19 October 2014

There has been an unprecedented escalation in the security situation, especially by the ISIL gunmen who are trying to take complete control of Anbar Province, after having seized the townships of Al-Qaim, Ana, Rutba, Rawa, and some districts of Ramadi, in addition to their total control of Fallujah and Garma.

Yesterday, the armed ISIL groups launched a fierce attack on the Baghdadi township, between Hit and Haditha, where the Ayn Al-Asad Base is located. The attack was on three fronts: from the north, the east, and the west, involving fierce clashes and mortar bombardment. There was a strong reaction by the tribal fighters who confronted the attack and prevented the gunmen from achieving the total control they sought. They did, however, seize some rural areas on the far bank of the Euphrates, including a village that is only 7-8 km from the center of Baghdadi. The outcome is that Baghdadi is now besieged from all sides, with no food or fuel getting through of which there are severe shortages. Meanwhile the indiscriminate mortar fire has been terrorising the residents, as some of the rounds have struck people's homes.

In Ramadi, there were intermittent clashes in the city's northern and northeastern sectors, as well as in the central districts, but the gunmen were unable to achieve inroads following airstrikes against some of their positions.

In Fallujah, numerous districts were hit by mortar fire. Preliminary reports show that 3 residents have been killed and 9 were wounded by the shelling.

In Garma, following the military operations last week, is now relatively quiet.

Across Anbar, the ISIL gunmen are in control of more than 80% (about 138,000 square kilometers) of the Province, while the local government is still calling for the formation of the province's National Guard.