30 June 2015

In Baghdadi, the joint security forces there, supported by tribal fighters, have launched a major military operation. The forces have taken control of the Jubba area across the Euphrates in southwestern Baghdadi. The forces have killed at least 23 ISIL gunmen, with the support of Iraqi gun ships and Coalition warplanes. The liberated areas had been under ISIL control for three months.

In western Baghdadi, in the Bu-Hayat area, security forces have clashed with the ISIL gunmen there, but have not yet been able to establish full control. Security sources are reporting that they now hold about 80% of the Bu-Hayat area. In eastern Baghdadi, security forces have wrested control over the area from the ISIL gunmen.

All three combat zones are still the scene of fierce clashes.

In Ramadi, ISIL forces have attacked the areas to the east of the city, in Eastern Husayba, Juwayba, and Bu-Farraj. Security forces were able to thwart the attacks, killing at least 17 of the gunmen.

In southwestern Ramadi, Iraqi and Coalition air strikes have foiled attempts by ISIL gunmen to penetrate into the sector.

In Fallujah, indiscriminate bombardment exchanges are continuing between security forces on the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city. A General Hospital source has reported that at least 7 residents were killed and at least 13 were wounded by the bombardment of the central, southern, and northern residential districts.

In Garma, the situation remains unchanged, with security forces continuing their drive aimed at gaining control of the town’s center.

25 June 2015

In Hit township today, Iraqi gunships and coalition warplanes carried out a number of sorties, striking the Shari’a Courthouse and the agricultural complex in central Hit, where intelligence reports indicated that ISIL meetings and gatherings were underway at both locations. Subsequent contacts with sources within the town indicate that the bodies of dozens of ISIL gunmen were lying in the streets, and that ISIL commanders gathered at the courthouse were also killed. The strikes began early this morning and continued throughout the morning. The former Women’s Association building in Hit was also hit.

Meanwhile in Ramadi, the city is still fully besieged; large numbers of the People’s Mobilization fighters have also been deployed in support of the security forces around the city. Iraqi gunships and coalition warplanes have once again struck various areas of the city in advance of the imminent major ground military operation to liberate the city. The strikes are reported by Anbar Operations as having killed at least 11 ISIL gunmen. Security forces in the southern an southwestern sectors are continuing in their efforts to clear routes out of the city to enable residents to evacuate from ISIL-controlled districts.

In Fallujah, the intense bombardment of the city has continued for the tenth straight day; the General Hospital reported today that 9 residents, including 3 children and 2 women, were killed and 21 others wounded by the indiscriminate bombardment exchanges.

In Garma, the security situation remains unchanged, with security forces still trying to assault the town center after having cleared most of the surrounding areas and districts.

In western Anbar, security force have repelled ISIL’s advances from the southwestern sector of Haditha and the Jubba area across the river from Baghdadi.

23 June 2015

In Ramadi today, military preparations are continuing along the city’s perimeter; there have been some marginal clashes, especially in the eastern, southern, and southwestern sectors, but the major liberation campaign has not yet begun. Security forces have repelled an ISIL attack in the southwestern sector, and have opened up a number of routes that enable Ramadi’s residents to use in exiting the city. In the areas to the east and northeast of Ramadi, security forces supported by Iraqi gun ships have bombarded a number of positions in the Bu-Farraj, Juwayba, and Eastern Husayba, killing at least 11 gunmen according to security sources.

In Fallujah, which has during the past week been the scene of the heaviest bombardment ever by security forces, as well as by the ISIL gunmen who have been holding the city for more than one year. A General Hospital source has reported today that 11 residents, including women and children, were killed and at least 28 were wounded by the indiscriminate bombardment exchanges.

In Garma, with security forces close to achieving full control of the town, clashes are still going on, as are the mine and IED disarming operations within the town. Meanwhile, families have been returning to their homes in the outskirts and surrounding areas, following their liberation by security forces.

In Baghdadi, ISIL carried out a probing operation in the Jubba area, but were repelled by security forces that are reported to have killed 3 of the attacking gunmen. 

19 June 2015

In Ramadi, ISIL gunmen today launched numerous attacks, trying to gain ground in the eastern and northeastern areas of the city.

Security forces successfully thwarted the attacks, especially in the eastern Husayba and Jubba areas along both banks of the Euphrates. Iraqi air support has, since the early hours of this morning, carried out a number of sorties against positions believed to be manned by the gunmen. Security sources have reported that at least 23 gunmen were killed in the eastern sector of the city.

Clashes have also spread to the southern and southwestern sectors, where security forces have advanced and set up new front lines.

Meanwhile a security operation has given security forces control over all of the access roads between Hit and Ramadi.

In Garma today, security forces have declared their control over the town center, following a 10-day battle to achieve that goal.

Most of the roads and streets within the township had been mined and rigged with explosive devices that the advancing forces have been disabling during their advance into the town center. Four ISIL gunmen were killed by security forces in the outskirts of the town.

In Fallujah, an initial casualty count shows that 5 residents were killed and 9 were wounded by the continuing random bombardment exchanges between security forces around the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen who have been controlling the city for over one year.

On the humanitarian front, high summer temperatures are adding to the suffering of the displaced migrants who are still struggling with food shortages and the lack of relief aid.

16 June 2015

In Amiriyat al-Fallujah, ISIL gunmen fired at least 25 Katyusha rockets at residential districts within the town. So far, reports say that 3 local police personnel were killed and 5 civilians were wounded by the bombardment. Security forces barracks on the outskirts of the township were also hit. A curfew has been declared in the southwestern sector of the township where fierce clashes are now underway.

In Ramadi, security forces are reported to be advancing from all four directions, in preparation for the broad military campaign aimed at re-taking control of the city that has been held by ISIL for over a month.

In Hit township, security forces announced this morning that the ISIL ‘Wali’ of Hit, a Saudi national known as Abu Talha, was killed by silenced weapons at 03:00 this morning in the town center. This is the first time that a leading ISIL commander has been killed in Hit that is still under ISIL control.

In Baghdadi and Haditha, clashes have continued in the southern and southwestern areas of Baghdadi township. Iraqi air support has struck a number of positions, particularly along the Euphrates in the Jubba area. Security forces have reported that 11 gunmen were killed in the strikes.

Food aid has arrived today in the Baghdadi and Haditha townships, just prior to the start of Ramadan.

In Fallujah, casualty reports show that 4 residents were killed and 9 wounded by the ongoing random bombardment exchanges.

In Garma, security forces are still engaged in the fighting to take control of the town center. 

15 June 2015

The Deputy Prime Minister, Baha’a Al-A’araji today visited the eastern Husayba area east of Ramadi where he observed the latest preparations for the launch of a broad military operation to liberate Ramadi. The Deputy PM was accompanied by a large number of commanders and parliamentary Deputies involved in overseeing the security situation throughout Iraq. The visit coincided with the arrival of new military equipment in Anbar. All of the security forces’ commanders had previously confirmed that preparations are in full swing for the impending military operation in Ramadi.

Meanwhile, security forces have launched a number of limited military operations all around the outskirts of the city. Iraqi air support and Coalition warplanes have also attacked a number of ISIL positions in central Ramadi. Eleven gunmen are reported to have been killed. Meanwhile ISIL have set up large video screens in Ramadi’s public areas, to show footage of the victories they have achieved over the past 18 months in Iraq. ISIL has also continued to forbid families from leaving the city. All of the roads around Ramadi have been mined and booby-trapped, to thwart the advance of security forces.

Coalition warplanes today launched air strikes against targets in Baghdadi, Kubaisa, and Saqlawiya.

In Baghdadi township, ISIL gunmen have attacked the Jubba area in the township’s southwestern sector. The attackers used a number of explosives-rigged vehicles and mortar bombardment in their assault on the areas controlled by security forces. The attack was repelled by security forces, Iraqi air support, and Coalition air strikes.

In and around Garma, fierce fighting is continuing, with security forces now in control of the surrounding areas and the areas separating Anbar from Salahuddin Province. Families have begun to return to Garma’s liberated districts while fighting is continuing for the control of the town’s center.

In Fallujah, reports are still emerging regarding an imminent all-out assault on the city, while the ISIL gunmen within the city have been preventing civilian families from leaving the city. Some residential districts have been hit by mortar fire, killing 2 residents and wounding 6. 

20 May 2015

Fighting is still underway in the Khalidiya area of eastern Ramadi. Security forces supported by tribal fighters have succeeded in taking control of eastern Husayba. Meanwhile, big military reinforcements have reached the Khalidiya and Habbaniya areas adjacent to Ramadi city. Iraqi air support has taken part in repelling the ISIL attacks in these areas and has struck ISIL positions and concentrations.

There are reports that preparations are underway for a major military operation aimed at re-taking Ramadi city.

Meanwhile, coalition warplanes have launched strikes against both Ramadi’s environs and its center, killing a number of ISIL gunmen.

Security forces have announced today that they have taken full control of the Jubba area on the western banks of the Euphrates in Baghdadi, and that they have killed at least 13 gunmen in the area. The forces have also announced that they are in control of all the roads between Baghdadi and Haditha.

In Fallujah, a General Hospital source has reported today that 6 residents have been killed and 5 wounded by the ongoing random bombardments between security forces along the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city. Fighting is continuing in the city’s southern industrial outskirts, with ISIL continuing their attacks on the military barracks in the area.

Fighting is also continuing in and around Garma. 

26 April 2015

In southwestern Ramadi, an army barracks was attacked by an explosives-laden vehicle, killing 7 security personnel and wounding 5 others. Security forces have repelled another surprise ISIL attack armed with light and medium weapons in the same area. There are still reports indicating ISIL’s intention to attack that area.

Meanwhile in Baghdadi, security forces have confronted since the early hours of this morning a fierce two-front ISIL attack: one was from the eastern reaches of the town and the second from the western Jubba area. The security forces’ Emergency Regiment repelled the attack, reporting that they have killed 14 of the attacking gunmen.

Iraqi gun ships and coalition warplanes have attacked a number of areas and ISIL positions. There are also reports of an imminent campaign by security forces to take control of the eastern sector of Baghdadi.

The Sufiya area east of Ramadi came under heavy bombardment and it is reported that security forces are planning to penetrate into the Sufiya in the coming hours, after Iraqi air support and coalition warplanes pave the way for them to advance.

In central Ramadi, ISIL has blown up a building housing at the Anbar University college.

Meanwhile security forces are advancing into Ramadi’s southwestern sector, particularly the Hawz district.

Also today, military reinforcements have reached the city center and the Bu-Farraj area.

Since yesterday, more than 2,000 families have returned to the central Ramadi districts.

In Tharthar, troops have parachuted into the vicinity of the Warwar Barrage held by ISIL gunmen in this extreme southwestern area of the province.

In Fallujah, two booby-trapped fuel tanker trailers were detonated by security forces on the city’s northern outskirts. At least 19 gunmen were killed by bombardments launched by security forces in the area; meanwhile, sources are reporting that there have been civilian casualties in southwestern Fallujah.

In Garma, the military operation to seize control of the town is in its second day and fierce clashes are still continuing there. 

03 March 2015

In Baghdadi, security forces have taken control of the Jubba area, to the southwest across the river from the town. They have killed at least 30 gunmen in that area. The highway between Baghdadi and Haditha has now been cleared of the mines planted by ISIL gunmen, and the road is now totally secure. Iraqi and coalition airstrikes have also targeted ISIL positions in the area.

In Haditha township, gunmen attempted to drive an explosive-laden vehicle into a checkpoint on the southern outskirts of the town, but security forces were able to blow it up before it reached the target.

In Ramadi, a heavy attack by ISIL gunmen from the city's  southern sector has been repelled by security forces supported by units of the 'Golden Brigade' before the gunmen could reach the city center. Nine gunmen were killed when they attempted to infiltrate deeper into the city toward the government complex.

Meanwhile ISIL gunmen have attempted to re-take the Shjariya area of northeastern Ramadi, but sources are reporting that the attack has been turned back.

In Fallujah, a hospital source has reported that 2 residents were killed and 7 wounded by the random mortar exchanges that have hit a number of the city's residential districts.

In Garma, coalition warplanes have targeted a number of positions, especially in the township's southwestern parts of the town. An Anbar Operations source has reported that at least 13 ISIL gunmen were killed by the strikes.

02 March 2015

In Baghdadi, security forces supported by Iraqi and coalition airstrikes have liberated a village on the Baghdadi Island bank of the Euphrates. They were able to disarm and remove more than 100 explosive devices planted by ISIL gunmen, in addition to blowing up 6 residences that had been booby-trapped by the gunmen.

Meanwhile, security forces are currently on the way to entering the village of Jubba across the river from the town. Dozens of ISIL gunmen are now surrounded in the area. The highway between Baghdadi and Haditha has also been completely cleared. Supplies of food and fuel have been delivered to the outskirts of Haditha via the highway.

Coalition and Iraqi airstrikes have also targeted areas along Baghdadi's perimeter.

In Ramadi today, security forces have killed at least 11 gunmen who had attempted to assault a military barracks in the city's southern sector. In Khalidiya, northeast of Ramadi, security forces thwarted an attempted ISIL advance and killed at least 9 gunmen, including one of their local commanders.

In Fallujah, the general hospital has reported that 4 residents have been killed and 9 have been wounded by the daily random bombardment exchanges between security forces on the city's perimeter and the ISIL gunmen who have been holding the city for more than a year.

In Garma, the township's southern outskirts have been heavily bombarded and an unknown number of civilian casualties have been reported.

17 February 2015

Military operations are continuing in the Baghdadi area. Sources are reporting that security forces have been able to take control of large parts of the township, including government buildings and services within the town. But ISIL gunmen have succeeded in blowing up a number of these buildings, including the Police HQ and the water and electricity directorates. Public roads and a number of residences have also been mined and booby-trapped. ISIL is still in control of a number of the town's districts and has totally surrounded the town of Jubba that is held by security forces and tribal fighters. The Baghdadi chief of Police, Qassem al-Obaidi, is confirming that coalition warplanes have targeted and struck a number of positions around the town, killing more than 30 of the gunmen. The Anbar Command has confirmed that 26 members of the security forces and government employees in Baghdadi have been executed by ISIL.

In Hit, security forces have carried out operations in the southern sector of the township, where a number of positions were hit by coalition and Iraqi aircraft. 11 gunmen have been reported killed.

In Ramadi, an ISIL attack from the city's southern sector has been repelled by security forces supported by tribal fighters. ISIL forces have now been driven back several kilometers.

In Fallujah, the General Hospital has just announced that 4 residents have been killed and 11 wounded by the random mortar-fire exchanges between security forces on the city's perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city.

03 February 2015

The Anbar Operations Command has announced today that coalition warplanes have successfully carried out a strike on Akashat on the Iraqi-Syrian border, killing the ISIL western Anbar 'Emir' , Abu Hajir Al-Shimmary, and six of his companions who were on their way from Syrian territory through the border post at Al-Qaim.

In Baghdadi, Col. Sha'aban Al-Obaidi, the SWAT commander in the township, has announced that coalition warplanes have carried out several strikes on the Jubba area of the township, killing at least 23 ISIL gunmen in the western and northwestern sectors of Baghdadi.

In Nu'aymiya, south of Fallujah, coalition warplanes carried out a number of missions, killing 9 ISIL gunmen. The strikes have foiled ISIL's plans to advance on both Ramadi and Fallujah and their surrounding areas.

In Ramadi, the Operations commander, Qassim Al-Dulaimy, announced that a wide military operation is due to be launched in the areas around the city within the next few hours. The operation is to complement the ongoing military operation in Shjariya, northeast of Ramadi. Al-Dulaimy added that the province is relatively calm, but some districts in its southern sector are still experiencing running battles between security forces and ISIL gunmen.

In Baghdadi, there are reports that 2 children have died as a result of the severe shortages caused by the embargo imposed on the town by the gunmen. The townspeople are calling for immediate action by the central government to deliver relief aid to Baghdadi.

In Fallujah, a General Hospital source has reported that 2 residents have been killed and 9 wounded by the continuing indiscriminate bombardment exchanges.

In Amiriyat Al-Fallujah, at least 10 mortar rounds have indiscriminately struck residential districts in the town.

15 January 2015

Security forces supported by tribal fighters have today succeeded in surrounding the western town of Rutba. There are reports that an assault on the town is imminent, supported according to Anbar Operations sources, by U.S. military advisers.

Also today, an Operations source confirmed that coalition warplanes targeted an ISIL convoy on its way from Al-Qaim on the Iraqi - Syrian border towards Haditha/Baghdadi. The entire convoy was destroyed and dozens of ISIL gunmen were killed.

In Haditha, the local Council leader, Abdul-Hakeem Al-Jughaifi, announced today the launching of a military operation to liberate the Alous an Bu-Hayat areas, between Baghdadi and Haditha.

In southwestern Baghdadi today, fierce clashes have been underway in those area across the Euphrates from Baghdadi town. There have been no statements yet about the outcome of the fighting. Yesterday, the SWAT commander in Baghdadi, Sha'aban Al-Obaidi, stated that security forces have liberated all the areas around Jubba village on the southwestern outskirts of Baghdadi.

In Fallujah, the General Hospital reported today that 4 residents have been killed and 17 wounded by the ongoing mortar-fire exchanges.

Clashes have also resumed today in Garma, where security forces have killed at least 17 ISIL gunmen following their takeover of the town's industrial zone, along the boundary between Anbar and Salahuddin Provinces.

Military operations are continuing in Amiriyat Al-Fallujah. A number of ISIL-launched mortar rounds have struck the town, injuring 11 civilians, mostly women and children.

In Ramadi, the city has been relatively calm today, but some minor clashes have been reported in the city's southern and western sectors.

More than 300 explosive devices have been disarmed today along the Shujariya area's roads and in a number of the areas houses.

10 January 2015

In Ramadi, fighting in the city's southern sector has intensified today. Security sources are reporting that so far their forces have killed at least 14 ISIL gunmen, as the forces advanced into the Hawz district.

In the rural area across the Euphrates, fierce fighting has been continuing while coalition warplanes launched strikes at specific targets in the area, killing at least 52 gunmen, according to Anbar Operations sources.

In Shjariya in eastern Ramadi, clashes intensified today in that area which has been held by the gunmen, security forces have defused explosive devices in at least 10 residences. The road between Shjariya and Khalidiya has also been cleared and liberated.

In Baghdadi, security forces have cleared Jubba, a town on the southern outskirts of Baghdadi; Iraqi air support also struck a number of ISIL positions, killing at least 18 gunmen according to sources at the Ayn Al-Asad military base.

In Fallujah, mortar fire has struck a number of the city's residential districts, killing at least 3 residents and wounding 14, according to the city's general hospital.

06 January 2015

In Baghdadi, an ISIL suicide bomber has blown himself up near a mosque in the Jubba area that is mostly controlled by the gunmen. Fierce fighting has also sparked a mass migration by the area's residents who made their way in boats across the river to the opposite bank and hence toward the town's center. The suicide bombing killed 3 police personnel and wounded 7 others.

The areas to which ISIL has blown up their access bridges were also engulfed in clashes.

In Hit, violent clashes have been taking place in the southern sectors of the town in which Iraqi air support has taken part. An Anbar Operations source reports that at least 21 ISIL gunmen have been killed in the fighting and at least 17 of their vehicles have been disabled.

In Haditha, a fifth consecutive attempt by the gunmen to penetrate into the town from the south and from the west has been repelled and Iraqi aircraft have destroyed at least 4 ISIL vehicles and 11 gunmen have been killed.

In Ramadi, fierce clashes in the city's southern sector have enabled security forces to seize partial control of the Hawz district where security forces snipers have also killed 4 gunmen. In the city's northern Khalidiya area, security forces are attempting to secure and disarm the explosive devices planted by the gunmen in a number of homes and buildings, but they have not yet taken over complete control of the area.

In Fallujah, recent reports about an imminent major military operation against the ISIL-occupied city have been dismissed by an Operations source, but the dismissal has not prevented a major migration by the city's residents who are moving out toward the surrounding rural areas. Meanwhile mortar fire has killed 4 residents, including one woman, and wounded 11.

On the political front, there has been a positive reaction regarding the meeting between the new Anbar governor, Suhaib Al-Rawi, and the Prime Minister, Mr. Haider Al-Abadi, who agreed to provide financing and compensation to the province's population and arming the Anbar tribal forces.

24 December 2014

The Defense Minister, Dr. Khalid Al-Ubaidi, arrived in Anbar last night, making his way to the Ayn Al-Asad Military Base in Baghdadi. He has been supervising the ongoing military operations there since the early hours of this morning. He met with a number of tribal leaders in Baghdadi.

A military operation today, supported by Iraqi aircraft, liberated the Sin Al-Dheeb on the outskirts of the town. Seven ISIL gunmen were killed, according to a military source. Another operation targeted the Jubba village, southwest of Baghdadi, that is still being held by the gunmen. The Anbar local government has announced that these operations are being supervised by U.S. military advisers based at Ayn Al-Asad. Three Apache helicopters have also been deployed against ISIL targets in the area.

In Ramadi, a broad security operation by the Anbar Police Command, supported by army units and tribal fighters has been launched to liberate the only eastern/northeastern areas of Ramadi still controlled by ISIL. 23 gunmen have been reported killed in the fighting.

In Fallujah, intermittent but violent clashes have erupted when ISIL gunmen attempted to attack the area across the main highway. The city's general hospital has reported that 3 residents have been killed, including one child, and seven wounded by the continuing bombardment exchanges.

The new Anbar Governor, Suhaib Al-Rawi, told his fellow citizens in a press statement that the next few days will see the local security and tribal forces supplied with new weapons and munitions, and that new plans have been drawn up for the liberation of Anbar's territory through the cooperation of the central and local governments. Anbar Council sources are reporting that a 50,000-man force will be ready in a few days to combat the ISIL gunmen. Most of the force is composed of local tribal fighters.

17 November 2014

In the village of Jubba in Baghdadi township, two suicide bombers detonated the cars they were driving: one at the bridge linking Jubba to Baghdadi, and the second also in Jubba across from Haditha. The blasts did not cause any casualties but inflicted heavy structural damage. Gunfire erupted following the blasts, with some witnesses saying that the ISIL gunmen were trying to seize the village, one of the few that are still controlled by security forces.

In Ramadi, the level of fighting is escalating in the southern and southwestern sectors of the city, and also in the city western districts. Security forces are still stressing that the liberation of these areas is still in its early stages, but that the aim is to fully liberate them.

In Amiriyat Al-Fallujah, ISIL gunmen have once again tried to seize the whole township, but the security and tribal forces were able to repel the attack. Security sources are saying that at least 12 gunmen were killed in the fighting.

In Fallujah, yesterday was a day of intensive mortar attacks, leaving many, mostly children, killed or wounded. The Fallujah General Hospital was today hit by 6 mortar rounds from an unknown source, with security forces claiming that ISIL gunmen are to blame. Other sources are ascribing blame on the security forces surrounding the city.