11 December 2014

Local police supported by army and security forces today launched a major military operation to assault Hit, but ISIL forces controlling the town responded with fierce resistance. The commander of a special forces regiment of the 7th Brigade, Brigadier Haytham Al-Juburi was killed in the fighting, as were at least 10 security forces personnel. Anbar Command sources also say that 53 ISIL gunmen were also killed. In this first attempt to penetrate into Hit, the joint forces were unable to advance into the town, but were able to tighten their positions along the town's perimeter.

Fierce clashes and battles took place today in Ramadi, in the rural tribal areas where the gunmen detonated a booby-trapped Hummer at a position close to the 6th Brigade in western Ramadi. A number of security personnel were killed by the blast which was followed by violent clashes. Brigadier Ihsan Ahmed, commander of the Rapid Response Regiment of the 8th Brigade in Ramadi, was killed when he attempted to advance into the northeastern sector of the regiment which is still surrounded by ISIL gunmen on its southern and western flanks.

Also today, ISIL forces tried to re-take large areas of the southern Hawz district and its adjacent districts. The security forces were able to partially repel the attack, but ISIL forces have achieved some advances into the area.

In Garma today, and since last night, has been the scene of the most violent clashes to date in many of its districts. We have no information regarding the progress or outcome of the clashes, which are still ongoing.

In Fallujah, a General Hospital source confirmed today that 3 residents have been killed and 7 have been wounded by mortar fire on the city's residential districts.