26 July 2015

Antiterrorism units, Rapid Deployment forces, supported by People's Mobilization forces, and tribal volunteers have taken control of Anbar University in southwestern Ramadi. Security forces  advanced on the campus from four fronts, taking up positions within the campus buildings, while fighting is continuing around the campus perimeter. Security forces are reporting that they have taken control of most of the university's buildings; they have also discovered a mass grave and a number of tunnels connecting the campus with the southern and southwestern sectors of Ramadi. Forces are now advancing into the Ta'meem district, and have taken control of the areas adjacent to Ramadi's eastern sector and on to the areas across the Euphrates from Ramadi City. Also today, Iraqi and Coalition air strikes have targeted numerous positions in and around Ramadi. At least 26 ISIL gunmen have been reported killed by the strikes.

In Fallujah, security forces are still fully surrounding the city. At least 17 ISIL gunmen were killed in clashes on Fallujah's eastern front as they attempted to attack a military barracks near the Fallujah-Baghdad Highway. Iraqi and Coalition aircraft have attacked and destroyed 3 vehicles loaded with weapons and ammunition and making their way toward the city's northern and northeastern sectors. Security forces are also combing all of the terrain around the city's perimeter. Meanwhile, the gunmen are still preventing families from leaving the city and have been whipping those who try to circumvent their positions within the city. 

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.

11 July 2015

In Khalidiya today, security forces have liberated the Bu-Flays area of the township, one day after it was occupied by ISIL gunmen. In fierce clashes the forces killed at least 19 of the gunmen, according to security sources.

Meanwhile Iraqi and Coalition air strikes against targets along Ramadi’s perimeter, hitting a number of ISIL positions where the gunmen are suspected of preparing for a new assault on the areas east of Ramadi. Those eastern areas have today been re-supplied with weapons and military transports and vehicles, in addition to large numbers of tribal fighters. Military operations are meanwhile continuing in Ramadi’s southwestern sector in the areas across the Euphrates from Ramadi City.

Families are continuing to leave Ramadi following the security forces’ success in opening a breach in the ISIL lines.

In Saqlawiya today, security forces have liberated all of the township’s areas to the west of Fallujah.

Within Fallujah, the city is fully surrounded; indiscriminate mortar bombardment exchanges between the security forces along the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city. A General Hospital source has reported that 9 residents have been killed and 15 injured by the mortar fire; most of the dead and injured are women and children.

In Garma, ISIL gunmen are still controlling the town center, but security forces are controlling most of the areas and districts around the center.

In Amiriyat Al-Fallujah, the township is still bracing for a further assault by ISIL gunmen onto the strip separating the township from Fallujah City.

22 June 2015

In Ramadi today, security forces are still tightening their grip around the city’s perimeter, while some partial military operations are continuing in the areas northeast of the city – from Eastern Husayba and on to Juwayba and the areas across and along the Euphrates River. Security forces have also advanced to within 2 km from the ISIL front lines within the perimeter. Security forces have also carried out a partial operation in the city’s southwestern quadrant where they were able to liberate a number of Ramadi residents who had been under ISIL control. Meanwhile, Iraqi gun ships and coalition warplanes have today struck a number of positions in various parts of the city, including the Hawz, Andalus, Bu-Farraj, and Bu-Ghanim areas. At least 9 ISIL gunmen, including one of their field commanders, were killed in the southern Andalus district.

In Fallujah, the indiscriminate bombardment exchanges are continuing between security forces on the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city; 9 residents, including 3 women and 2 children were killed today and at least 24 were wounded in a number of the city’s residential districts by the exchanges.

Food and relief supplies are practically non-existent for the families stranded at the Bzaybiz Bridge crossing, and within the Amiriyat al-Fallujah, and Khalidiya refugee camps.

19 June 2015

In Ramadi, ISIL gunmen today launched numerous attacks, trying to gain ground in the eastern and northeastern areas of the city.

Security forces successfully thwarted the attacks, especially in the eastern Husayba and Jubba areas along both banks of the Euphrates. Iraqi air support has, since the early hours of this morning, carried out a number of sorties against positions believed to be manned by the gunmen. Security sources have reported that at least 23 gunmen were killed in the eastern sector of the city.

Clashes have also spread to the southern and southwestern sectors, where security forces have advanced and set up new front lines.

Meanwhile a security operation has given security forces control over all of the access roads between Hit and Ramadi.

In Garma today, security forces have declared their control over the town center, following a 10-day battle to achieve that goal.

Most of the roads and streets within the township had been mined and rigged with explosive devices that the advancing forces have been disabling during their advance into the town center. Four ISIL gunmen were killed by security forces in the outskirts of the town.

In Fallujah, an initial casualty count shows that 5 residents were killed and 9 were wounded by the continuing random bombardment exchanges between security forces around the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen who have been controlling the city for over one year.

On the humanitarian front, high summer temperatures are adding to the suffering of the displaced migrants who are still struggling with food shortages and the lack of relief aid.

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. 

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.

03 June 2015

Ramadi city perimeter is still fully surrounded; there were clashes today on more than one front: in the city’s southern sector security forces are slowly advancing into the southern districts.

There were also clashes in Ramadi’s eastern and northern sectors since early this morning.

Within the city, ISIL has been still holding and shutting down the Ramadi Barrage to the west of the city, resulting in a major drop  in the water level in the Euphrates. Anbar officials are warning that ISIL’s continued closure of the barrage will adversely affect the water reaching eastern Anbar and on toward the southern Iraqi provinces.

Meanwhile, clashes, bombardments and Iraqi and coalition air strikes are continuing in the areas east of Ramadi and on into the central districts of the city.

ISIL is continuing its pressures on the youth in the areas they hold to join their ranks in fighting against the security forces.

Security sources are reporting fierce clashes in the areas between Samarra city and the Tharthar areas in southwestern Anbar. Security forces are advancing to take control of the Tharthar Barrage.

In Fallujah, 5 residents were killed and 7 wounded by the continuing random bombardment exchanges between security forces along the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city.

A number of districts in Garma have been bombarded and clashes are continuing in the Sheeha and Subayhat areas.

02 June 2015

Military reinforcements have today been deployed around, and surrounding, both Fallujah and Ramadi. There are reports that People’s Mobilization militiamen and security forces around Fallujah have given its residents 72 hours to evacuate the city prior to launching a massive military operation to liberate Fallujah that has been under ISIL control for more than a year.

In Ramadi, fierce clashes erupted today, allowing security forces to take full control of all the areas between the Euphrates and central Ramadi. In Juwayba east of Ramadi, a 12-member family was killed when an explosive device was detonated in that area.

In other clashes, security forces have taken control of the 35 km. area and the areas between Ramadi and Hit, leaving all the areas in that sector under security forces’ control. There are also reports that security forces will launch a military operation in the coming hours, following the shutting down of Ramadi’s water supply when ISIL closed all the sluice gates at the Warrar Barrage; water levels have fallen in Khalidiya and Habbaniya.

Iraqi and coalition aircraft have carried out strikes in a number of Ramadi’s districts, including the Bu-Farraj and surrounding areas, down to districts in the city’s southern sector.

In Fallujah, the ongoing random bombardment exchanges have killed 4 residents and wounded 9 others.

27 May 2015

Joint security forces supported by People’s Mobilization militias and tribal fighters have succeeded in liberating a number of areas in southern Ramadi and have reached some parts of Anbar University.

Security forces and units of the ‘Golden Division’ have killed 6 would-be suicide bombers in one of the university’s buildings. Anbar Police sources are reporting that the ISIL gunmen are withdrawing.

Meanwhile, security force are now 20 km away from the areas separating the forces holding the city’s perimeter from the gunmen holding parts of the Bu-Farraj, eastern Husayba, and surrounding areas. Security forces and tribal fighters are also now controlling the areas across the Euphrates from Ramadi city.

Iraqi gun ships and coalition warplanes have launched a number of sorties against targets in separate areas of Ramadi, especially in the city’s western sector.

In Fallujah, 7 residents are reported killed and 5 wounded by the ongoing random bombardment exchanges between security forces along the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen that have been holding the city for more than one year.

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. 

14 May 2015

Beginning at 2:00 am last night, security forces, Iraqi air support, and coalition warplanes have carried out a major military operation to liberate Baghdadi. The security forces advanced into the eastern areas of the township and are now on the outskirts of the town of al-Dulab in easternmost Baghdadi.

Meanwhile ISIL gunmen used 6 booby-trapped vehicles in their assault on the western areas of the town where they achieved some advances and forced some army units to withdraw, but fierce clashes have prevented the ISIL gunmen from taking control of the areas. Fierce fighting is still underway. Anbar Operations is reporting that the security forces are holding their ground in the riverside areas west of Baghdadi.

Security forces have also repelled an ISIL attack in the industrial zone in southern Fallujah where they killed 5 of the gunmen yesterday and 8 others this morning. Seven security personnel were also killed and 14 were wounded.

Numerous mortar rounds have struck the northern and eastern residential districts in Fallujah, killing at least 12 residents and wounding at least 13.

In Garma, security forces have turned back a surprise ISIL attack in the Subayhat area of eastern Garma. Fierce clashes are continuing in the areas along the Euphrates and the highway leading to Baghdad.

06 May 2015

In Ramadi security forces have successfully withstood a fierce attack by ISIL gunmen from each of the northern and eastern fronts. The forces blew up at least 2 booby-trapped vehicles which the gunmen tried to use to penetrate from the northern sector in the Bu-Farraj area, and from the easternmost area of Sufiya. Iraqi gun ships and coalition warplanes also struck targets amid the attacking gunmen who have now withdrawn on both fronts: back across the Euphrates, and deep into the Sufiya area where security forces and elements of the ‘Golden’ Division have launched a military operation, supported by police and tribal fighters. At least 11 ISIL gunmen have been killed in the fighting.

In Ramadi’s southern sector – in the Hawz and adjacent districts – military operations have continued and extended to the environs of the government complex in the city center.

In Fallujah, a General Hospital source has reported that 2 residents were killed and 6 were wounded by the ongoing random bombardment exchanges between security forces around the city’s perimeter and the ISIL gunmen who have been holding the city for more than year.

Farhan Mohammed, an Anbar Council member, has revealed that ISIL forces are massing in western Anbar at Al-Qaim, apparently preparing to launch a major attack on Haditha and Baghdadi townships. Many gunmen have been deployed in the Al-Qaim, Ana, and Rawa areas for that purpose.

In Garma, security forces have taken full control of the township, but some areas are still booby-trapped while security forces are trying to clear the explosives; there have been some intermittent skirmishes in various parts of the township.

20 April 2015

The Anbar Police Commander, Kadhum al-Fahdawi, announced today that the ISIL threat on Ramadi has been dispelled and that life in the city is now almost normal, notwithstanding the clashes and bombardments are continuing in the northern and northeastern sectors of the city. Street 100, between the Bu-Farraj area and the Sufiya area of northern Ramadi. Operations are ongoing around the Sufiya township. A police source has reported that ISIL gunmen have booby-trapped at least 70 houses in these outlying areas of eastern Ramadi. Iraqi air support and coalition warplanes have today launched strikes on these Ramadi areas and in the southern and central districts of the city; security forces have reported that at least 77 ISIL gunmen have been killed by these air attacks.

The Anbar Council announced today that families have been making there way back to their homes in Ramadi and also to the eastern and northeastern areas. Aside from the continuing clashes, security sources are reporting that the security situation there is relatively calm.

In Baghdadi, the security situation is still grave; ISIL gunmen have forced at least 50 families to flee to the Hatimiya area on the banks of the Euphrates where they have been surrounded for three days  without access to food or medicines.

Meanwhile reinforcements have reached Baghdadi and a major military operation is being reported as imminent, to liberate the township from the gunmen.

30 March 2015

In Fallujah, a General Hospital source has reported that at least 11 residents have been killed and at least 30 wounded, most of whom were women and children. The incoming bombardment struck residential districts in the city’s central, northern, and northwestern sectors. Dozens of families have been abandoning the city and making their way to the capital, Baghdad, and to other regions of the Province.

In Garma, clashes have resumed as the ISIL gunmen were thwarted by security forces in an attempted attack in the southwestern sector of the township.

Northeast of Ramadi, on the other side of the Euphrates, security forces are still mostly controlling the area with intermittent clashes with the gunmen.

In Ramadi, security forces have blown up a booby-trapped vehicle before it could be driven to the army barracks in the city’s southern Hawz district. This was followed by clashes with the gunmen in a number of the southern sector’s districts. Iraqi air support has also carried out strikes in the southwestern sector where it is reported that at least 11 ISIL gunmen were killed this morning.

Elsewhere in Anbar, the situation is relatively calm with the exception of clashes in the southwestern sector of Baghdadi. Meanwhile, food and medical supplies have reached the township.

26 March 2015

In Ramadi, security forces carrying out the military operation in the northeastern sector have succeeded in liberating another part of Garma township, and have killed at least 22 ISIL gunmen in the fierce clashes. Meanwhile, the Garma town center is still fully surrounded, and dozens of families have been evacuating the town fearing becoming caught up in the impending assault on the town. Coalition and Iraqi aircraft have carried out strikes against positions around and within Garma, At least 13 gunmen have been reported killed as a result.

In Ramadi city, ISIL gunmen attempted this morning to advance toward the city center from the southwestern sector. Iraqi air strikes have been reported by security sources as having killed at least 20 ISIL gunmen. Meanwhile clashes have resumed in the Hawz and surrounding districts, units of the ‘Golden’ Division, security forces, and tribal fighters have repelled the attack and prevented the gunmen from advancing into the city.

In Fallujah, a General Hospital source has reported that 4 residents have been killed and 11 wounded by the random bombardment exchanges between the security forces surrounding the city and the ISIL gunmen within it.

Strict security measures have been enforced around Ramadi and in the areas between Anbar and Salahuddin Provinces. Meanwhile security forces have today launched their assault on Tikrit, an important reason behind the enhanced security precautions.

In Baghdadi, heavy clashes have been raging in the areas across the Euphrates from the town, where ISIL gunmen are still maintaining their presence.

02 February 2015

An Anbar Operations source has announced that coalition warplanes have targeted the ISIL headquarters located in a cement plant in Al-Qaim at the Iraqi-Syrian border. The source added that at least 25 ISIL gunmen were killed in the strike, including some western Anbar field commanders.

Iraqi air strikes have also struck ISIL positions in the Hsayba area of Khalidiya Island northeast of Ramadi.

Operations are continuing for the fourth consecutive day in the Shjariya area, having expanded into the opposite bank of the Euphrates.

In Ramadi, a number of ISIL mortar rounds have struck the Anbar water plant in the city's center. The Director General of Anbar Water and Sewerage was wounded as a result. There has been major structural damage at the plant consequently, Ramadi and the areas provided with water from the plant have had their water supply cut.

In Fallujah, a General Hospital source has announced today that 2 residents have been killed and 7 wounded by the resumption of the indiscriminate bombardment exchanges.

In Anbar's western regions, ISIL gunmen are still trying to penetrate and assault Haditha and the areas around Baghdadi, but security forces have turned back the attackers.

10 January 2015

In Ramadi, fighting in the city's southern sector has intensified today. Security sources are reporting that so far their forces have killed at least 14 ISIL gunmen, as the forces advanced into the Hawz district.

In the rural area across the Euphrates, fierce fighting has been continuing while coalition warplanes launched strikes at specific targets in the area, killing at least 52 gunmen, according to Anbar Operations sources.

In Shjariya in eastern Ramadi, clashes intensified today in that area which has been held by the gunmen, security forces have defused explosive devices in at least 10 residences. The road between Shjariya and Khalidiya has also been cleared and liberated.

In Baghdadi, security forces have cleared Jubba, a town on the southern outskirts of Baghdadi; Iraqi air support also struck a number of ISIL positions, killing at least 18 gunmen according to sources at the Ayn Al-Asad military base.

In Fallujah, mortar fire has struck a number of the city's residential districts, killing at least 3 residents and wounding 14, according to the city's general hospital.

10 December 2014

At 7:00 am this morning, ISIL forces launched an attack on the government complex in central Ramadi, but a source at the Anbar Police Command has announced that the attack was repelled and that 8 gunmen have been killed, including 3 Arab nationals.

At 13:00 today, ISIL forces advanced into and occupied large areas of the Hawz district in southwestern Ramadi. Meanwhile Iraqi air support, security forces, and coalition warplanes have attacked a number of ISIL positions in Ramadi's southern sector. An ISIL sniper, described as probably being an Australian national, was killed and 6 others were wounded.

The rural areas on the opposite side of the Euphrates were also attacked by ISIL forces, but tribal fighters from that area were able to thwart and repel the attack, according to the police source.

In Hit today, security and tribal forces are in complete control of the town's perimeter, and Iraqi aircraft have again struck targets in the town' Industrial District. Sources say that 13 gunmen have been killed in the action.

The Anbar Council has today once again called on the central government to provided arms and ammunition to the tribal fighters, stressing that unless the tribal forces are supplied with what they need this month, ISIL forces will consider that as an opportunity to launch further attacks, particularly in Ramadi.

In Fallujah, Dr. Ahmed Al-Shami, the senior resident at the General Hospital, has stressed that the hospital has not suffered any casualties from the bombardment exchanges, but he once again stressed that the hospital is facing major shortages of medical necessities and medical personnel.

30 November 2014

The most significant development today has been the security forces' success in clearing and securing the Office of Migration and the Displaced in the southwestern Ramadi district of Hawz. 8 ISIL gunmen were killed in the action. The security forces are now in a position to move into the other districts in the city's southern sector.

Central Ramadi has ben relatively quiet, but Iraqi aircraft ran a number of low-level sorties over the area. Security forces also succeeded in disarming at least 40 explosive devices in the Sufiya area across the Euphrates River. A number of people suspected of having ties with ISIL have been arrested.

In Hit, security forces are still massed around the town, especially on its northern and northwestern areas. The western areas adjacent to the Baghdadi township boundary have now been mostly liberated. The Anbar Operations Command has announced that more than 10,000 tribal volunteers are now receiving training at the Ayn Al-Asad base in preparation for the operation to liberate the whole township.

In Fallujah, clashes and indiscriminate bombardment exchanges are continuing between the ISIL gunmen within the city and the security forces surrounding it. A number of residential districts were hit in the exchanges. One civilian was killed and seven were wounded, but material damage has been severe.

In Garma, clashes are also continuing in most of the town's sectors.

The Anbar Council is still calling for substantial support for the province, particularly following the announcement that the province is now bankrupt.

Meanwhile the townships under ISIL control are still completely blockaded, with nothing being allowed into or out of the areas.