Iraqi army strikes back against insurgents

It has been just three years since the last U.S. troops left Iraq, but the parallels between this war and America's last unpopular war-Vietnam-are still growing.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Muslim insurgents, led by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), have continued to take city after city in northwestern Iraq, recently claiming Mosul, Iraq's second largest city. These groups continue to push towards the capital of Baghdad and into Iraq's predominantly Shia populated regions.

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These developments make the likelihood of Iraq being divided into several states highly likely, especially as Kurdish forces hold much of the nation's north. On June 11, the Iraqi Ambassador to Washington warned that the "integrity of Iraq is in question."

Currently, the Iraqi army has called for citizens to volunteer to fight the estimated 30,000-50,000 insurgents, and thousands have; celebrating with Iraqi soldiers at enlistment areas.

Even with an influx of troops, Iraq is going to need help from the U.S. and the greater international community.

Speaking with reporters on June 11, President Barack Obama said that the U.S. "will not rule anything out," in aiding Iraq. "This is an area that we have been watching with a lot of concern," he said.

A senior official did rule out the possibility of sending American troops back to Iraq.

"No boots on the ground," he said.

The Iraqi army has declared one victory, at least in the short term, a Defense Ministry statement reported. Retaking the city of Tikrit-Saddam Hussein's home town-which had largely been under the control of militants the days before, and carrying out numerous airstrikes on ISIS targets.

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