BAGHDAD, November 4 (IslamOnline.net) – The unabated resistance in the Iraqi city of Ramadi, west of Baghdad, is a direct result of the barbarian practices of the US occupation forces, residents said.

"Following the US invasion of Iraq in April 2003, the American forces entered Ramadi like other cities without clashes," Abdul Salam Al-Delimi, a Ramadi resident, told IslamOnline.net.

"Days later, they launched a massive arrest campaign and stormed houses after misleading reports from some Iraqi political powers that the city residents are supporters of the Baath regime and former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein."

The failure of negotiations between Ramadi’s chieftains and the occupation forces for the release of hundreds of detainees added insults to the wounds, he added.

The die-hard resistance is also largely attributed to the tribal nature of the city fabric, Delimi said.

He noted that the combat experience of the former Iraqi army soldiers who fought three wars before largely contributed to strengthening the resistance in Ramadi, home to 400,000 Sunni Iraqis hailing from old Arab tribes.

A well-placed source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told IOL that small resistance groups were formed in the city immediately following the US occupation of the oil-rich country.

With incessant provocations from the US troops against the city residents, people joined hands and the small groups grew more organized factions, he said.

The source added that several members of the disbanded Iraqi army are also fighting against the occupation forces.

Scholars and mosque preachers, many of whom were arrested and assaulted by the US occupation forces, have been increasingly supporting the resistance, especially after the Americans attacked several mosques, he said.

The interim Iraqi government and the US army claimed on October 12 that mosques in Ramadi were being used as depots for weapons and ammunitions and that imams were inciting anti-US resistance attacks.

Residents believe Arab fighters are present in all cities, especially the resistance bastions of Fallujah, Ba’quba, Samarra and Ramadi, known as the Sunni Triangle.

"The Iraqis sympathize with them [Arab fighters] and provide them with shelter and food," said Abu Ahmed, a Ramadi resident.

"That is why the Americans are threatening to crack down on Iraqi cities because they know that resistance is popularly supported by the Iraqi people."

Ramadi reported almost no attacks against Iraqi police forces.

"Most residents respect the Iraqi policemen because they don’t take part in the crackdown operations in the city," said Mo’ed Al-Jumeili, a civil servant.