28 October 2014

Tribal and local Anbar government sources are saying that Prime Minister Al-Abadi has approved the formation of a 30,000-man army whose fighters will be trained within and outside Iraq. Participation is open to all tribesman who will then take part in fighting ISIL and liberate Anbar Province from the gunmen.

There has been today a major assault on Baghdadi township that encompasses the Ayn Al-Asad military base. This has led to the displacement of many families from the township, leaving it practically empty. Gunmen have bombarded some of the abandoned residences, causing structural damage but no casualties.

In Ramadi, the military operation in its western sector is ongoing; Operation Command and Police sources say that the security forces are holding the initiative as they gradually advance into the districts there but they are advancing slowly because most of the access routes are mined with IEDs.

There have also been some intermittent clashes on the southern outskirts of Ramadi.

In Fallujah, clashes between gunmen holding the city and security forces outside the city who have been bombarding the city, left 4 residents dead and 17 injured, according to initial reports.

In Amiriyat Al-Fallujah, security sources are reporting that major reinforcements have arrived, accompanied by tanks, armored vehicles, and truckloads of arms and munitions. Meanwhile, the gunmen are still holding the areas around the town.