U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter pointed out Iraq's lack of willingness to fight as a major reason for Ramadi's fall at the hands of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group last week.
In an interview with CNN's Barbara Starr, Carter said that "what apparently happened was that the Iraqi forces just showed no will to fight" against ISIL.
Carter made his comments after Islamic State fighters seized the city of Ramadi in Iraq and were believed to be gaining ground in Syria, The Star.com noted.
"They were not outnumbered. In fact, they vastly outnumbered the opposing force, and yet they failed to fight, they withdrew from the site, and that says to me, and I think to most of us, that we have an issue with the will of the Iraqis to fight ISIL and defend themselves," Carter added in the interview.
Carter's statements prompted fury in Baghdad as "Iraqi officials are blaming the US for not delivering crucial weapons well before ISIL mounted their offensive," according to Al Jazeera. The officials believe that "the U,S, could have stopped the fall of Mosul."
An Iraqi lawmaker called Carter's comments "unrealistic and baseless," saying that the fall of Ramadi, which is considered a key town, should be blamed on the U.S. for its failure to provide "good equipment, weapons and aerial support" and that the U.S. is looking for someone to blame.
However, Carter said the U.S. can give Iraq training and equipment, but he pointed out that the will to fight relies on Iraq.
"But if we give them training, we give them equipment, and give them support, and give them some time, I hope they will develop the will to fight, because only if they fight can ISIL remain defeated," Carted added.
