ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has announced the official codename of the the Iraqi forces' campaign to recapture the city of Ramadi is “Labaik Ya Iraq,” denying that the title was originally "Labaik Ya Hussein,” which is a reference to the Shiite branch of Islam.
“We hadn’t decided on any specific name on the first day. It was the second day of the operation when we decided to call it 'Labaik Ya Iraq', but one of the Hashd al-Shaabi spokesmen announced it as 'Labayk Ya Hussein' for local media,” Abadi told al-Iraqia News on Saturday.
The Pentagon on Tuesday expressed displeasure at the codename “Labayk Ya Hussein,” saying the name may be provocative as Shiite militias took part in the offensive to liberate the Sunni heartland of Anbar province and its capital Ramadi.
The prime minister also promised to take “legal action” against commanders who “left Ramadi without approval” and said the Iraqi government has created a committee to investigate the fall of the city.
“The Iraqi forces pulled out, not because they couldn’t fight, but they have been given orders to withdraw,” said Abadi.
“We will take those commanders to court who have destroyed the reputation of brave Iraqi commanders. We will remove them from security agencies,” Abadi added.
Abadi claimed the fall of Ramadi was not comparable to the defeat of Iraqi forces last year in Mosul.
“Ramadi’s withdrawal was with all military equipment. Only old, non-functional weapons were left, which were destroyed later by Iraqi airstrikes," Abadi said.
“We hadn’t decided on any specific name on the first day. It was the second day of the operation when we decided to call it 'Labaik Ya Iraq', but one of the Hashd al-Shaabi spokesmen announced it as 'Labayk Ya Hussein' for local media,” Abadi told al-Iraqia News on Saturday.
The Pentagon on Tuesday expressed displeasure at the codename “Labayk Ya Hussein,” saying the name may be provocative as Shiite militias took part in the offensive to liberate the Sunni heartland of Anbar province and its capital Ramadi.
The prime minister also promised to take “legal action” against commanders who “left Ramadi without approval” and said the Iraqi government has created a committee to investigate the fall of the city.
“The Iraqi forces pulled out, not because they couldn’t fight, but they have been given orders to withdraw,” said Abadi.
“We will take those commanders to court who have destroyed the reputation of brave Iraqi commanders. We will remove them from security agencies,” Abadi added.
Abadi claimed the fall of Ramadi was not comparable to the defeat of Iraqi forces last year in Mosul.
“Ramadi’s withdrawal was with all military equipment. Only old, non-functional weapons were left, which were destroyed later by Iraqi airstrikes," Abadi said.
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