From Anbar
Q: What are the
latest developments in the security situation in Anbar?
A: The latest
development has been the announcement by the Anbar Police commander, Gen. Ahmed
Saddam, that security forces have continued their military operation in
Al-Hamidhiya on Ramadi
Island, with army and
police forces entering and securing the whole area.
A surprising development today - particularly as security
and police had a few days ago taken over parts of Al-Khalidiya Island
- has been the withdrawal of those forces, allowing ISIL forces to re-enter and
seize control of those areas once again.
In Haditha, there have been intermittent clashes following
the capture of four areas around the town.
In Fallujah, shelling has killed 3 residents and wounded 4
others.
Q: Yesterday there
were reports that Lt.-Gen. Rasheed Flayeh had announced that 47 gunmen were
killed trying to infiltrate into Al-Garma. Has their been a change in the
balance of power? Are government forces now taking the initiative, or are they
still reluctant in attempting to re-take some of the area and to launch attacks
against the armed groups?
A: Generally
speaking, based on our observations on the ground, there have been some changes
following the dispersal of the gunmen into larger areas and their spreading
into other governorates, their numbers remaining in Anbar are fewer than when they
were concentrating solely on Anbar. Now there appears to be a positive view of
the security forces that are moving into areas that were previously inaccessible
to them. In particular, a number of families have been returning to their homes
in Ramadi - to the districts that have been relatively calm over the last few
days.
From Mosul
Q: Is there any
improvement in the living conditions of the people in Mosul, and what about the food and fuel
shortages?
A: I'm very sorry to
say that there has been no improvement at all in the security situation in Mosul which is still
plagued by extreme crises: the national electricity supply and fuel are
completely unavailable; many employees have not received their salaries for
more than two months, not to mention the government's air strikes on the city.
All of that has taken its toll on the living conditions and on people's
psychological well-being. Many basic supplies have disappeared from the markets
and hospitals are struggling with medical supply shortages.
Q: Gunmen are in
control of the access routes into the city and the flow of goods and people
into the city is subject to special
conditions. There are reports that some Nineveh
employees have received their salaries from other cities while others are still
doing without. How true are these reports and how does this arrangement work?
A: It is true that
some employees have received their salaries for the last two months from other
Nineveh townships, and some have received their pay from Kirkuk, but the fact
that these alternative sources are not under government control has deprived
the others. With regard to access routes into and out of the city, they are
mostly closed in most directions because of the security situation, making it
difficult for people to get their owed salaries from elsewhere outside Mosul.
