07 June 2015

Joint Iraqi forces supported by tribal fighters and People’s Mobilization militiamen today established control over the Tigris Arm area that lies between three Provinces: Anbar, Salahuddin, and Mosul. Security forces have also taken control of the area along the boundary between Anbar and the areas adjacent to Samarra.

Meanwhile Iraqi aircraft and Coalition warplanes carried out a number of strikes on several areas of Tharthar and on to the areas across the Euphrates from Ramadi. Anbar Operations and Police sources are reporting that at least 23 ISIL gunmen were killed by the strikes.

The security situation in Ramadi: following the failed ISIL attack against the areas east of the city, security forces have advanced into areas that had been recently captured by the gunmen to the southwest of Husayba and the eastern outskirts of Ramadi; Iraqi gunships carried out a number of strikes on ISIL positions within the city, killing at least 7 gunmen gathered around an ISIL observation post facing the front lines in Ramadi. The Bu-Farraj and Bu-Ghanim areas were also struck.

Elsewhere in Anbar, Coalition warplanes struck an ISIL position in the area between Haditha and Baiji in Salahuddin Province, killing 3 of the gunmen.

In Fallujah, 3 residents were killed and 9 were wounded by the ongoing indiscriminate bombardment exchanges between security forces around the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen who have been occupying the city for more than one year.

In Garma, 1^st Division sources are confirming that security forces have been able to penetrate 20 km into the township and that they are continuing their operations in the area against the ISIL gunmen holding the town center.

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.

19 March 2015

In Garma, fierce clashes are continuing as ISIL gunmen have withdrawn to the township's southwestern sector where coalition and Iraqi airstrikes have targeted the gunmen's positions. Anbar Operations sources are reporting that at least 53 gunmen have been killed. Meanwhile security forces have maintained their control over the central and eastern sectors

Security forces have also cleared the highway between Haditha and the Baiji area in Salahuddin Province. At least 116 explosive devices planted by ISIL gunmen have been secured and removed from the roadsides. Security forces have also taken up positions aimed at preventing the gunmen from moving between the two provinces.

In Fallujah, a general hospital source has reported that 7 residents have been killed and 13 wounded by the random bombardment exchanges between security forces on the city's perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city. Meanwhile reports indicate that security forces are planning an assault to liberate the city, probably after the completion of the ongoing operation to liberate Tikrit.

In Amiriyat al-Fallujah, a new local government leader has been elected in the township; a recruitment center is to be opened in the town to receive tribal volunteer fighters for the coming battle for the liberation of Fallujah.

In Ramadi, the southern and northeastern sectors have been relatively calm today, but the Hawz district has been the scene of low-level clashes. In the early hours of this morning coalition and Iraqi airstrikes targeted ISIL positions in the area lying between western Ramadi and the city's center.

14 June 2014

In Al-Saqlawiya, a township west of Fallujah, has been since yesterday the scene of an operation that began with the targeting of the township seat building with two car bombs. The five-storey building has also been a stronghold of the security forces; we do not yet know the outcome of the attack or the number of casualties it caused. Meanwhile, the gunmen have seized control of large areas of the township following the withdrawal of some security units. However, security forces are still holding numerous areas around the township and are at this time involved in regaining control of the township, with some sources indicating that a security operation will be launched during the next few hours to re-take Al-Saqlawiya.

In Fallujah, shelling of the city's central and northern districts has been ongoing since last night. A source at the Fallujah General Hospital has announced that 4 residents have been killed and 7 others, including women and children, have been wounded.

The town of Al-Qaim in western Anbar has been relatively calm and is still under the control of security forces supported by local police, tribal elements, and townspeople. Meanwhile, ISIL gunmen have seized the border facility on the Syrian side of the border. On the Iraqi side, and after the withdrawal of government forces, the border area is under the control of tribal forces cooperating with the local police. However, the border is more than 600 km long and there are numerous groups of gunmen moving back and forth across the border.

In Al-Garma, fierce intermittent clashes have been underway, and shelling has struck government buildings and some residential homes. We do not yet have any casualty figures from the town.

In Ramadi, although the city is relatively calm, security sources are saying that military operations are underway in the city's southern sector and that they would shortly secure the area. In spite of the optimistic tone of the security reports, large numbers of residents are still moving out of Fallujah, Al-Saqlawiya, and the southern and southwestern districts of Ramadi; they are mostly heading for Hit which has so far taken in more than 70,000 displaced people, a number equal to the town's population, exacerbating the difficulties faced by this township.

Events in Mosul and the neighboring Salahuddin governorate have had their effect on Anbar. The reported capture by the gunmen of the Baiji oil refinery has resulted in huge shortages in petroleum products, in addition to huge rises in the prices of foodstuffs and vegetables.