Militants Hold Iraqi City Hostage.

The article states that fighters of the militant group Islamic State, also known as ISIL, were threatening to kill citizens of Ramadi, Iraq, and preventing them from leaving the city as of early December 2015. According to the article, Iraqi forces warned residents via leaflets dropped from the air beginning November 29, 2015, that Islamic State was initiating an offensive to recapture the city. The article states that U.S. secretary of defense Ash Carter indicated that the U.S. would increase special operations forces in Iraq to combat Islamic State.