04 September 2014

Haditha has today been the scene of violent clashes on three fronts that the gunmen are using in their renewed attempt at penetrating into the town; there was fierce resistance on these northern, eastern, and southern fronts, as well as air attacks on three of the gunmen's positions on the northern and northeastern front. According to a security source, 14 gunmen were killed and 6 of the vehicles they were using were destroyed. Reports also indicate that the air strikes were carried out by U.S. warplanes.

In Fallujah, an early casualty count shows that 9 residents were killed and 14 were wounded by the bombardment of many of the city's residential districts, the Al-Sichir area to the north, and the Al-Nu'aimiya area to the south.

A casualty count in Al-Garma shows that 3 residents have been killed and 9 were wounded by the bombardment of the town during the last few hours.

In Ramadi, 2,000 men are being trained and equipped to bolster the security forces. They have been dubbed 'the Quick-Response Elite Brigade' and will be used in the fight against ISIL forces. The tribal sheikhs have agreed with the Anbar governor to use these men within Ramadi.

Meanwhile, a car-bomb was detonated in central Ramadi a short time ago; first reports tell of 4 residents being killed and 6 wounded by the blast; 3 members of the security forces were also killed.

The western Anbar regions - Hit, Ana, Al-Rutba, and Al-Qa'im - are still under the gunmen's control as they have been for more than 3 months.

18 July 2014

In Ramadi, intermittent clashes have taken place in the southern sector snd the countryside areas outside the city along the banks of the Euphrates. Within the city similar clashes have taken place in the western parts of the city adjacent to the Anbar Operations Command and the 8th Brigade HQ. At this time we do not yet have casualty figures for any of the clashes. A number of gunmen have been reported killed in the southern sector in military operations, according to security and political sources at the Anbar Council.

In Fallujah, there have been attacks on the northern sector of the city and along the main Baghdad-Fallujah highway in a coordinated operation between Fallujah and Al-Garma, according to Defense Ministry sources. A number of residential districts in the city have been shelled, including Al-Sichir to the north and Al-Nu'aimiya to the south. The casualty count between last night and noon today shows that 17 residents have been killed and 39 others wounded, the highest count for more than a week. In one incident all 6 members of one family were killed by the shelling.

The main towns in western Ramadi are still under the gunmen's control and it is they who are running the day-to-day situation in those areas.

The negative reaction of many Anbaris to the election of Saleem Al-Juburi as Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament is similar to that when Usama Al-Nujaifi was elected as Speaker and Saleh Al-Mutlag as Deputy Prime Minister in the past. As they all belong to the same class and the same sect of those who live in Anbar.

07 July 2014

Many security procedures are in place with the seizure by gunmen of an area on Al-Khalidiya Island in northeastern Ramadi, very close to the Habbaniya military base. Anbar officials here fear that the gunmen, after seizing this area, will be able to gather their forces in order to take this base.

Meanwhile there have been fierce clashes in the attempts to drive the gunmen out of the western parts of Ramadi and its center. Mortar rounds are still targeting the HQ of the 8th Brigade in the city center.

In Fallujah, there was yesterday indiscriminate shelling of a number of the city's districts, including Al-Sichir and Al-Nu'aimiya. Four people have been killed including a surgeon in Al-Garma, about 30 km from Fallujah.

The situation in Anbar's western regions is cautious but relatively calm after the gunmen's taking control of all of western Anbar; they are also in almost total control of Haditha's surroundings, while security forces have been setting up barricades around the Haditha Dam, the biggest dam in Iraq.

The security situation is also preoccupying the residents trying to observe the month of Ramadan, but they are fearful and worried that Anbar will suffer a similar fate as that of Nineveh and other Iraqi governorates. Many displaced persons throughout Anbar are of course suffering from food shortages, given that the local authorities have not been providing them with their needs. They are calling on the local government to provide them with the funds needed to buy their food, especially now during Ramadan.

27 June 2014

There has been a marked advance by the gunmen in taking control of large portions of the western Anbar townships. They are now in control of Al-Qa'im, Ana, Rawa, and the areas around Haditha. They have also seized control of Rutba. They are also moving swiftly toward the perimeter of Al-Baghdadi which is near the Ayn Al-Asad military base which is one of the biggest bases in Iraq. There are also fears of a surprise attack to seize these areas.

Security precautions are underway, such as security forces reinforcements, to the Haditha Dam which is one of the biggest in Iraq, where army forces opened five additional sluice gates on Wednesday, resulting in a rise in water levels of the Euphrates River, the cutting of several smaller bridges, and flooding along the river banks.

There is also concern over the escalation of the security situation in Ramadi, after gunmen took control of the previously quiet Al-Ta'ameem district, and the torching of the Al-Shaheed police station in western Ramadi. The gunmen are now fully in control of those areas, and they are still approaching the Anbar Operations Command compound.

In Fallujah, the General Hospital announced that 5 residents were killed and 7 were wounded as a result of the shelling of several residential districts, Al-Sichir to the north, and Al-Nu'aimiya in southwestern Fallujah.

To the northeast, in Al-Garma, military operations are still ongoing along the Tigris River branch and at the April 28th Bridge that connects Al-Garma to Fallujah.

There is still fear that the gunmen will seize control of most of Anbar, the largest Iraqi governorate (138,000 square kilometers) that borders three neighboring countries and four Iraqi governorates. The fear is that the fall of Anbar would lead to the gunmen's ability to move on into these other governorates and cause trouble in the neighboring countries.

Late last night, Syrian military aircraft launched light attacks on border posts, but we have yet to hear about the results or the casualty count. The local Anbar government has issued statements expressing surprise at the Syrian incursions into Iraqi airspace. The local government is still conducting meetings with tribal sheikhs and leaders, seeking at least an attempt to find a belated solution.

23 June 2014

Since the early hours of this morning, there have been intermittent clashes on the outskirts of Fallujah along the main highway, as well as in the outskirts of Al-Garma. The casualty count since last night and up to noontime today shows that 4 residents, including 2 women and a child, have been killed and 7 others have been wounded as a result of the shelling of a number of the city's residential districts, including Al-Nu'aimiya in the southern sector and Al-Sichir in the northeast.

In the western Anbar regions, the gunmen have now increased their strength and the extent of the areas they control, that now include large parts of Ana, Rawa, and Al-Qa'im. They are now moving to the east toward Haditha and there is speculation about their intention to seize that township within the next few hours or days.

Security and army sources have declared that the recent withdrawals of their forces are 'tactical', probably to allow their re-supply and re-grouping. On the ground, however, most of the comments relate to recent burglaries and to insurgents' total control of the areas they have attacked.

In Ramadi, there are some families returning to the city's central and northern districts that have been relatively calm during the last two days. Cell-phone service has been restored but some Internet providers have been resorting to satellite relays; government Internet providers are still not functioning in Anbar, nor in a number of other governorates.

15 June 2014

Gunmen have attempted to storm the electric power Al-Tahaddi Project which supplies Anbar governorate and wide areas of Baghdad and other governorates with electricity. It is one of the biggest in Iraq. The gunmen attempted to storm and seize the facility which is located between the towns of Al-Baghdadi and Haditha in western Anbar, but they were met by fierce resistance from the forces guarding the project. Five gunmen were killed and 3 others were wounded, according to confirmed security sources. 

Artillery shells and rockets have hit the Ayn Al-Asad military base, one of the biggest in Iraq, in Al-Baghdadi, and is home to the army's 7th Division.

Stringent precautionary measures are in effect as a result of intelligence reports indicating that the groups of gunmen are planning to overrun the western regions of Anbar (Haditha, Ana, Rawa, Hit, and Al-Baghdadi) that have recently been relatively calm.

In Ramadi, tough security measures are being imposed by security forces , particularly in the city's southern sector where intermittent clashes are still erupting between these forces and the gunmen.

In Fallujah yesterday, a number of the city's districts, as well as Al-Sichir to the north and Al-Nu'aimiya to the south, came under shelling attacks. Initial casualty reports show that 4 residents were killed and 6 were wounded by the shelling.

In Al-Garma, northeast of Fallujah, clashes are still underway and spreading into the outlying areas around the town. Homes and buildings have been hit, but there are no casualty figures as of right now.

06 June 2014

A curfew has been imposed on Ramadi as a precaution against the possibility of armed assaults similar to those that targeted Samarra in Salahuddin governorate yesterday. The same is true in Mosul in Nineveh governorate.

In Fallujah, intermittent clashes have been going on since last night and into this afternoon in a number of the city's districts, especially in Al-Sichir and Al-Nu'aimiya. A number of districts have also been shelled. An initial casualty count shows that 3 children under the sge of twelve have been killed.

There has been total support expressed at meetings held between the local Anbar government and tribal sheikhs and religious scholars for the conference called for by Nouri Al-Maliki to address and resolve the Anbar situation.

In Samarra today, a curfew is still in force because of concerns over a return of the gunmen to the city. The Air Force has reported that 82 sorties have killed at least 17 ISIL gunmen in the city.

In the northern region of Mosul in Nineveh governorate, military operations were underway today. Two car bombs were detonated in an area populated mainly by Shabak residents. The military action is aimed at regaining and imposing control over most of Mosul city, after the gunmen succeeded in taking over a number of the city's districts.

04 June 2014

Since the early hours of this morning, funeral processions have been underway for the 9 people who were killed in last night's explosions, among them Sheikh Muhammad Abu Risha, the leader of the Ramadi Awakenings (Sahwat).

After the blowing up and collapse of the Al-Ma'moun and 'Japanese' bridges, the Directorate-General of Bridge in Anbar announced that at least 30 of the 80 bridges in Anbar have now been blown up, and that repairs will take more than year and cost more than 5 billion Dinars.

Meanwhile, living conditions in Fallujah are still very difficult as a result of the military operations that have intensified over the past two days. Initial casualty figures today show that at least 20 people have been killed and at least 40 others have been wounded in the continuing indiscriminate shelling of the city's residential districts. The chief resident at the Fallujah General Hospital has stated that this is the 19th time that his facility has been hit by mortar fire. Five medical personnel were killed in the latest attack.

In Ramadi, families have been returning to their homes in the central Al-Jumhouri and Al-Shurta districts where the situation has been calm recently.

This is in contrast to the situation in Fallujah, where we have observed the departure of at least 100 families from the city's southern sector and from Al-Nu'aimiya, also to the south. 

03 June 2014

In Ramadi, since last night two bridges have been blown up: the first was the 'Japanese' bridge that connects Ramadi to the western Anbar townships. The second was the Al-Ma'amoun bridge that connects the town of Al-Hamidhiya to the Juwayda area of northeastern Ramadi. The two bridges are important arteries in northeastern Ramadi. There were no casualties in either location but both bridges were heavily damaged.

In Fallujah today, the emergency area at the Fallujah General Hospital was randomly shelled. At least 10 people were killed and 18 others were wounded in the crowded emergency section.

Meanwhile, the boarding facilities of Fallujah University's College of Agriculture were hit today by random gunfire. Nobody was hurt but there was panic among the students. Classes have been suspended at the university.

There have also been heavy clashes in various parts of Fallujah, especially in Al-Sichir and Al-Nu'aimiya, as well as some of the city's central residential districts.

To the northeast, Al-Garma is still the scene of fierce fighting as army forces supported by tribal and security forces attempted an incursion into the town but are being held by fierce resistance within the town.

02 June 2014

In Fallujah, as the military operations continue in the residential areas, the number of casualties has reached 22 killed, 12 of them children and 5 women, and 36 wounded.

The fierce clashes between the Iraqi security forces and insurgents continue also in Hayakil, Al-Sichir, Al-Jughayfi, Al-Askari, Al-Nazal and Al-Nu’aimiya.

In Ramadi, most of its areas previously under the control of insurgents is now under the control of the Iraqi security forces. The Anbar Police and the Anbar Operations Command confirm their belief that the situation in Ramadi will only improve.

Today, hundreds of the Anbar University students demonstrated to express their anger as their fellow female student Sama Laith had been shot dead by a stray bullet yesterday while doing her final exams in the classroom of the Faculty of Agriculture. The local security forces promised to investigate the crime.

29 May 2014

Fallujah is still surrounded on all sides by Iraqi army forces. Fierce clashes have taken place on the city's perimeter and in the partially constructed area of buildings belonging to Fallujah University. Many of the city's districts have been shelled, from Al-Sichir in the north, the city's central districts, and on into Al-Nu'aimiya in the south. Since last night and into this afternoon, at least 4 residents have been killed and 8 wounded by the shelling.

Military operations have also been underway in Al-Garma, northeast of Fallujah, with fierce clashes continuing between the groups of gunmen and the security forces supported by army units.

In Ramadi, military operations are continuing in the city's southern sector. Yesterday there were heavy clashes in the Al-Hawz district in southwestern Ramadi which then spread into other southern districts. An Anbar Police Command spokesman has stated that they are continuing their military operations in order to regain total control of Ramadi, and that the last square-shaped area still occupied in central Ramadi by the gunmen is totally surrounded. The source expects that total control will be achieved within one week. The areas that have been taken over by the security forces are now completely secure and we have seen some families returning to their homes in those areas.

Regarding the displaced persons, there are still many families, especially from Fallujah, that have made their way to other governorates, to Kurdistan, to Baghdad, and to the towns in western Anbar. The latter displaced families are still facing shortages of food and of the relief aid provided by the relief agencies and the local government. The local authorities are being called upon to provide medicines and medical care for the sick and the elderly, following the announcement by the Anbar Council that it is proving each displaced family with 500,000 Dinars.

Reaction to Al-Maliki's proposed conference that would be attended by all parties in the conflict has been largely positive, having been welcomed by the local government and many of the tribal sheikhs. However, some tribal sheikhs are rejecting the idea, saying that the step has come too late and that the humanitarian situation needs to be resolved first.

27 May 2014

Fallujah is still under strict security measures, amid substantiated reports of plans to launch an offensive into the city within hours or within the next few days. Meanwhile a military operation to re-establish control over the uncompleted buildings belonging to Fallujah University in the southwestern sector of the city began at dawn yesterday.

Many of the city's residential districts have been shelled, including Al-Nu'aimiya to the south and Al-Sichir to the north. According to the Fallujah General Hospital, 2 residents have been killed and 4 others have been wounded up to noontime today.

Military operations are still underway in the areas around Al-Garma. We have also observed shelling of the southwestern districts of Al-Garma, northeast of Fallujah.

Military operations are also continuing in the desert areas along the Tigris, south of Fallujah. Security forces are saying that they will attempt a six-front assault on Fallujah from all around the city. Meanwhile strict security measures have been imposed on Amiriyat Al-Fallujah in order to prevent the gunmen from moving out of Fallujah into this township.

Anbar police sources have said that the operations in Ramadi are ongoing, and there have been reports from the Anbar Command confirming that security forces have regained control of large portions of Ramadi and that more than 90% of Ramadi's districts have been taken over by local police. Gunmen are now surrounded in a square-shaped area in southeastern Ramadi. We have seen that a few families have returned to the districts that have been liberated in the city that are now relatively calm.

Regarding those displaced from Ramadi and Fallujah after nearly five months of military operations, they are having to endure severe living conditions, especially those who left their homes when fighting first broke out. Their funds and other necessities they took with them are all gone. They are demanding of the local government to provide them with the funds allocated to them, and to provide them with their food aid allocations. They are also calling on all the various aid and relief agencies to provide them with food aid that they so desperately need, given the long duration of the crisis.

During our movements around Ramadi we have observed the collapse of the city's infrastructure; there is huge damage and destruction in most of Ramadi's residential districts. It is being reported that Ramadi's reconstruction will take five years to complete, according to the Anbar Governorate Council which pointed to the huge damage caused by military operations. The local government has called on the central government to begin disbursing the funds allocated for the compensation of Anbari residents.

26 May 2014

According to the Anbar Operations Command sources, the army forces on the Fallujah perimeter are being inspected in preparation for an offensive into the city during the coming few hours. The sources added that the offensive would be launched on more than six fronts around the city. The armed forces are using aircraft and artillery shelling to strike at most of the city's residential districts, including Al-Nu'aimiya and Al-Julan to the south, the city's central districts, and on up to Al-Sichir to the north and northeast. A preliminary count shows that seven residents have been killed and twelve others wounded as a result of the bombardment.

The Relief Aid Organization official in Fallujah, Mohammed Al-Girtani, has said that there are still at least 5,000 families within Fallujah and that there are difficulties in getting them out of the city. Families are also fleeing the city after hearing security reports of an imminent assault on Fallujah within the next few hours or days.

In Ramadi, the military operation in the southern and southwestern sectors of the city is still underway, after the security forces' regaining control of some of the area's districts, but other districts in the southern sector are still the scenes of intermittent clashes between security forces and the groups of gunmen.

The Anbar Governorate Council has warned against launching an offensive on Fallujah, saying that it is opposed to such military operations that would result in numerous civilian casualties.

Meanwhile, those who have been displaced from Ramadi and Fallujah who are now sheltering in school buildings in the western regions of Anbar are still calling for attention to the fact that they have not yet received any of the funds that have been allocated for them.

25 May 2014

Fallujah has been the scene, since last night and through noontime today, of military operations along the city's perimeter accompanied by the shelling of a number of its residential districts including Al-Sichir in the north and Al-Nu'aimiya in the south. The preliminary casualty count as announced by the Fallujah General Hospital lists 7 residents killed and 20 others wounded. The overall count now stands at 370 killed and at least 1,347 wounded since the eruption of fighting in December 2013.

Authoritative information indicates that the Iraqi army is planning to launch an overall offensive into the city within the next two days, especially now that the gunmen seized control yesterday of Fallujah University in the southeast sector of the city. The military is also planning to assault and take over the countryside areas around the city in addition to areas within the city itself.

In Ramadi, local police supported by army forces are carrying out security operations aimed at regaining control of areas within the city's southern sector. The Anbar Police commander, General Isma'il Al-Mhalawi, has affirmed that all of Ramadi's residential districts will be secured within this week. However residents are still unable to enter the residential districts.

Meanwhile more people are leaving Fallujah, thus swelling the numbers of migrants who have already left both Ramadi and Fallujah, who are still facing difficult living conditions, especially with the spread of disease. The Anbar Health Authority has revealed that a number of diseases, particularly skin conditions, are spreading among the displaced migrants who have taken refuge in school buildings where the summer heat is compounding their suffering.

24 May 2014

In Fallujah, since last night and into this afternoon, military operations have continued without any army penetration into the city itself, given the fierce resistance shown by the gunmen. Army units are still positioned around the city's perimeter. Many Fallujah residential districts have been bombarded.

A medical source at the Fallujah General Hospital stated that 4 people have been killed and 19 others have been wounded today as a result of the shelling that has targeted many of the city's districts, as well as the northern sector around Al-Sichir and the northern sector around Al-Nu'aimiya.

The city's water-treatment plant was hit and has been severely damaged. Last week, the power plant was hit, depriving the whole city of electrical power.

Stringent security measures are still in place along the city's perimeter. The only access into and out of the city is at Al-Maftoul which is being opened at specific times to allow residents to leave the city.

In Ramadi, military operations are also continuing and a curfew is still in place amid strict security measures. The curfew has been lifted in the quieter residential districts but is still being enforced in the southern sector.

An Anbar police source has affirmed that security forces have advanced, particularly in the southern and southwestern districts which are now under their control.

In another development, a car bomb parked near the administration offices in Haditha - 138 km west of Ramadi and which has been safe and secure and free of any military operations - was detonated, wounding 7 people of whom 4 are local police personnel. The vicinity was secured and a curfew has been in place through this morning.

Meanwhile the situation being faced by the displaced Anbaris remains unchanged. A member of parliament from Anbar and chairperson of the Migrants and Displaced Persons Committee, Liqa'a Wardi, has revealed that cases of skin diseases have been reported among the migrants as a result of the rise in temperatures and water pollution; there have also been reports about the spread of other diseases - such as cholera, bilharzias, and malaria. She has also stressed that the migrants are in desperate need of relief aid.

21 May 2014

The Anbar Governorate Office announced this afternoon that security forces have taken total control of the Al-Hawz, Al-Humaira, Street 60, Al-Andalus, and Al-Thubbat districts of Ramadi's southern sector where military operations have been ongoing for about four months. This is a success, which was achieved after fierce battles that were announced last night by the Anbar Police Commander, General Isma'il Mhalawi.

Meanwhile in Fallujah, offensive operations were launched on two fronts - from Al-Nu'aimiya in the southern sector and from Al-Sichir to the north - but the security forces were unable to penetrate into the city because of the fierce resistance by the gunmen; clashes and battles are still going on, albeit intermittently, in those areas.

Other operations, described by security sources as being pre-emptive, have included shelling targeted at some of the districts where gunmen are positioned according to claims by the security forces. The Fallujah General Hospital has announced that one resident has been killed and 6 others have been wounded in the shelling of Al-Wahda, Al-Askari, Al-Judhaifi, Nazzal, and Al-Julan districts, in addition to the northeastern Al-Risala district.

Late last night it was announced that more than 21,000 have been displaced from the city's southern sector; they are the last of the families who had remained in the that sector. They are today making their way toward Anbar's western regions. The head of the Habbaniya township, Fawzi Zbar, announced that more than 200 families have arrived in the township where they have taken refuge in the township's schools, more than 30 of which have been vacated in order to accommodate them. Mr. Zbari has called on the humanitarian, human rights, and service organizations to provide food aid for these displaced families. Al-Rutba township has also received more than 400 families, as have Hit, Haditha, Rawa, and Al-Qaim townships.

Since last Sunday, the Anbar University has received large numbers of students from the Fallujah University. They are now attending classes at the Anbar University in Ramadi. On Monday, the Anbar University announced that it was providing each of these students with 100,000 Dinars (about 86 USD) per moth, after the central Education Ministry had announced providing them with 50,000 Dinars. We have visited the Anbar University where we observed basically normal activity and we learned that the academic year is to be extended because of the security situation; final exams for this year will probably take place in early August.

19 May 2014

The announced results of the April 30th parliamentary elections have been described by some of the political blocs and parties as being as expected; the only changes have been the emergence of some new faces in the representatives of Anbar Governorate. The results show:

- The Al-Muttahidoun list with four seats,

- The Wafa'a lil-Anbar list with three seats,

- The Al-Wataniya list with two seats,

- The Al-Arabiya list with two seats,

- The Al-Khalas list with one seat,

- The Idarat Al-Iraq list with one seat.

These will be Anbar's representatives in the new Iraqi parliament; citizens are hoping for a 'qualitative leap' in their representation in Parliament.

Fallujah is still being heavily shelled; the moratorium on military operations is limited to ground action, but air attacks are still being conducted against the gunmen's positions. Meanwhile, the Fallujah General Hospital has announced that 3 people - a woman and 2 children - were killed and 3 others were wounded in the shelling aimed at a number of the city's residential districts, the northern Al-Sichir region, and the Al-Nu'aimiya region to the south.

In Ramadi, the situation is much better than it is in Fallujah; the city is relatively calm but the city's southern sector is still the scene of intermittent clashes.

The displaced Anbaris are calling for speedy action in providing them with financial assistance and food aid to supplement the meager relief that has been provided so far by the various humanitarian organizations.

15 May 2014

The security situation in Anbar is still escalated, particularly in Fallujah where military operations are continuing for the fifth day in succession. Fierce clashes have raged in a number of the city's districts, with initial reports indicating that 4 residents have been killed and 6 others wounded by the indiscriminate shelling on numerous residential districts. There were also battles in the city's northern sector Al-Sichir district, and in Al-Nu'aimiya, but as of this hour the security forces have not been able to enter or penetrate the city. Some sources are saying that the gunmen within the city are putting up fierce resistance, which is the way the situation has been over the past five days. There was also fighting in the city's western Al-Saqlawiya region. The Anbar Operations Command has announced that 4 gunmen have been killed in the fighting and shelling. Similar military action is also underway in Al-Garma, northeast of Fallujah.

On the political front, the Anbar Governorate Council leader, Sabah Karhout, has announced Council plans to convene a general national conference; Nouri Al-Maliki, Masoud Barzani, Ammar Al-Hakim, and Muqtada Al-Sadr have been called upon to attend the conference which will probably take place in Baghdad. Both sides in the Anbar crisis have also been called upon to attend. Dr. Sheikh Abdul-Malik Al-Sa'adi, the Mufti of Iraq and Anbar, is expected to approve of the conference. The Anbar Council has announced his acceptance of his invitation. The conference is expected to table all the parties' points of view for discussion, in an effort at playing a part in the return of the displaced families - comprising more than 700,000 people within and outside Anbar - to return to their homes from the difficult conditions they are now experiencing.

12 May 2014

Both Ramadi and Fallujah have been the scenes of military operations over the past three days.

Fallujah is now completely besieged and random shelling has been targeting most of its residential districts, as is the Al-Sichir area in the city's northern sector and Al-Nu'aimiya in the southern sector. The Fallujah General Hospital is reporting two women and two children being killed and 6 other residents wounded.

There are reports indicating that security forces have seized control of the areas around Amiriyat Al-Fallujah, south of Fallujah City. There are also plans to enter the city through the northeastern Al-Shuhada'a district.

An official source at the Anbar Governorate Council has announced that 60,000 families have migrated away from Fallujah; they are now on their way to the governorate's western regions that are more or less secure. The displaced families are not being provided with any care or assistance; they have broken into a number of mosques and schools where they are living under extremely severe conditions. The Anbar Council has ordered the disbursement of 500,000 Dinars (approx. 430 USD) to each of the families displaced from Fallujah. Making matters worse is the weather has worsened with the arrival of high winds bearing sand and dust that has severely curtailed visibility. The people of the western tons are doing what they can to shelter as many of the displaced families as possible, particularly in Ana, Rawa, Al-Baghdadi, Al-Rutba, and Al-Rutba townships.

In Ramadi, a military operation lasting many hours has engulfed the northeastern sector of the city, especially in Al-Khalidiya Island and its surrounding areas.

10 May 2014

Fallujah - where a major offensive by army, police, air force, local police, and SWAT teams was launched yesterday - is today the scene of fierce clashes on four fronts: from the north at Al-Sichir, from the south at Al-Nu'aimiya, from the west at the Fallujah barrage, and from the area of Fallujah University. Very loud explosions can still be heard, violent clashes are still raging, and random shelling of many of the city's residential districts is ongoing, as well as the northern areas adjacent to Al-Garma township. As of this afternoon, at least 14 people have been killed and at least 47 have been wounded as a result. The Fallujah General Hospital was again hit this morning by mortar fire which resulted in structural damage but there were no injuries reported.

The exodus of Fallujah's residents is still underway on a large scale, even after the departure yesterday of more than 1,000 families. There is, of course no transportation and these people are making their way on foot. In an ugly incident yesterday, an entire family consisting of 4 children, their parents, their grandmother, and the driver who was a relative, were killed at the Al-Maftoul crossing when the car in which they were traveling was targeted by mortar fire.

Reports are still indicating that there is a direct confrontation between the gunmen and the security forces surrounding Fallujah, but security sources are confirming that they have not made any headway against the fierce resistance by the ever-present gunmen. The sources are indicating that more time will be given in order to wear down the gunmen, thus enabling the military forces to overcome the armed groups within the city.

Following the announcement by the leader of the Anbar Governorate Council, Sabah Karhout, that the Fallujah barrage has been re-taken by government forces and that the Euphrates water levels are receding, but there is no indication of that claim on the ground. Initially, the river water had been redirected toward the Tharthar Lake beyond Fallujah, but there are still large areas of what has become marshland in Abu Ghraib and areas south of Fallujah and southern Al-Nu'aimiya. At least 16,000 people have been displaced by the flooding and the quagmires that have resulted. The resulting health hazard and the evil-smells has already been reported as having made many people sick with diarrhea. The lack of action by official agencies has left many angered and desperate people. Meanwhile, flood waters are still making their way toward Baghdad, but some experts are saying that the water will be diverted away from the capital.

In Ramadi, there have been some clashes in the city's southern sector, and groups of gunmen are still trying to establish positions within the city, hoping to alleviate the pressure on the gunmen in Fallujah. However, the level of the clashes is far below what is going on in Fallujah. Although there might still be a peaceful solution being sought, it is the military option that appears to be the only viable option.

Other Anbar regions have also experienced some security developments: the Rawa township in the west, which has been relatively quiet all along, experienced the detonation of two explosive devices that targeted an Iraqi Army patrol, killing 4 of the security personnel.

Al-Garma, the township northeast of Fallujah, is still completely surrounded and the town is fully blockaded; yesterday was one of the most violent days it has experienced; a leaked video clip has shown the dropping of the exploding drums that were dropped from the air onto the town. The electricity distribution center and a number of schools have been targeted and major damage has been inflicted on government buildings in the town as well as civilian dwellings. 11 people have been reported injured in Al-Garma in the operations that are still going on since last night.