Wednesday, July 16, 2014

16 July 2014

Since last night and through the early hours of this morning, Fallujah has been hit by the fiercest ground and air assault, resulting in clashes at the city's perimeter, especially in the northern and northeastern sectors of the city. Early reports by the Fallujah General Hospital indicate that at least 17 people, including 2 women and 4 children, have been killed and 32 others wounded in those military operations, Yesterday, the shelling was directed at a number of districts, including those in the city's southern sector.

Al-Garma has also been hit by indiscriminate shelling and clashes erupted in a number of the town's districts. Casualties included 2 residents killed and 8 wounded by the shelling. Meanwhile operations are also ongoing along the banks of the Euphrates River branch and the areas separating Al-Garma and Fallujah, as well as along the Baghdad-Fallujah highway.

In Ramadi, fierce clashes are continuing in the city's western sector that is being controlled by the gunmen. Fighting and shelling is also continuing in the gunmen's efforts to take the 8th Brigade HQ, the last position that is still being held by security forces in that sector. Clashes have also spread to the city's northeastern sector along the Euphrates. In one confrontation, 7 gunmen were killed when their group attacked a military/security checkpoint.

The western towns of the governorate are still under the full control of the armed groups. Along the border with Syria, the Al-Waleed crossing point and other border regions have been bombarded.

Haditha is still being held by security, 'Awakenings', and tribal forces, but only light clashes have occurred there. In Al-Baghdadi, the ISIL gunmen have been distributing flyers advising security forces and local police that they have opened the door for 'repentance' and that the government forces should lay down their arms and join the 'Islamic State'. This was described as the final warning allowing security and police forces and civil servants to announce their 'final repentance, an offer that will expire with the end of Ramadan.

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