Hundreds of Iraqi families who fled fighting in Fallujah have been given mattresses, blankets and other relief in Kerbala.

Al Qaeda’s Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has been steadily tightening its grip in the Sunni-dominated Anbar province bordering Syria. They want to create a Sunni Muslim state straddling the border.

Iraq’s security forces have been battling tribal leaders and Sunni militants around Falluja and Ramadi.

The US won’t be putting boots back on the ground to help them. It is, however, selling Baghdad equipment and weapons to drive the offensive against the ISIL.