Only a third of Fallujah has been "cleared" of Islamic State militants, the U.S.-led coalition said Tuesday, days after the Iraqi government declared victory in the city west of Baghdad, which was held by the extremists for more than two years. – Associated Press
Josh Rogin reports: As the war against the Islamic State in Iraq shows signs of fragile progress, U.S. military leaders there are preparing to ask President Obama for the one thing he is resisting above all else in his final months — the deployment of hundreds more U.S. troops. – Washington Post
James Jeffrey writes: [W]ithin a year, ISIS will likely be essentially cleared from Iraq. The question then will be, can Iraq learn from the errors that fueled ISIS’ rise and, in particular, move towards a cross-sectarian, cross-religious concept of the nation? Much will depend on Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who has two more years in office before new parliamentary elections. But he cannot wait. Iraq’s problems are immediate, requiring responses even before ISIS is eradicated.’ – The Cipher Brief