23 July 2014

In Ramadi, localized military operations are continuing in the city's western sector districts that are still controlled by the gunmen. Intermittent clashes have taken place between last night and this afternoon. Mortar rounds and artillery shells have also been used on those districts. No casualties have been reported but there has been significant structural damage. Although no deaths have been reported, some residents have been slightly wounded, while the general population is living in fear.

Al-Garma is still the target of the fiercest military operations for the fourth consecutive day. 32 people have been killed and at least 60 have been wounded in the operations between last night and this afternoon. Yesterday, according to eyewitnesses, explosive-filled barrels/drums were dropped on the town; one of the drums struck the Al-Ameen school that is now housing more than 20 families. The drum struck one of the school buildings housing at least 5 families, leaving 9 people dead and wounding 15 others, according to sources at the Al-Garma General Hospital. Fierce clashes are still being reported between the gunmen within the town and army forces on the town's perimeter. Air strikes have also been targeting the districts along the highway toward Fallujah.

In Fallujah, yesterday's shelling and bombardment targeted numerous districts, including the central districts. At least 13 residents were wounded, although the Fallujah General Hospital has not recorded any deaths. The overall casualty count for Fallujah now stands at least 502 killed and more than 2,000 wounded since the beginning of the Anbar crisis.

The main towns in Anbar's western regions are still fully controlled by the gunmen. Meanwhile clashes are still going on around the perimeter of Haditha which the gunmen are still planning to assault, but there has not yet been any definitive action toward that end. Hit and Al-Baghdadi are still relatively secure.