24 November 2014

In the areas around Hit today, Iraqi aircraft dropped large quantities of leaflets, calling on the civilian population to leave the town immediately in preparation for a major military operation in the town. Eyewitnesses are reporting that hundreds of families have been leaving since this morning, making their way to Baghdadi, Haditha, and also toward the capital, Baghdad, and other parts of Iraq.

Also today, security forces have airlifted military equiment to the Ayn Al-Asad military base in Baghdadi, describing the equipment as being sufficient for implementing a military operation to liberate Hit from ISIL forces. The areas around the Fedayee Hit have also been brought under security forces control. Reports from within Hit indicate that large numbers of ISIL gunmen have been fleeing the town following the announcement of the impending operation to liberate the town.

In Ramadi today, fierce clashes have killed 17 gunmen in the Khalidiya sector, northeast of the city. Source are reporting that tribal, especially Bu-Fahad, fighters carried out a security operation that resulted in the arrest of 27 ISIL supporters in that area.

Security forces have today entered the Hawz district and surrounding areas of southern Ramadi. Security forces have been deployed around the government complex in central Ramadi. The situation there is relatively calm, but reports are indicating that two regiments have arrived from Baghdad to launch another military operation in Ramadi aimed at destroying ISIL in Anbar.

The Anbar Council has called today on the Defense Ministry and the Prime Minister to provide the province with quantities of military equipment. Five military aircraft have been allocated to transport the military supplies, as well as well as food relief aid.

In Fallujah, and in response to the gunfire by ISIL fighters, some shells have struck some of the city's residential districts. The General Hospital has reported that 2 residents have been killed and 7 wounded.