Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The United States has become concerned over the threat by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant to Baghdad.

Officials acknowledged that ISIL was moving toward the Iraqi capital despite daily air strikes on the movement in the north.

The officials said ISIL was threatening the city from both north and south as well as Baghdad International Airport.

“We have consistently seen them pose a threat to the capital city,” Defense Department spokesman John Kirby said.

[On Oct. 2, ISIL attacked several military command centers in the Anbar province. The Iraqi military said 40 ISIL fighters were killed in the raids.]

Officials said Baghdad has come under daily suicide bombings that targeted the military, government and Shi’ite neighborhoods. They said ISIL, operating civilian agents, has employed car bombs and mortars.

In late September 2014, ISIL was said to have targeted Shi’ite neighborhoods in southwestern Baghdad. Officials said the U.S. military was working with its Iraqi counterpart to bolster security and collect intelligence on suspected insurgency strongholds.

“This is not a new thing,” Kirby, referring to ISIL, said. “And they’ll make an advance and they’ll back off.”

One scenario by the U.S. military was that ISIL would eventually strike the American embassy and Baghdad International Airport. The airport contains a fleet of U.S. military aircraft.

“Iraqi security forces in and around Baghdad have been performing well,” Kirby said. “They’ve stiffened their defenses. They have not allowed Baghdad to come under a major assault. They’ve done pretty well in and around the city.”

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