Intense Clashes in Iraq: Government Forces Fight Sunni Militants for Strategic Cities 🚨

Armed gunmen in Iraq's western Anbar province, near the Syrian border.<br/> <br />This is where Iraqi government forces are fighting an offensive by Sunni militants linked to al-Qaeda.<br/> <br />The insurgents call themselves the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.<br/> <br />They took partial control of two key provincial cities last week, Ramadi and nearby Falluja.<br/> <br />The fighting's forced families from both cities to flee.<br/> <br />They've poured into the mostly Shi'ite town of Kerbala for refuge from the sectarian violence.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (ARABIC) UM AHMED, RESIDENT OF FALLUJA, SAYING:<br/> <br />"We have come from Falluja - the situation there is not good."<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (ARABIC) HAIDER JASSIM, RESIDENT OF KERBALA , SAYING:<br/> <br />"God willing there is no difference between Anbar and Kerbala, we are all against terrorism, extremists and outlaws."<br/> <br />The capture of Ramadi and Falluja is a serious challenge to the authority of the Shi'ite-led provincial government.<br/> <br />In video released b