19 March 2015

In Garma, fierce clashes are continuing as ISIL gunmen have withdrawn to the township's southwestern sector where coalition and Iraqi airstrikes have targeted the gunmen's positions. Anbar Operations sources are reporting that at least 53 gunmen have been killed. Meanwhile security forces have maintained their control over the central and eastern sectors

Security forces have also cleared the highway between Haditha and the Baiji area in Salahuddin Province. At least 116 explosive devices planted by ISIL gunmen have been secured and removed from the roadsides. Security forces have also taken up positions aimed at preventing the gunmen from moving between the two provinces.

In Fallujah, a general hospital source has reported that 7 residents have been killed and 13 wounded by the random bombardment exchanges between security forces on the city's perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city. Meanwhile reports indicate that security forces are planning an assault to liberate the city, probably after the completion of the ongoing operation to liberate Tikrit.

In Amiriyat al-Fallujah, a new local government leader has been elected in the township; a recruitment center is to be opened in the town to receive tribal volunteer fighters for the coming battle for the liberation of Fallujah.

In Ramadi, the southern and northeastern sectors have been relatively calm today, but the Hawz district has been the scene of low-level clashes. In the early hours of this morning coalition and Iraqi airstrikes targeted ISIL positions in the area lying between western Ramadi and the city's center.