25 June 2014

In western Anbar, local citizens in Rutba held funeral processions for the 22 people who were killed in the Syrian air raids yesterday. In Al-Qa'im, similar procesions were held for 11 people who were killed in the bombardment of the border areas between Iraq and Syria.

Meanwhile the groups of gunmen were advancing toward areas closer to the governorate seat in Ramadi; they seized control of Burwana, a village attached to Haditha township. The gunmen are in full control of the areas on the outskirts of Haditha, but so far there have not been any clashes between the gunmen and the security forces supported by tribal fighters within the town.

In Fallujah, 6 residents have been wounded by the shelling of a number of the city's districts, particularly Al-Sichir to the north and several of the city's central districts. Some families have been heading out of the city because of the ongoing shelling.

Gunmen wearing army uniforms assaulted the Al-Jazeera area of Ramadi where they seized a number of residential houses. Intermittent clashes have been occurring in those areas of central Ramadi. Although clashes have been taking place, the groups of gunmen representing a number of factions are advancing from one region of Anbar to the next, moving eastward from Al-Qa'im to Ana, Rawa, Rutba, to the perimeter around Haditha. There are indications that the gunmen will be able to take Haditha within the coming hours.