05 January 2015

The most significant development overnight and through this afternoon has been a series of ISIL attacks on border posts manned by army personnel and border guards, particularly those along the border with Jordan. An attack on the Annaz border post in westernmost Anbar was repelled by security forces and Iraqi air support. The Anbar Operations has just reported that at least 50 ISIL gunmen have been killed in the border-post attacks.

In Haditha and for the fourth consecutive day, ISIL gunmen have launched intermittent attacks on the town's perimeter, particularly along its southwestern sector. Security and local forces are reporting that they have thwarted more than one attack on the western and southern approaches of the town.

Iraqi air support and coalition warplanes were also involved, killing at least 11 gunmen.

In Baghdadi, there has been mortar fire on the town's southwestern sector, and security forces have announced that they have not been able to re-take the areas, including 14 villages, that were recently captured by ISIL forces.

In Ramadi today, security forces have succeeded in liberating the Bu-Nasser area in western Khalidiya, in northwestern Ramadi. With Iraqi air support they have killed at least 23 gunmen, including some non-Iraqi Arab nationals.

In other military action in the southern and western sectors of the city, security forces have killed an Iraqi ISIL commander in westernmost Ramadi.

In Fallujah, clashes and mortar fire exchanges have achieved some ISIL gains, while incoming mortar fire has struck a number of the city's central, southern, and northern residential districts. The city's general hospital has reported that 4 residents have been killed and 16 wounded.

01 December 2014

ISIL gunmen have carried out attacks on a military barracks at the Al-Waleed border crossing with Syria. It is probably the last position that has not been captured by ISIL. Sixteen military personnel have been killed in the attack, including one officer. The position is part of the Rutba township that has beeen uder ISIL control for nearly six months. Iraqi and coalition aircraft have launched airstrikes on the area bordering both Syria and Jordan, targeting the gunmen's positions, with 31 gunmen reported killed.

In Ramadi, security forces announced today that ISIL gunmen have today launched a major surprise attack on three fronts: the first, in the northwestern sector, in an attempt by the gunmen to seize control of the Abu Risha area, but were repelled by tribal fighters who killed 3 of the gunmen; the second attack was on the southern sector in the Hawz district where previous clashes are still ongoing; the third attack was in the eastern sector in the areas along the Euphrates, but the security forces engaged the gunmen in fierce clashes and were able to spread their control and clear the roadside explosive devices on both banks of the river.

In Fallujah, gunfire and bombardment exchanges are continuing, with residential districts being hit indiscriminately. The city's General Hospital has reported that 4 residents have been killed and 11 wounded.

There were also clashes to the east in the areas along the boundary with Salahuddin Province. Coalition warplanes have been involved there but we do not yet have any details. The overall situation indicates an escalation by the security forces trying to recover control of those areas,

In Hit, security forces are still controlling the town's perimeter areas, while families are still evacuating the town following the previously announced intention to launch a major security operation supported by tribal forces, in order to liberate Hit town.

08 September 2014

The most significant topic on the streets of Anbar has been the attacks launched by U.S. warplanes, mainly on western Anbar regions. A large number of such attacks have been carried out against groups of ISIL gunmen. The most recent have been strikes in the Ana and Rawa townships, but we do not yet know the outcome of the strikes that also targeted areas on the western outskirts of Haditha. A security source at the Anbar Operations Command has announced that such airstrikes have also targeted gunmen positions surrounding the Haditha Dam. However, there have also been some intermittent clashes  - the most recent about one hour ago - involving some gunmen attempting to enter the town from the southern villages they are still holding.

Naturally, these security developments and particularly the American airstrikes have been welcomed by Anbaris and by their local government, especially as they have been seen to be accurately targeted strikes that have not resulted in any civilian casualties, whereas the bombardments by government forces have regularly killed and wounded numerous civilians.

A short time ago, a security source in the Al-Sichir district of Fallujah, two booby-trapped homes were blown up when security forces entered them; at least 24 army personnel were killed and at least 33 were wounded by the blasts.

Also in Fallujah, government aerial bombardment of a number of the city's central and northern residential districts has killed 3 residents and wounded 17, according to Dr. Ahmed Al-Shami, the senior resident at the city's general hospital.

In Ramadi, residents demonstrated today demanding of the local government to end military operations and to allow them to return to their homes.

On the political front, the deputy Anbar Governor for technical affairs has been appointed Governor, replacing Governor Ahmed Khalaf Al-Dulaimi who was wounded and is now receiving treatment at a hospital in the Jordanian capital, Amman.

A 40-kilometer trench has been completed today, to protect the Al-Wafa'a area in western Ramadi. This has been done in several other locations in order to thwart any renewed attempt by the gunmen to seize territory, and the same measure will be repeated in a number of other locations.

17 July 2014

The most prominent development in Ramadi during the last three days has been the gunmen's deployment into the city's western and southern sectors. The gunmen's movements have resulted in intermittent clashes and have forced the districts' residents to once again move out towards Hit and Al-Baghdadi. As a result, the local government has once again called for tribal volunteers to join army and police forces in order to bolster the security forces in their efforts at thwarting the gunmen's advances.

The 8th Brigade HQ has again been hit by mortar and artillery fire and intermittent clashes have been taking place throughout the night.

In Fallujah, 9 residents were killed and 27 others were wounded in yesterday's fierce shelling of numerous districts within the city.

Al-Garma has also been subjected to shelling and rocket-propelled grenade fire, resulting in the death of 2 residents with 7 others wounded. The town is still controlled by gunmen, while security forces are operating outside the town's perimeter. Security sources are claiming that the operations are being targeted at groups of gunmen.

In western Anbar gunmen are still controlling the main towns as well as the crossing points at both the Syrian and Jordanian borders. Iraqi warplanes have attacked a number of positions in the region, saying that the they are targeting the gunmen groups.

There has been an attempted assault on Haditha which is a fortified stronghold of the security and tribal forces and is the location of the Haditha Dam. Security forces there have been reinforced out of concerns that the gunmen would try to attack the town.

Flyers have been distributed in Hit and Al-Baghdadi warning residents against siding with the security forces and fixing the end of Ramadan as the final deadline for their 'repentance' and their embracing the 'Islamic State' after resigning their government jobs.

09 July 2014

In Ramadi, there have been intermittent clashes since last night and into this afternoon, and many districts have been shelled as a result of the gunmen's advances into the western sector of the city. There have also been gun battles in the city center, and many mortar rounds have struck a number of military positions within that area.

In Fallujah, a number of districts have been shelled indiscriminately. Three residents have been killed and 7 others wounded as a result of the military operations on the city's outskirts.

Clashes and shelling have also continued in Al-Garma.

Meanwhile, Iraqi warplanes have attacked groups of gunmen along the borders Iraqi borders with both Jordan and Syria. There have also been military operations along the border between Anbar and Nineveh governorates.

Naturally, the conditions for the displaced persons are extremely difficult, with the rise in temperatures and the lack of living necessities for many of them.

29 June 2014

The gunmen have taken control of large areas of western Anbar, but they have now stopped outside Haditha. Some tribal sources are saying that there are negotiations underway as there does not appear to be a military solution to that standoff. They are apparently trying to buy time so that the seizure can be achieved without a fight.
They have also not taken control of Hit or of Al-Baghdadi, home to the big Ayn Al-Asad Base which is still in the hands of security forces.

There are conflicting reports about who controls the Iraq side of Trebil border crossing between Iraq and Jordan. But both the local and central governments are stating that the border crossings, such as Al-Waleed, are still secure. The Trade Ministry has confirmed that 300 trucks have safely made the journey from the Jordanian border to Baghdad.

Security sources are reaffirming that Tikrit and other Salahuddin areas will be secured within 72 hours. The main effect in Anbar is related to the humanitarian situation. Many Anbaris had fled to Salahuddin and after the events there they have been making their way back, so it is the humanitarian aspect that they care about.

28 June 2014

ISIS fighters have taken control over the western parts of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar Province. Serious clashes between the group and Iraq’s security forces have been intermittent since late on June 27, and many residents have left several areas where fighting has raged.

ISIS militants have reportedly been preparing for a further push on the city of Ramadi from the west in order to gain full control over it. 
Security forces are getting ready to launch operations to regain control over the Al-Ta'ameen neighborhood and the Khamsa Kelo (“Kilometer Five”) enclave west of Ramadi that were recently taken by ISIS.

Large numbers of security forces have been deployed on the eastern outskirts of Ramadi city, and earthen bulwarks have been built on its northern and northeastern sides.

Seven residents were wounded in the shelling and bombardment of the Fallujah city, as there have also been wounded in the town of Al-Garma northeast of Fallujah.

Some sources say the administrator (qaim-maqam) of Haditha district has escaped to the Kurdistan Region today. A subsequent tribal meeting has elected a new administrator, Abdul-Hakim al-Jughayfi, who previously occupied this post in 2003-2004. ISIS does not control the city but its militants control all the areas surrounding Haditha on all sides.

Iraqi security forces have killed 3 militants in a foiled ISIS attack aimed at imposing control over the Haditha Dam on the Euphrates River. The dam is currently, though, still in the hands of Iraqi government forces.

In the early morning today, the Syrian Air Force bombed the University Hospital in the town of Ana, damaging the buildings of school's reception and emergency department. The bombings did not cause any casualties.

Iraq’s security forces announced that they are in control of the border crossings into Jordan and Syria, respectively, though that claim cannot be independently confirmed. 

26 April 2014

At dawn this morning gunmen blew up a school being used as a polling station in the Al-Karabla in Al-Qa'im township in western Anbar on the border with Syria. The school was completely demolished but there were no casualties.

In Ramadi, there are some relatively low-level clashes still going on; the various hot-zone districts are relatively calm, although some gunfire could be heard during the night.

In Fallujah, a large number of families - and some from Ramadi - have migrated towards Kurdistan, firstly as a result of the flooding of the city's southern sector, and also as a result of the continuing indiscriminate shelling that has today caused the death of one resident and injured 6 others.

A pedestrian crossing point has been opened after the flooding of vast areas of Fallujah.

Al-Garma is completely closed off by the army with nobody able to get into or out of the town which has been the target of intensive shelling during the past three days.

Also today, the Anbar Governorate Council has disbursed some of the funds allocated as compensation to the city of Ramadi. The disbursement amounts to 10 million Dinars (about $8400) to each residential home. The amount is insufficient, but the local government has said that it represents the first partial payment of the compensation for those whose homes have been destroyed.

Sheikh Ali Hatem, who had led the Military Council of Anbar Tribal Revolutionaries, left the country yesterday (Friday) by way of the Treybeel crossing into Jordan on his way to Amman. This has raised questions: he is wanted by the government but left the Governorate and the country using his Iraqi passport through the official border crossing at Treybeel. Some are saying that negotiations are about to take place in Amman, and that he secured permission by the central government to leave. Others are saying that he was given a large sum of money that secured his exit to Amman.

Regarding the upcoming elections, there are differences of opinion among the Anbar residents about whether to take part or not. Obviously, there are numerous hindrances, particularly in Ramadi and Fallujah that can only undertake a limited partial balloting.