Islamic State captures major city in Iraq; Gulf leaders concerned about their security

Islamic State Fighters

The Islamic State has apparently taken over a provincial capital city in Iraq:

May 15, 2015

BAGHDAD —Islamic State fighters took control of key sites Friday in the heart of Ramadi, capital of Iraq’s largest province, in what appeared to mark a significant blow to a U.S.-backed military campaign to retake territory from the militants.

The Islamic State offensive — which began with ambush-style attacks after sundown Thursday — touched off panicked attempts to flee the city and avoid the militant’s tightening noose on routes to safety. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/isis-gains-control-of-major-iraqi-city/2015/05/15/68a8036c-fb0c-11e4-a47c-e56f4db884ed_story.html

May 15, 2015

Islamic State militants took over the local government compound in the Iraqi city of Ramadi on Friday, raising their black flag over the capital of Anbar province.

An Iraqi parliamentarian told VOA’s Kurdish service the city is not in complete Islamic State control, however. Government forces are believed to still be holding out at a military command center in western Ramadi.

IS fighters used bombs overnight to blast their way into the city center.

The offensive is a blow to government forces, who are fighting on multiple fronts to regain territory claimed by the insurgents and earlier this year took back Tikrit from the militant group. http://www.voanews.com/content/islamic-state-raises-flag-over-ramadi-iraq/2768913.html

The USA spent a lot of time, money, training, plus lost US lives, in Iraq. The military of the USA then mainly abandoned Iraq as its political leaders forced them to. The end result in Iraw has not been as the USA expected.

Many in the Middle East are concerned. Notice the following:

Obama Reassures Nervous Gulf Partners

Published May 14, 2015

President Obama has told Gulf Arab partners at a Washington summit that the United States will stand by them against external attacks and will deepen security cooperation against threats that include Iran and violent extremists. http://www.voanews.com/media/video/obama-reassures-nervous-gulf-partners/2768462.html

The fact that those leaders felt that they had to come to Washington to get reassurance suggests that they are having concerns about the depth of USA commitment to the region. Further, notice the following:

CAMP DAVID, Md. — President Obama on Thursday offered Saudi Arabia and smaller Arab states new support to defend against potential missile strikes, maritime threats and cyberattacks from Iran, calling his commitment to their security “ironclad” in an effort to allay fears that a nuclear accord will empower Tehran, their main rival in the Middle East.

But in a daylong meeting here, Mr. Obama stopped short of offering a formal defense pact that would obligate the United States to come to the nations’ aid if they were attacked. …

“I am reaffirming our ironclad commitment to the security of our gulf partners,” Mr. Obama said at a news conference … But he went on to issue a carefully worded pledge that was far less robust than the mutual defense treaty that the gulf nations had sought. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/15/world/middleeast/obama-saudi-arabia-iran-persian-gulf-security.html?_r=0

Arab leaders did NOT get what they really wanted. The actions and inactions of the USA are a concern to many, if not all, Arab nations.

The actions by the group calling itself the Islamic State are pushing the US to push for a militarized Arab coalition as well as pushing many Arab leaders to push for a militaristic coalition. The deal that the USA has been negotiating with Iran has also been a major concern to Arab leaders who are starting to figure out that they need to figure out how to handle military matters with less USA involvement (e.g. the bombing in Iran allies in Yemen by Saudi Arabia).

After this week’s meeting with US President Obama, I believe that the Arabs are more and more coming to the conclusion that they need their own MAJOR military force.

According to biblical prophecy, a military force of Arabs and certain others in the Middle East and North Africa will come to pass–and this force will be led by one called the King of the South in Bible prophecy:

40 “At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through. 41 He shall come into the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Cushites shall follow in his train. (Daniel 11:40-43, ESV)

The peoples listed above are mainly located in North Africa and the Middle East. They are in Muslim-dominated lands and include the Arabs and some of the Turks. The Arab League is working on the framework for that type of coalition–and an Arabic coalition with Turkish and Cushite (the word commonly mistranslated as “Ethiopians” is the plural of the word Kuwshiy–it is not a direct reference to the nation known as Ethiopia) involvement will come to pass.

Actions by the Islamic State and negotiations with Iran by the USA are convincing more and more Arab leaders that they need to get together their own military confederation. Such a confederation is in the beginning stages of forming now, but will come to pass. However, the Bible shows it WILL NOT end well for many of those who will be involved in it (Ezekiel 30:2-8; Daniel 11:40-43).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Iraq, the King of the South, Armageddon, and Prophecy What will happen to Iraq? Is it the prophesied Mystery Babylon? What is Armageddon and how does that have to do with Iraq? Here is a related video Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy.
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here is a related video Iran In Prophecy.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Others have many misunderstandings about him. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South The Bible tells of the formation of a power of nations that
Obama Administration Pushing for an Islamic Empire? Because of the rise of groups such as the Islamic State, the Obama Administration and others are pushing for a coalition of Arab nations along with Turkey. Does this resemble the final King of the South of Bible prophecy? Is there an Islamic antichrist? Does the Bible teach that terrorism and the sword will affect the USA and some of its allies? What does the Bible teach in Ezekiel about a confederation involving Egypt? Will an Arabic confederation end in destruction for those who strongly support it? Are the 10 nations in the Arab coalition the ten kings of Revelation 17:12-13? Are the 10 nations including the USA and Turkey the ten nations of Revelation 17:12-13? Who is? Was the pushing of the Obama Administration to do this predicted by in 2009 in a writing by Dr. Thiel? What does the Bible show? are in the Middle East and North Africa that are part of the final “King of the South” (Daniel 11:40-43) The Muslim Brotherhood wishes to have an Islamic empire with basically the same nations. This YouTube video explains what to expect from such a confederation.
Differences Between Islam and the Continuing Church of God What are some of the main differences? Are there any similarities?
Africa: Its Biblical Past and Prophesied Future What does the Bible teach about Africa and its future? Did the early Church reach Africa? Will God call all the Africans?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Egypt in Prophecy Does Egypt have a special role in end time prophecy? Will Egypt rise up and then be defeated. What does God teach will happen to those in Egypt? Here is a link to a YouTube video titled Egypt and End Time Prophecy.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Just What Do You Mean the Kingdom of God? A booklet that was written by Herbert Armstrong answers questions about the Kingdom.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
How Will Middle East Peace be Brought About? Can humans bring peace to the Middle East? Here is a link to a related video: Middle East Peace? When?
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.