07 July 2015

In Fallujah today, the ongoing indiscriminate bombardment exchanges between security forces along the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city have, according to the latest General Hospital count, killed at least 42 residents, including women and children, and wounded at least 72. The incoming fire struck the central and northern residential districts, and Saqlawiya, Sichir, and Nu’aymiya. There has also been a mass migration of Fallujah civilians trying to find safer areas elsewhere.

Meanwhile Iraqi gun ships and Coalition warplanes have carried out air strikes on a number of ISIL positions, reportedly killing at least 23 gunmen.

In Garma, fighting is continuing around the town center that security forces have not yet been able to enter. Most of the towns, other districts and environs have also been the scenes of clashes and bombardments.

In Ramadi, strict security measures are still in place around the city’s perimeter, while security forces have turned back a number of probing attacks east of Ramadi, and in the city’s northern sector.

Iraqi gun ships have again targeted a number of ISIL positions all over the city. There were also clashes in the southwestern sector of the city, and security forces were able to blow up 3 explosive-rigged vehicles

ISIL gunmen have carried out attacks in Haditha, Baghdadi, Haqlaniya, and Birwana; security forces successfully turned back the attacking gunmen. There have also been clashes in southwestern Haditha. Iraqi air support and Coalition warplanes have also been in action against targets along Haditha’s perimeter.

In Amiriyat Al-Fallujah, security forces have reported that ISIL mortar fire has struck within the town, wounding 4 civilians and causing heavy structural damage to buildings within the town.

06 July 2015

In Haditha today, ISIL has launched the second attack of its kind in two days, from the east and from the northwest of the township. The attack involved six explosives-rigged vehicles that attempted to penetrate into parts of Haqlaniya and Khasfa, but security forces with Iraqi air support bombed three of the vehicles before they could reach their targets. The other three vehicles became involved in a direct confrontation. The ensuing clashes are still continuing, amid reports that ISIL forces are planning further attacks.

Also today, ISIL launched an attack on Baghdadi that lies between Hit and Haditha. Security forces repelled two attacks: from the east and from the southwest. Many mortar rounds were fired by the gunmen at the residential complex in southwestern Baghdadi. Security forces have announced that they are in control of the situation, although some skirmishes are still taking place.

Beginning last night, security forces are involved in a major military operation to liberate the Saqlawiya area in the countryside of Fallujah. They have liberated the Technical Institute building in Saqlawiya and the Saqwlawiya Bridge that links the area to Fallujah. ISIL gunmen have been preventing Saqlawiya residents from fleeing to other areas of the Province.

The Fallujah General Hospital has confirmed that 24 civilians were killed and at least 59 wounded by the indiscriminate bombardment exchanges between security forces around the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city.

04 May 2015

Security forces have established total control over the highway between Haditha and Baiji in Salahuddin Province. The forces also blew up the booby-trapped tankers that ISIL gunmen were trying to use in attacking security checkpoints and positions in the area. The forces also cleared more than 25 explosive devices laid by the gunmen. Four suicide bombers intending to attack the main entrance to Haqlaniya in Haditha township were also killed.

Regarding the continuing military operations in Ramadi, the Anbar Operations Commander announced today that a position at the Anbar University in southwestern Ramadi that has been reported to be an ISIL stronghold, was shelled, and that Abu Qutaiba al-Mar’awi, an ISIL commander, and five of his aides were killed.

Military operations in Sufiya and Bu-Farraj in eastern and northeastern Ramadi are continuing and security forces are now in control of the Street 40, Street 60, and Street 100 areas.

A member of the Anbar Council confirmed today that more than 70 families have returned to their homes today in Ramadi.

In Fallujah, a General Hospital source reported today that 3 residents have been killed and 7 wounded by the ongoing random bombardment exchanges between security forces on the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city.

The Defense Minister today visited the Garma area. He stressed that security forces have achieved major victories against ISIL in the area.

30 December 2014

In Haditha, ISIL has launched its fifth consecutive attempt to penetrate into the town, but once again the fierce resistance by security forces has turned back the gunmen. In a phone contact the township's municipal leader has confirmed that security forces and tribal forces have thwarted the three-pronged attack: firstly, from the south across the river; the second, from the western areas of Haqlaniya and Birwana; in the third, clashes took place close to the Haditha Dam which ISIL gunmen have been trying to capture for five days, but coalition warplanes intervened, killing 33 of the gunmen, according to Anbar Operations sources.

The gunmen were able to seize partial control of the village of Alous, about 30 km from Haditha.

In Baghdadi, ISIL forces have cut all the bridges linking the eastern and western sectors of the town, after having seized 14 villages on the town's outskirts. Security sources have reported that coalition airstrikes have struck ISIL targets in the area.

In Fallujah, a medical source has confirmed that, between yesterday and this afternoon, 9 residents have been killed and 18 others wounded by random mortar fire during the continuing bombardment exchanges between the gunmen inside the city and security forces surrounding it. The mortar fire struck many of the city's residential districts, leaving women and children among the casualties. As 2014 draws to a close, there have been more than 5,000 casualties, killed or injured by the continuous bombardments in Fallujah.

In Ramadi, the city's residential districts have been relatively calm. In the rural areas around the city, security forces say that they have re-taken control of about 80% of those areas.

18 December 2014

In Haditha township, an ISIL 36-vehicle convoy attempted to penetrate into the town, but coalition warplanes attacked the convoy, killing most of the ISIL gunmen.

Meanwhile a clash at Haditha's southern entrance at Haqlaniya erupted when ISIL gunmen attacked, only to be faced by fierce resistance. The Haditha Municipal leader, Abdul-Hakeem Al Jughaifi, has stated that the gunmen were trying to reach the Haditha Dam, but this was also thwarted by coalition airstrikes. He also warned that the attempt was planned to seize the dam and blow it up.

In Ramadi, the southern districts are relatively calm, but there were heavy clashes in the city's northeastern sector. The gunmen had seized some parts of the area and laid mines along the access routes into the area. Military engineers assisted by local tribesmen have now cleared the mines. Explosives had also been planted at a number of mosques, but a major effort is underway to defuse those explosives.

Meanwhile Iraqi air support has killed three ISIL commanders in those areas.

In Fallujah, the level of clashes between security forces outside the city and ISIL gunmen within it has escalated. The city's general hospital announced today that 4 residents have been killed and 11 wounded, most of whom were women and children.

In Baghdadi which is still completely blockaded, reports say that U.S. military officers and advisers are helping, from the Ayn Al-Asad Base, in advising the security forces. Meanwhile, 3 small children have died because there is no more baby milk available in the town.

01 August 2014

The most prominent development in Anbar has been in Haditha township, where since yesterday evening and through this afternoon the clashes have continued between ISIL gunmen and the police and army forces supported by the 'Awakenings'. For more than a month the gunmen have been threatening to overrun Haditha if the opposing forces do not surrender, allowing them to seize control without a fight. But at about 6pm yesterday an attack was launched on three fronts, preceded by the blowing up of the bridges connecting Haditha to its environs, and the sole bridge between Haditha and Al-Baghdadi. The first front of the attack was from Al-Khafsa, south of Haditha, the second front was from the northeast, and the third was along the banks of the Euphrates River. As of right now, this afternoon, army, police, and supporting forces appear to be in control of the town, but the gunmen are in control of large areas around the town, toward Birwana and Al-Haqlaniya and their surrounding areas. Initial casualty counts show that 7 Jaghayfa tribesmen, 10 of the Bu-Nimr tribe, have been killed, as have 31 insurgents since yesterday evening.

The only element that has foiled the gunmen's attempt to overrun Haditha has been the use of air bombardment.

In Fallujah, the shelling/bombardment since last night has, according to initial casualty reports, killed 3 civilians and wounded 7 others.

In Al-Garma, there has also been shelling of the town's residential districts; security forces have announced their control of the Al-Shihabi road between Fallujah and Ramadi.

In Ramadi, the situation is relatively calm and there have not been any military operations on the scale of those in Haditha or Fallujah. Some clashes do occur from time to time, but there is activity in the public markets.