15 May 2014

The security situation in Anbar is still escalated, particularly in Fallujah where military operations are continuing for the fifth day in succession. Fierce clashes have raged in a number of the city's districts, with initial reports indicating that 4 residents have been killed and 6 others wounded by the indiscriminate shelling on numerous residential districts. There were also battles in the city's northern sector Al-Sichir district, and in Al-Nu'aimiya, but as of this hour the security forces have not been able to enter or penetrate the city. Some sources are saying that the gunmen within the city are putting up fierce resistance, which is the way the situation has been over the past five days. There was also fighting in the city's western Al-Saqlawiya region. The Anbar Operations Command has announced that 4 gunmen have been killed in the fighting and shelling. Similar military action is also underway in Al-Garma, northeast of Fallujah.

On the political front, the Anbar Governorate Council leader, Sabah Karhout, has announced Council plans to convene a general national conference; Nouri Al-Maliki, Masoud Barzani, Ammar Al-Hakim, and Muqtada Al-Sadr have been called upon to attend the conference which will probably take place in Baghdad. Both sides in the Anbar crisis have also been called upon to attend. Dr. Sheikh Abdul-Malik Al-Sa'adi, the Mufti of Iraq and Anbar, is expected to approve of the conference. The Anbar Council has announced his acceptance of his invitation. The conference is expected to table all the parties' points of view for discussion, in an effort at playing a part in the return of the displaced families - comprising more than 700,000 people within and outside Anbar - to return to their homes from the difficult conditions they are now experiencing.