]

BAGHDAD: Iraqi security forces paraded through Baghdad Thursday to celebrate victories over ISIS, but an unannounced rehearsal two days earlier put a damper on the festivities.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi reviewed the forces from a pavilion as they passed through central Tahrir Square, and military jets and helicopters overflew the city.

The parade was held to mark "the liberation of Fallujah and Ramadi and all the Iraqi territory that was liberated," defense ministry spokesman Brigadier General Tahseen Ibrahim told AFP, referring to two key cities recaptured from the extremists.

But an unannounced rehearsal for the parade held Tuesday, in which many roads were closed and military vehicles drove through the city, inspired fear rather than celebration.

Some speculated on social media that it was a message to protesters planning a demonstration Friday that Abadi has called on them to delay, while others speculated that it could be a military coup.

Iraq announced the full recapture of Fallujah, a city 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of Baghdad that had been outside government control for more than two and a half years, at the end of June.

Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, was declared to have been recaptured at the end of December, but fighting in the area continued into this year.

More recently, Baghdad's forces seized a key military base south of Mosul from ISIS that the Pentagon has said will serve as a "springboard" for the push to retake the last ISIS-held city in Iraq.

ISIS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces backed by U.S.-led airstrikes and training have since regained significant ground.

 

[f1000n]

No it's not to celebrate victories over IS. The parade marks the establishment of the republic when the monarch was overthrown at 14th of July 1958.

Just if you ask me not the right year to do that whilst in the mid of a war.

 

[Established_1965]

No it's not to celebrate victories over IS. The parade marks the establishment of the republic when the monarch was overthrown at 14th of July 1958.

Just if you ask me not the right year to do that whilst in the mid of a war.

It is the right time.

It boosts the morale of the army and people.

 

[Mustang06]

Hope for a quick victory to our Iranian friends!
Can someone name the make of trucks in the above picture? I wanted to know whether those M1's would be kept as war trophies or returned back to Iraq after studying the internals of those tanks?

 

[khanz]

God bless Iraq and down with ISIS ! Iraqi people have suffered so much I hope peace and prosperity come to this ancient and wonderful country soon.

 

[Serpentine]

Hope for a quick victory to our Iranian friends!
Can someone name the make of trucks in the above picture? I wanted to know whether those M1's would be kept as war trophies or returned back to Iraq after studying the internals of those tanks?

It's Iraq bro, not Iran.

 

[Mustang06]

It's Iraq bro, not Iran.

Lol my bad! Feeling to sleepy!

 

[Irfan Baloch]

BAGHDAD: Iraqi security forces paraded through Baghdad Thursday to celebrate victories over ISIS, but an unannounced rehearsal two days earlier put a damper on the festivities.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi reviewed the forces from a pavilion as they passed through central Tahrir Square, and military jets and helicopters overflew the city.

The parade was held to mark "the liberation of Fallujah and Ramadi and all the Iraqi territory that was liberated," defense ministry spokesman Brigadier General Tahseen Ibrahim told AFP, referring to two key cities recaptured from the extremists.

But an unannounced rehearsal for the parade held Tuesday, in which many roads were closed and military vehicles drove through the city, inspired fear rather than celebration.

Some speculated on social media that it was a message to protesters planning a demonstration Friday that Abadi has called on them to delay, while others speculated that it could be a military coup.

Iraq announced the full recapture of Fallujah, a city 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of Baghdad that had been outside government control for more than two and a half years, at the end of June.

Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, was declared to have been recaptured at the end of December, but fighting in the area continued into this year.

More recently, Baghdad's forces seized a key military base south of Mosul from ISIS that the Pentagon has said will serve as a "springboard" for the push to retake the last ISIS-held city in Iraq.

ISIS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces backed by U.S.-led airstrikes and training have since regained significant ground.

this is too early .. these takfiri scumbags will resort to bomb blasts

these sectarian obsessed wahabis are so devilish they they have not even hesitated from attacking the Tomb of Prophet Muhammad PBUH
it is not wrong to celebrate but be vigilant

 

[Vassnti]

Seems people make a habit of premature celebrations in Iraq.

 

[raptor22]

No it's not to celebrate victories over IS. The parade marks the establishment of the republic when the monarch was overthrown at 14th of July 1958.

Just if you ask me not the right year to do that whilst in the mid of a war.

Why not ? it could be a sign of restoring stability and security in Iraq ... but overcoming ISIS still needs time ..