28 July 2015

In Ramadi today, the city's eastern sector came under a fierce attack by ISIL gunmen who tried to approach the defensive front-line positions of the security forces in Eastern Husayba and Juwayba and the northern riverside areas. Security forces destroyed three explosives-rigged vehicles before they reached their targets. Anbar Operations are reporting that at least 33 ISIL gunmen were killed in the three-hour-long clashes in eastern Ramadi.

In southern Ramadi, security forces are still holding the Anbar University buildings and are forming their lines for an advance into the Ta'meem district in the southwest of the city. The forces also took control of the ceramics plant in westernmost Ramadi. Meanwhile Iraqi and Coalition air strikes have been launched against targets within the city and along its perimeter, killing at least 21 ISIL gunmen, as reported by Anbar Operations.

In Fallujah, security forces are still tightening their stranglehold on the city. An attempted ISIL attack on the areas around the Tharthar barrage has been turned back, and at least 13 gunmen were killed in the attempt.

In Garma, security force have succeeded in making penetrations into the town's center, but they have not yet taken full control of the center.

Meanwhile Anbar-sourced People's Mobilization units and some tribal volunteer units have completed their training and are to be deployed within the Anbar Emergency forces. 

22 July 2015

In Ramadi today, security forces have taken control of the areas adjacent to the glass factory in the city's southwestern sector and have approached the former Anbar Operations headquarters in the western sector; airborne forces were also used  in the western sector action. The Special Forces command has reported that a major military operation has been launched to liberate the Anbar University campus in the southwestern sector; the forces have assaulted the campus amid fierce clashes in and around the campus.

To the east, security forces have advanced to the Eastern Gate of Ramadi that is adjacent to the Eastern Husayba, Khalidiya, and Juwayba areas, killing at least 17 ISIL gunmen.

In Fallujah, fighting is continuing along the city's southern perimeter, where security forces have killed at least 38 gunmen when they blew up three explosives-rigged vehicles before they could be used in attacking a number of military barracks in southwestern Fallujah. On the city's western perimeter, clashes have been underway in the Saqlawiya area.

A General Hospital sources have reported that  9 residents, including 3 women and 4 children, were killed and 23 others were injured by the continuing bombardment exchanges between security forces along the city's perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city.

17 July 2015

In Ramadi  today, security forces have established control over areas around Ramadi while tightening their stranglehold on the eastern areas where they are now in total control of eastern Husayba and Juwayba, and of the areas across the river from the city. Fierce clashes have been underway in the eastern outskirts where 3 explosives-rigged were blown up before the ISIL gunmen could drive them toward their intended targets. Military operations have also been underway in the southern and southwestern outskirts of the city, and in the city's western areas. Iraqi and Coalition air strikes today have killed at least 13 ISIL gunmen in the southwestern sector. In northern Ramadi, security forces have taken control of the Ramadi-Fallujah Highway, and are now slowly advancing into the city. They are having to clear numerous explosive devices along their way, an effort that is hampering their advance. Meanwhile, security forces have established three routes through which many Ramadi families are departing the city.

In Fallujah, the city is surrounded on six fronts; military operations are underway in the city's southwestern outskirts, including Saqlawiya, and eastward alongside the Fallujah-Baghdad Highway. Iraqi and Coalition air strikes have also targeted ISIL positions within Fallujah. The General Hospital is reporting that 8 residents, including one child, have been killed, and at least 15 injured, including 4 women.

Air strikes have also been launched at the areas around Garma, but in spite of the advances made by security forces into the town, they have yet to take full control of the town center.

Meanwhile ISIL gunmen are still preventing civilians from leaving Fallujah where they are using them as human shields, but security forces have been able to establish two routes that Fallujah families can use to leave the city. Those who left are still stranded and facing the closure of the Bzaybiz Bridge crossing.

09 July 2015

The Anbar Council announced today that more than 70% of the Saqlawiya area is now under the security forces’ control. The Council also stated that the next phase will be an assault on Fallujah to liberate it from the ISIL gunmen, reaffirming that Fallujah is now fully surrounded by security forces. Meanwhile the central and northern districts of the city have been bombarded from the air. The ongoing indiscriminate bombardment between the security forces and the ISIL gunmen has, according to a General Hospital source, killed 7 residents, including 3 women and a child, and injured 19 others.

In Garma, security forces have killed 5 ISIL gunmen in their continuing drive to enter and liberate the town center, given that all the access roads and streets have been mined and many buildings have been rigged with explosives by the gunmen. Meanwhile, security sources have reported that their forces have liberated all of the areas between Garma twnship and the the administrative boundary with Salahuddin Province.

In Amiriyat Al-Fallujah since yesterday evening, the township has been bombarded by ISIL mortar fire. At least 30 mortar rounds have struck a number of the town’s districts, causing major structural damage within the town.

In Ramadi, strict security measures are being enforced all around the city’s perimeter, while fierce clashes have been underway in eastern Husayba and Juwayba, east of the city. Coalition and Iraqi air strikes have once again targeted a number of ISIL positions within the city: there are reports that 7 gunmen have been killed by the strikes.

In Baghdadi, strict security measures are in force, following a number of ISIL attacks during the past two days. Clashes between security forces and attacking gunmen erupted in the southwestern sector of the town where the town’s residential complex is located.

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.

29 June 2015

In the western township of Al-Qaim on the border with Syria, Coalition warplanes launched a series of air strikes on a number of areas there, including Akashat and its phosphate plant, where large numbers of ISIL gunmen had gathered for a series of meetings. A security source has reported that dozens of the gunmen were killed.

In Ramadi, security forces are reinforcing their stranglehold on the city’s perimeter areas, while clashes were continuing in the Eastern Husayba and Juwayba to the east of the city. Coalition warplanes and Iraqi gun ships struck a number of ISIL positions, killing at least 13 gunmen. More than 800 additional tribal volunteers have been deployed to support the security forces.

An Anbar Council source has reported today that the Council has asked the Prime Minister to withdraw the People’s Mobilization forces that breached discipline by setting fire to a number of homes in the Nukhaib area, including the home of Sheikh Mit’ib Al-Unaizi, a tribal leader of the Unizza tribe. Residents have been accusing the force members of also setting fire to private vehicles in those areas.

In Fallujah, the General Hospital announced today that 9 residents, including 3 women and 4 children, were killed and 11 others were wounded by the ongoing random bombardment exchanges between security forces along the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city. Central and northern residential districts were hit.

In Garma, The ‘Garma Dawn’ military operation to liberate the town center was launched last night and clashes have been continuing throughout the day. But security forces have not yet been able to penetrate into and seize the town center.

In Amiriyat Al-Fallujah, mortar and rocket fire during the night has struck the town’s residential districts, causing extensive structural damage.

28 June 2015

In Fallujah today, a General Hospital source has reported that the indiscriminate bombardment exchanges between the security forces controlling the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen that have been holding the city itself for more than a year have killed 15 residents, including 4 women and 3 children, and wounded at least 27. Clashes are ongoing and several residential districts have been hit by mortar and rocket fire.

In Amiriyat al-Fallujah, security forces have turned back one of the fiercest ISIL attacks northeast of the town that has also been subjected to incoming bombardment of its residential districts. Two explosives-rigged vehicles were blown up by security forces.

In Ramadi, stringent security measures have been adopted all along the city’s perimeter. The Anbar Police commander announced today that more than 1,000 tribal volunteers have completed their training and have been deployed in support of the security forces. Their have been some skirmishes in the city’s eastern and northeastern areas, in eastern Husayba, and Juwayba. Iraqi gun ships have attacked a number of targets in various districts, killing at least 4 ISIL gunmen in Bu-Farraj.

In Hit, sorties by Iraqi gun ships over the last two days have struck a number of ISIL positions, killing 7 ISIL gunmen. Three civilians were also killed and 7 were wounded by the strikes. 

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. 

22 June 2015

In Ramadi today, security forces are still tightening their grip around the city’s perimeter, while some partial military operations are continuing in the areas northeast of the city – from Eastern Husayba and on to Juwayba and the areas across and along the Euphrates River. Security forces have also advanced to within 2 km from the ISIL front lines within the perimeter. Security forces have also carried out a partial operation in the city’s southwestern quadrant where they were able to liberate a number of Ramadi residents who had been under ISIL control. Meanwhile, Iraqi gun ships and coalition warplanes have today struck a number of positions in various parts of the city, including the Hawz, Andalus, Bu-Farraj, and Bu-Ghanim areas. At least 9 ISIL gunmen, including one of their field commanders, were killed in the southern Andalus district.

In Fallujah, the indiscriminate bombardment exchanges are continuing between security forces on the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city; 9 residents, including 3 women and 2 children were killed today and at least 24 were wounded in a number of the city’s residential districts by the exchanges.

Food and relief supplies are practically non-existent for the families stranded at the Bzaybiz Bridge crossing, and within the Amiriyat al-Fallujah, and Khalidiya refugee camps.

21 June 2015

In Ramadi today, security forces were able to advance toward the city’s eastern areas, particularly in Eastern Husayba and Juwayba. The forces are now about 2 km from the Anbar administrative boundary. Iraqi air support has struck a number of positions in the area and in the city’s northeastern sectors. Anbar Operations sources have reported that at least 13 ISIL gunmen were killed in the riverside areas on the opposite bank from Ramadi.

There have also been skirmishes instigated by ISIL gunmen in the southern and western sectors; the gunmen were turned back by security forces backed up by Iraqi air support.

In Fallujah, the continuing indiscriminate bombardments between the security forces holding the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen controlling the city itself have killed 9 residents, including women and children, and wounded at least 17. The incoming fire struck a number of the city’s central and northern residential districts.

In Garma, military operations are continuing while security forces have not yet been able to take full control of the town center. The ongoing clashes are the fiercest the township has witnessed for more than one year.

In Baghdadi and Haditha townships, ISIL gunmen attempted during the night to infiltrate Haditha’s western sector, but security forces with Iraqi air support have thwarted these attempts. Meanwhile the situation in Baghdadi is reported calm.

09 June 2015

In Amiriyat al-Fallujah, 3 ISIL gunmen wearing military uniforms and explosive vests infiltrated the township’s Local Council after killing 3 security guards manning the entrance; the infiltrators clashed with security personnel inside the building in which the gunmen were killed, but not before one of them blew himself up, causing material damage near the office of the Council Leader, Sheikh Faisal Al- Issawi. A curfew was declared, but the town’s residential districts came under mortar fire. Clashes also took place in the town’s southwestern sector, while Iraqi gun ships struck targets along the town’s perimeter, blowing up a number of explosives-filled vehicles in the area.

Meanwhile in Ramadi, military operations continued in areas around the city, while security forces are still preparing their ground assault against ISIL; Iraqi and Coalition warplanes have struck some ISIL positions and gunmen concentrations in eastern Husayba, Juwayba, Bu-Farraj, and Bu-Ghanim area across the river. Air strikes and minor clashes have continued in Ramadi’s outlying areas.

In Hit, Iraqi and Coalition warplanes have carried out heavy strikes against the town’s industrial and suburban districts. Casualty figures have not yet been announced, but intelligence reports indicate that ISIL gunmen are gathering to launch an attack along a west-to-east route toward Ramadi.

In Fallujah, a hospital source has reported that 2 residents have been killed and 7 wounded by the ongoing random bombardment exchanges between security forces around the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city.

Clashes have resumed in Garma township in the areas separating it from Abu-Ghraib township west of the capital, Baghdad.

04 June 2015

In Ramadi, the Deputy Head of the Anbar Council announced that a broad military operation has been launched to retake control of the city’s outskirts, following the security forces’ success yesterday in taking control of the city’s southern and western sectors. Today’s operation was launched from the eastern and northern areas, from Khalidiya through Juwayba and eastern Husayba.

Also today, Iraqi and coalition aircraft launched a number of strikes targeting ISIL positions. Anbar Operations sources are reporting that local Ramadi residents are cooperating with security forces, and that at least 23 ISIL gunmen including some of their field commanders were killed in the air strikes.

Coalition warplanes have today launched massive air strikes against an ISIL convoy coming into Iraq from Syrian territory at the al-Qa’im border crossing. The convoy included more than 40 armored vehicles and some mobile military equipment. Sources are reporting that at least 100 gunmen were killed by the strikes.

Strikes were also carried out on the periphery of Haditha township that is still blockaded by ISIL gunmen. Meanwhile, reinforcements have arrived in Baghdadi.

02 June 2015

Military reinforcements have today been deployed around, and surrounding, both Fallujah and Ramadi. There are reports that People’s Mobilization militiamen and security forces around Fallujah have given its residents 72 hours to evacuate the city prior to launching a massive military operation to liberate Fallujah that has been under ISIL control for more than a year.

In Ramadi, fierce clashes erupted today, allowing security forces to take full control of all the areas between the Euphrates and central Ramadi. In Juwayba east of Ramadi, a 12-member family was killed when an explosive device was detonated in that area.

In other clashes, security forces have taken control of the 35 km. area and the areas between Ramadi and Hit, leaving all the areas in that sector under security forces’ control. There are also reports that security forces will launch a military operation in the coming hours, following the shutting down of Ramadi’s water supply when ISIL closed all the sluice gates at the Warrar Barrage; water levels have fallen in Khalidiya and Habbaniya.

Iraqi and coalition aircraft have carried out strikes in a number of Ramadi’s districts, including the Bu-Farraj and surrounding areas, down to districts in the city’s southern sector.

In Fallujah, the ongoing random bombardment exchanges have killed 4 residents and wounded 9 others.

21 May 2015

In eastern Ramadi, particularly in eastern Husayba and Juwayba, military operations are still underway; ISIL gunmen launched their third attack on those areas but security forces supported by tribal fighters repelled a fierce attack on eastern Husayba. They were able to establish new front lines in the area, while Iraqi gun ships carried out strikes on positions in the eastern Ramadi areas.

Meanwhile, additional reinforcements have reached the Habbaniya Base and the Khalidiya area in easternmost Ramadi. Preparations are reported underway for a major military operation to be launched within two days.

Meanwhile, coalition warplanes have attacked a number of targets in Ramadi, especially in its southern sector and on towards the northernmost areas of the city.

Military operations are also continuing in the city’s southwestern sector where Iraqi gun ships have bombarded suspected ISIL positions. Anbar Operations and police sources have reported that at least 23 gunmen were killed in these attacks.

In Fallujah, the General Hospital has reported that 6 residents were killed and 7 wounded by the indiscriminate bombardment exchanges between security forces along the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen who have been holding the city for more than one year. Military operations are also continuing in the city’s southwestern industrial zone.

In Amiriyat al-Fallujah, mortar fire has struck the town’s central districts; in the areas between the town and the Bzaybiz Bridge crossing, thousands of families and residents are still encamped and suffering from severe shortages of food, water, and medicines.

19 May 2015

Military operations are still underway in the eastern areas of Ramadi, where ISIL have taken over the Juwayba and wide areas of eastern Husayba and fierce fighting is still underway there.

Security forces have repelled three ISIL attacks on eastern Husayba in Khalidiya township. All security forces in the area have been ordered to gather within 24 hours in the areas that are being targeted by the gunmen to prevent them from taking control of the vast area between Habbaniya and Amiriyat al-Fallujah.

Security forces today also repelled a strong attack on the southern areas of Khalidiya. Meanwhile Iraqi and coalition planes carried out a number of sorties against target areas in eastern Anbar.

Air strikes have also been launched against a number of Ramadi areas; coalition warplanes have launched 19 air strikes on ISIL positions, reportedly killing dozens of the gunmen.

Amiriyat al-Fallujah was heavily bombarded overnight with ISIL targeting most of the town’s residential districts killing one resident and wounding 6.

In Fallujah, fighting has continued in the city’s southern industrial area. Nine residents were killed and 23 were wounded by the random bombardment exchanges between security forces on the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city.

There are still more than 12,000 people being held up at the Bzaybiz access route where the actual crossing point toward Baghdad is now closed. Some basic relief aid has reached the massed migrants at the crossing who are without any kind of shelter and are in urgent need of food supplies.

18 May 2015

In Ramadi, most of which is now under ISIL control, having occupied most of the city’s residential districts and blown up a number of police buildings and military barracks, is now devoid of any security forces. ISIL gunmen have been killing the security personnel they captured, according to sources within the city. The gunmen have also established ‘repentance’ centers at some of the city’s mosques for members of the ‘Awakenings’ and some security personnel.

ISIL gunmen have today succeeded in seizing the Juwayba area in Khalidiya in easternmost Ramadi, where they blew up the local police station. There are still some clashes underway in the southeastern sector of  the Khalidiya area.

Meanwhile there is a heavy security forces presence around Khalidiya and on toward Habbaniya, following the arrival of 3,000 ‘Hashd al-Shaabi’ militiamen from the provincial boundary with Babel Province; local tribal fighters are also being prepared to take part in a major military operation to re-take Ramadi. Iraqi gun ships have also been clearing the access roads toward the western ’35 km’ post where security forces that were forced out of Ramadi have been regrouping before moving on to the ‘160 km’ post.

In Fallujah, 4 residents, including 2 children, have been reported killed and 7 wounded by the ongoing random bombardment exchanges between security forces and the ISIL gunmen holding the city.