31 July 2015

The Federal Police  Commander, Lt.-Gen. Ra'ed Jawdat, announced today the liberation of the Tell Al-Mushahid area east of Ramadi following military operations in which numerous units of the People's Mobilization, tribal volunteers, and security forces took part, killing at least 23 ISIL gunmen.

On the southwestern front of Ramadi, security forces have also liberated more ISIL-held areas. Meanwhile, fighting is continuing along the city's southern front and in the northern areas across the Euphrates from Ramadi City. Iraqi and Coalition air strikes have targeted ISIL positions within the city and along its perimeter, killing at least 11 gunmen, including an ISIL field commander in central Ramadi.

In Fallujah's southern sector, security forces have killed 5 ISIL gunmen and destroyed two explosives-rigged vehicles that had been intended to target a military barracks in the area.

Meanwhile, families are still leaving the city, using routes provided by the security forces, leading to western Fallujah. All the routes into and out of the city are now under the control of security forces.

In Garma, security forces are embroiled in fierce fighting around the town center which is now fully surrounded.

In western Anbar, the military is massing around Baghdadi ahead of the imminent liberation operation. In Haditha, security forces have raised their state of alert following reports of an imminent ISIL assault on the areas around the township that has been relatively quiet amid the ongoing military preparations.

24 July 2015

The Federal Police Commander, Lt.-Gen. Ra'ed Jawdat, announced today the liberation of the Tell Al-Mushahid area east of Ramadi following military operations in which numerous units of the People's Mobilization, tribal volunteers, and security forces took part, killing at least 23 ISIL gunmen.

On the southwestern front of Ramadi, security forces have also liberated more ISIL-held areas. Meanwhile, fighting is continuing along the city's southern front and in the northern areas across the Euphrates from Ramadi City. Iraqi and Coalition air strikes have targeted ISIL positions within the city and along its perimeter, killing at least 11 gunmen, including an ISIL field commander in central Ramadi.

In Fallujah's southern sector, security forces have killed 5 ISIL gunmen and destroyed two explosives-rigged vehicles that had been intended to target a military barracks in the area.

Meanwhile, families are still leaving the city, using routes provided by the security forces, leading to western Fallujah. All the routes into and out of the city are now under the control of security forces.

In Garma, security forces are embroiled in fierce fighting around the town center which is now fully surrounded.

In western Anbar, the military is massing around Baghdadi ahead of the imminent liberation operation.

In Haditha, security forces have raised their state of alert following reports of an imminent ISIL assault on the areas around the township that has been relatively quiet amid the ongoing military preparations.

19 July 2015

In Ramadi today and after four days of fighting, security forces have been able to liberate the southern sector's Tash 1 and Tash 2 areas up to the Anbar University. Security forces and the 'Golden' Brigade  have announced that their forces are within one kilometer of the University where they have fully surrounded the campus.

Security forces have also liberated areas between Eastern Husayba and the Mudhef areas east of Ramadi. Iraqi and Coalition air craft and army artillery have also bombarded a number of ISIL-held positions along the eastern and northeastern fronts of Ramadi. The security forces have reported killing at least 72 ISIL gunmen, including 17 snipers, in the Ramadi clashes. Intelligence revealed today by Anbar Operations shows that ISIL gunmen are pulling back from the city's perimeter areas toward the Ramadi City center. Meanwhile ISIL families are evacuating the city, heading toward Hit Township. The gunmen have also blown up the 'Olympic Stadium' in Ramadi's western sector. They have also planted explosives in a number of the city's buildings that they plan to detonate as they withdraw. The gunmen are also pursuing some of their fighters who have abandoned the fight and fled.

In Fallujah, security forces have today completed the liberation of Saqlawiya Township in western Fallujah. Clashes in the city's outskirts have killed at least 12 gunmen. Meanwhile, large numbers of Fallujah families have been evacuating the city, heading for Baghdad via the Bzaybiz Bridge crossing. 15 ISIL gunmen who had infiltrated the ranks of the refugees were arrested there today and are being held by Anbar Police in Amiriyat Al-Fallujah.

In Garma, most of the town is now under security forces' control, but fierce fighting is continuing for the town's center.

In Haditha and Baghdadi, there have been clashes in the riverside areas across the Euphrates from Baghdadi and around the town's southern residential complex.

13 July 2015

At 02:00 today, the launch of the major military operation to liberate Anbar was announced. Fallujah was the scene of the initial action, with a six-pronged assault: mainly in the southern, western, and northwestern sectors. Security forces on the city's perimeter have reported that they have advanced about 200 meters from their original positions. Heavy aerial bombardment targeted many of the city's outskirts in addition to the central districts. Security forces have also reported that they lured a large number of ISIL gunmen into an ambush they set up at a military barracks, killing at least 23 gunmen.

A major military operation was also launched in Ramadi from four fronts: in the southern, eastern, and southwestern sectors. An ISIL field commander was killed in the fighting in the northeastern sector of the city. Anbar Operations have announced that the air campaign is still continuing and that the ground offensive has not yet been launched on Ramadi. Meanwhile Iraqi and Coalition air attacks have been targeting positions in Ramadi, Fallujah, and Garma.

Meanwhile, Anbar Operations, Anbar Police, and the Defense Ministry have confirmed that more than 10,000 fighters are involved in the campaign, in addition to more than 5,000 tribal volunteers.

Security forces have also announced that the campaign will increase in scope to include the Province's western regions: Hit, Ana, Rawa, Haditha, Rutba, Al-Qaim have not yet seen any of today's action but will be included in the upcoming phase of the campaign.

There have also been reports indicating that the ISIL commanders in Fallujah - particularly the foreigners - have been fleeing the city, and sources are reporting that 12 ISIL gunmen were killed in Fallujah - a first for Fallujah in over a year. Reports are also indicating that many of the explosions in Fallujah were detonated by units previously infiltrated into the city by security forces.

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.

05 July 2015

In Ramadi today, Iraqi gun ships struck a location being used as a playground by children in central Ramadi. The latest casualty count lists 36 residents as being killed and 24 as being wounded. This represents the highest number of casualties to fall in a single incident.

In Haditha, an ISIL attack using 6 explosives-rigged vehicles was launched from the western outskirts of the town. Security forces were able to destroy the vehicles and to thwart the attack aimed at seizing the town’s western sector. All of the gunmen aboard the vehicles were killed.

In Garma, security forces are still surrounding the town center but they have not been able to overrun the ISIL position in the center, but they have killed at least 9 of the gunmen.

People’s Mobilization fighters have taken control of the ‘Japanese’ Bridge and three Saqlawiya areas in the southwestern outskirts of Fallujah. The areas across the bridge have also been taken over by security forces.

In Fallujah, the indiscriminate bombardment exchanges between security forces along the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city has resulted in the killing of at least 17 residents including 4 children and 3 women, and wounding at least 28 by the bombardment of the city’s central and northern residential districts.

In Amiriyat Al-Fallujah, stringent security measures are still in place, ahead of an expected ISIL attack. Meanwhile, ISIL mortar has caused material damage within the town but there were no casualties. 

02 July 2015

In the areas between Garma and Fallujah, ISIL has launched a number of attacks on the military barracks in the southwestern sector of Fallujah and the areas around Garma township. A number of security personnel and People’s Mobilization fighters were killed and more recent reports indicate that at least 18 of the ISIL gunmen were killed. Within Fallujah, heavy mortar and artillery bombardment as part of the daily bombardment exchanges between security forces on the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city, has, according to General Hospital sources, killed 13 residents and wounded 9, mostly women and children. 

In Amiriyat Al-Fallujah, a curfew has been in place since yesterday evening throughout the town, in anticipation of a reported imminent ISIL attack on the township. 

In Ramadi, security forces are maintaining their stranglehold around the city’s perimeter. The forces have gained ground into the eastern reaches of Ramadi. Iraqi gun ships have once again struck a number of targets and ISIL positions. Reports indicate that at least 22 gunmen were killed in those strikes in Ramadi’s southeastern and southwestern sectors. 

In Baghdadi and Haditha, the situation remains unchanged, with residents experiencing severe hardship as a result of the huge shortages of food and medical supplies.

26 June 2015

In Baghdadi, ISIL today attacked the township on two fronts: from the west and from the south, against the areas between Baghdadi and Haditha. Security forces with Iraqi air support were able to repel both attacks while killing 8 ISIL gunmen; however some security personnel within the town were wounded. Iraqi gun ships and coalition warplanes carried out a number of strikes that have enabled the security to maintain control of their positions. Meanwhile, military and humanitarian supplies have also reached the blockaded areas in Baghdadi township. People’s Mobilization militiamen have also been deployed to the area.  

In Ramadi, clashes are underway in the eastern and northeastern areas, while security forces are still blockading the city along its perimeter. Iraqi and coalition aircraft are continuing their strikes on a number of targets and positions within the city. There are reports that 3 ISIL gunmen, including a field commander, have been killed in the southern sector’s Hawz district.

In Fallujah, a General Hospital source announced today that 8 residents were killed and 19 were wounded by thee ongoing random bombardment exchanges between the security forces controlling the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen who have been holding the city itself for over a year. The incoming fire struck a number of Fallujah’s residential districts.

In Garma, security forces have liberated portions of the town’s southern industrial district. The town’s center is still surrounded by security forces that are due to launch a final assault to wrest control of the center.

25 June 2015

In Hit township today, Iraqi gunships and coalition warplanes carried out a number of sorties, striking the Shari’a Courthouse and the agricultural complex in central Hit, where intelligence reports indicated that ISIL meetings and gatherings were underway at both locations. Subsequent contacts with sources within the town indicate that the bodies of dozens of ISIL gunmen were lying in the streets, and that ISIL commanders gathered at the courthouse were also killed. The strikes began early this morning and continued throughout the morning. The former Women’s Association building in Hit was also hit.

Meanwhile in Ramadi, the city is still fully besieged; large numbers of the People’s Mobilization fighters have also been deployed in support of the security forces around the city. Iraqi gunships and coalition warplanes have once again struck various areas of the city in advance of the imminent major ground military operation to liberate the city. The strikes are reported by Anbar Operations as having killed at least 11 ISIL gunmen. Security forces in the southern an southwestern sectors are continuing in their efforts to clear routes out of the city to enable residents to evacuate from ISIL-controlled districts.

In Fallujah, the intense bombardment of the city has continued for the tenth straight day; the General Hospital reported today that 9 residents, including 3 children and 2 women, were killed and 21 others wounded by the indiscriminate bombardment exchanges.

In Garma, the security situation remains unchanged, with security forces still trying to assault the town center after having cleared most of the surrounding areas and districts.

In western Anbar, security force have repelled ISIL’s advances from the southwestern sector of Haditha and the Jubba area across the river from Baghdadi.

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.

20 June 2015

In Ramadi today, joint security forces supported by People’s Mobilization fighters along the city’s perimeter thwarted two attacks by ISIL gunmen: the first was in the Eastern Husayba area east of Ramadi, where fierce clashes enabled security forces to fend off the attack, while Iraqi air support struck a number of ISIL convoys, setting ablaxe a number of their vehicles; the second attack was in the southwestern sector of the city, where security forces also turned back the attackers after fierce clashes with the gunmen.

Meanwhile Iraqi gun ships attacked a number of ISIL positions in northeastern Ramadi. Security forces are still in a  state of readiness for the imminent military campaign to liberate Ramadi. There are reports that Iraqi gun ships have dropped flyers calling on the residents to evacuate the city in order to stay out of harm’s way during the campaign.

In Fallujah today, military operations are underway in the city’s southwestern sector; 3 suicide bombers attempted to blow themselves up at a barracks in the sector, but were thwarted by security forces; 8 gunmen were killed in the ensuing clashes.

Security forces are still fighting over the control of Garma’s town center.

A Fallujah General Hospital source has reported that 3 children were and 9 residents wounded by the ongoing indiscriminate bombardment exchanges between security forces controlling the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen within the city.

In western Anbar, Haditha and Baghdadi Townships are relatively calm today; no clashes have been reported in either area.

The humanitarian situation is still unchanged, with hundreds or thousands of families still sheltering in refugee camps in Khalidiya, Habbaniya, Amiriyat Al-Fallujah, and at the Bzaybiz Bridge crossing. Food aid is only trickling in, while summer temperatures are exacerbating the suffering during these early days of Ramadan.

18 June 2015

An Anbar Operations source has announced that security forces have today succeeded in overrunning the center of Garma and have established control over broad portions of the center that is regarded as being one of the last of ISIL’s strongholds.

Meanwhile the Anbar Police Command has denied reports that an Iraqi Army helicopter has been shot down.

In Fallujah, clashes and mortar fire have intensified between the security forces along the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city. The General Hospital reported today that 7 residents, including 2 children and one woman have been killed and 9 wounded by the random bombardment exchanges. 

In Ramadi, strict security measures and precautions are in place amid the military preparations in the city’s suburbs. Iraqi gun ships have again carried out air strikes in a number of Ramadi’s districts, including Hawz and Al-Andalus.

Elsewhere in Anbar, the commanding officer of the Jazeera and Badiya Operations, Nasser Al-Ghannam, has asked the Defense Ministry to relieve him of his command, apparently in response to ‘frivolous’ actions at the Ministry.

Security forces and Iraqi air support have thwarted ISIL attempts to gain control of the Baghdadi and Haditha areas. 

On this first day of Ramadan, hundreds of migrant families are still stalled at the Bzaybiz Bridge crossing and in Amiriyat al-Fallujah, where they are experiencing severe hardships coinciding with the rise in temperatures and the lack of foodstuffs and other humanitarian needs.

17 June 2015

In Ramadi’s outskirts, strict security measures are still in place and preparations are continuing for the imminent broad-scale campaign to liberate the city. The local police commander announced today that security forces are fully prepared for the ground campaign to liberate the city. 

Meanwhile fierce clashes took place along the city’s southern and southwestern perimeters, in addition to the eastern Husayba area and on towards the riverside areas in northeastern Ramadi.

Iraqi air support has carried out a number of sorties against targets along the perimeter of the city and also in its central districts. So far, Anbar Operations have reported that 7 ISIL gunmen were killed in the clashes and strikes. Meanwhile the city is fully blockaded by security forces. 

In Fallujah today, for the third consecutive day, has been heavily bombarded by mortar fire. The General Hospital has reported that 7 residents were killed and 9 wounded by the ongoing random bombardment exchanges between the security forces controlling the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen who have been holding the city itself for more than a year. 

In Hit township, Iraqi air units have struck a military camp known as the ‘Abu Mus’ab Al-Zarqawi Camp’ in the township’s southwestern sector. There are reports that at least 23 ISIL gunmen, including six of their leaders in the Hit area, were killed there. 

The Defense Minister arrived today in Haditha township. He ordered the urgent dispatch of relief aid to the Haditha and Baghdadi areas. 

In Garma, security forces have infiltrated into the town center, but fierce fighting is continuing for control of the town’s center.

16 June 2015

In Amiriyat al-Fallujah, ISIL gunmen fired at least 25 Katyusha rockets at residential districts within the town. So far, reports say that 3 local police personnel were killed and 5 civilians were wounded by the bombardment. Security forces barracks on the outskirts of the township were also hit. A curfew has been declared in the southwestern sector of the township where fierce clashes are now underway.

In Ramadi, security forces are reported to be advancing from all four directions, in preparation for the broad military campaign aimed at re-taking control of the city that has been held by ISIL for over a month.

In Hit township, security forces announced this morning that the ISIL ‘Wali’ of Hit, a Saudi national known as Abu Talha, was killed by silenced weapons at 03:00 this morning in the town center. This is the first time that a leading ISIL commander has been killed in Hit that is still under ISIL control.

In Baghdadi and Haditha, clashes have continued in the southern and southwestern areas of Baghdadi township. Iraqi air support has struck a number of positions, particularly along the Euphrates in the Jubba area. Security forces have reported that 11 gunmen were killed in the strikes.

Food aid has arrived today in the Baghdadi and Haditha townships, just prior to the start of Ramadan.

In Fallujah, casualty reports show that 4 residents were killed and 9 wounded by the ongoing random bombardment exchanges.

In Garma, security forces are still engaged in the fighting to take control of the town center. 

10 June 2015

In Garma, broad military operations are still underway between the joint security forces supported by tribal fighters and People’s Mobilization militiamen against ISIL gunmen. Three gunmen have been killed and 4 explosives-rigged vehicles blown up before the gunmen could detonate them against the security forces. All the areas up to the southern outskirts of Ramadi have been cleared.

Meanwhile, Iraqi air support has struck a number of ISIL positions around Garma, where sources have reported that at least 17 gunmen were killed. Security forces are now poised to assault the Garma town center.

In Ramadi, security forces are facing the ISIL front line in eastern Husayba where fierce clashes have enabled security forces to advance onto the southern and western axes. Reinforcements and munitions supplies have been deployed to a number of areas on the outskirts of Ramadi, prior to the launch of the total assault on Ramadi. Iraqi gun ships have attacked a number of districts – from Bu-Farraj and on to the Hawz district in southernmost Ramadi. Ground forces have not yet been ordered to advance.

In western Anbar, the Jazeera Operations forces carried out a military operation in the desert areas between Haditha township and Anah township that is still controlled by ISIL gunmen. A direct route has been established between Haditha and Baghdadi and on to the Ayn al-Asad military base.

In Fallujah, heavy bombardment yesterday has, according to General Hospital sources, killed 6 residents and 9 wounded by the random bombardment of the city’s residential districts.

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 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.

25 May 2015

Since the early hours of this morning, Iraqi Army forces supported by Iraqi gun ships, the People’s Mobilization, and tribal fighters are engaged in a broad military operation in Ramadi’s eastern areas, particularly the areas adjacent to Khalidiya and eastern Husayba; these areas have now been secured, while at least 12 ISIL gunmen were killed.

Meanwhile, Iraqi gun ships have bombarded a number of buildings being used by ISIL snipers.

Also today, large numbers of the People’s Mobilization have arrived to bring their total so far to more than 7,000 fighters.

There are also reports that the security forces are preparing for a major military operation to liberate Ramadi in the next few days.

Also this morning, Iraqi gun ships and coalition warplanes launched a number of strikes against a number of areas in Ramadi: in the Bu-Farraj, Al-Andalus, and the industrial districts, in addition to targets in central Ramadi. Three members of the ISIL leadership have been reported killed in the eastern Bu-Farraj area.

In Haditha, ISIL launched an early morning attack, but security forces and Iraqi gun ships repelled the attack, killing at least 35 ISIL gunmen.

In Baghdadi, the security situation is in turmoil as a result of repeated attacks by the gunmen on the residential complex in central Baghdadi, where fighting is still underway.

In Fallujah, hospital sources have reported that 7 residents were killed and 5 were wounded by the ongoing random bombardment exchanges between security forces along the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city.

The humanitarian situation of the migrants remains unchanged, with thousands of families still stranded near the Bzaybiz Bridge; they have not yet been able to cross into Baghdad.

20 May 2015

Fighting is still underway in the Khalidiya area of eastern Ramadi. Security forces supported by tribal fighters have succeeded in taking control of eastern Husayba. Meanwhile, big military reinforcements have reached the Khalidiya and Habbaniya areas adjacent to Ramadi city. Iraqi air support has taken part in repelling the ISIL attacks in these areas and has struck ISIL positions and concentrations.

There are reports that preparations are underway for a major military operation aimed at re-taking Ramadi city.

Meanwhile, coalition warplanes have launched strikes against both Ramadi’s environs and its center, killing a number of ISIL gunmen.

Security forces have announced today that they have taken full control of the Jubba area on the western banks of the Euphrates in Baghdadi, and that they have killed at least 13 gunmen in the area. The forces have also announced that they are in control of all the roads between Baghdadi and Haditha.

In Fallujah, a General Hospital source has reported today that 6 residents have been killed and 5 wounded by the ongoing random bombardments between security forces along the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city. Fighting is continuing in the city’s southern industrial outskirts, with ISIL continuing their attacks on the military barracks in the area.

Fighting is also continuing in and around Garma.