21 February 2015

Baghdadi has today seen the arrival of Iraqi security forces and various aid shipments for the town's residents who have been besieged for some time.

Q: What are the latest details you have for today?

A: Security forces have today succeeded in securing the road between the Ayn al-Asaad Base and the residential area in southwestern Baghdadi. Trucks loaded with food aid have also arrived at the residential complex and the ISIL gunmen have been pushed back about 2 km. Snipers have taken up positions on the rooftops of homes and buildings to provide protection. There are reports that a broad military operation will be launched within the next few hours, accompanied by about 1,000 U.S. troops who arrived at the base yesterday evening.

20 February 2015

Military operations are continuing in Baghdadi township: security forces have reported that a broad security operation was launched in the early hours of this morning in the western and southern sectors of the town. More than 5,000 security fighters with Iraqi and coalition air support are involved. The forces have taken control of some of the town's principal government buildings, but some ISIL gunmen are still in position on the roofs of the taller buildings.

Anbar Operations sources are reporting that coalition warplanes carried out attacks that have killed at least 45 gunmen along the town's southern perimeter and in the areas between Baghdadi and Haditha.

Meanwhile, 3 children have died after drinking sulfur-tainted water drawn from wells in the residential complex in Baghdadi. 4 residents have also died because of the medicinal shortages in the complex. 30 tons of food supplies are reported to have reached Baghdadi via the Ayn al-Asad military base, dispatched by the central government. A major evacuation is reported underway from Baghdadi, either aboard Iraqi aircraft or on foot, to Hit and Haditha Townships., and also by air to Baghdad. Yesterday and today about 1,000 families have been involved in this migration.

In Ramadi, Col. Hameed al-Shandoog, a local Anbar police officer, reported that ISIL has launched a broad operation against the government complex in central Ramadi, advancing from the city's southern sector. The attack was thwarted by the combined efforts of the security forces, Iraqi air support, and coalition airstrikes. 19 gunmen have been killed at the scene. In Shjariya in northeastern Ramadi, security operations are continuing amid fierce clashes erupted today when ISIL gunmen attempted to move back into the area but were met with fierce resistance by security forces deployed there.

In Fallujah, the general hospital has announced today that 2 residents have been killed and 3 wounded by the random exchanges of mortar fire.

In Garma, clashes are again underway in the township's industrial zone, with coalition warplanes carrying out a number of raids on ISIL positions and facilities, and at least 33 of the gunmen were killed.

19 February 2015

Unconfirmed local reports from Baghdadi are saying that ISIL has killed more than 150 residents who had been abducted from various parts of the town. Meanwhile military operations are still ongoing with security forces having advanced into several of the town's districts, killing at least 13 gunmen.

Coalition and Iraqi aircraft have been taking part in the operations, striking targets near the residential complex in Baghdadi. Meanwhile, supplies and weaponry have been arriving today and will be deployed today or tomorrow to take part in the military effort.

In Ramadi, 9 gunmen are reported killed in the clashes and aerial bombardment in the city's southern sector. Clashes are also continuing in the northeastern sector.

In Fallujah, a medical source reports that 2 residents have been killed and 9 wounded by the continuing ransom mortar-fire exchanges.

In Garma, coalition warplanes have made a number of sorties against the township's industrial zone. 33 gunmen have been reported killed in the raids.

18 February 2015

A parliamentary and military delegation has arrived today at the Ayn al-Asad military base in Baghdadi. The town is still the scene of broad military operations in a number of its sectors and areas. The delegation, led by Hakim al-Zamili, chairman of the Security and Defense Committee, is to evaluate the military activity and to provide food aid, as well as to prepare new plans for taking total control of the area.

Meanwhile ISIL gunmen have blown up at least 40 homes belonging to police and army personnel, as well as a number of government buildings in Baghdadi. ISIL fighters have made some advances into the areas on the opposite bank of the Euphrates, but a number of sorties by coalition warplanes have - according to Anbar Operations sources - killed more than 30 gunmen in that area. The main residential quarter of Baghdadi that houses at least 1,000 families is still besieged by ISIL gunmen. The residents are calling for speedy action to save and rescue them.

Security forces have today raised the Iraqi flag over the Baghdadi Police HQ after killing the gunmen who had occupied it. Meanwhile, clashes and explosion are continuing in other parts of the township.

In Ramadi today, ISIL launched a new attempt to penetrate into the city from the southern sector. Several sorties by Iraqi and coalition aircraft have targeted the gunmen. Central districts in the city have been relatively calm today, but in the northeastern sector across the river clashes are continuing with security forces claiming that they have the initiative in the fighting.

In Fallujah, a medical source reported that 4 residents have been killed and 7 wounded by clashes and random mortar fire.

The clashes have spread into the Garma area, with some sorties by coalition warplanes targeting a number of positions in the township. Operations report that about 50 gunmen have been killed by the strikes.

In Haditha, there has been an ISIL attempt at capturing the main areas and roads connecting Baghdadi with Haditha, but security forces successfully repelled the attempt.

17 February 2015

Military operations are continuing in the Baghdadi area. Sources are reporting that security forces have been able to take control of large parts of the township, including government buildings and services within the town. But ISIL gunmen have succeeded in blowing up a number of these buildings, including the Police HQ and the water and electricity directorates. Public roads and a number of residences have also been mined and booby-trapped. ISIL is still in control of a number of the town's districts and has totally surrounded the town of Jubba that is held by security forces and tribal fighters. The Baghdadi chief of Police, Qassem al-Obaidi, is confirming that coalition warplanes have targeted and struck a number of positions around the town, killing more than 30 of the gunmen. The Anbar Command has confirmed that 26 members of the security forces and government employees in Baghdadi have been executed by ISIL.

In Hit, security forces have carried out operations in the southern sector of the township, where a number of positions were hit by coalition and Iraqi aircraft. 11 gunmen have been reported killed.

In Ramadi, an ISIL attack from the city's southern sector has been repelled by security forces supported by tribal fighters. ISIL forces have now been driven back several kilometers.

In Fallujah, the General Hospital has just announced that 4 residents have been killed and 11 wounded by the random mortar-fire exchanges between security forces on the city's perimeter and the ISIL gunmen holding the city.

16 February 2015

Military operations are continuing in Baghdadi, especially in the southern and southwestern areas of the town, as ISIL has redeployed its forces and re-taken control of the town's center. The leader and members of the local council have called for speedy action in providing additional security forces to liberate the residential district housing 2,500 families of the security forces and of the administrative leaders of the township. Meanwhile, an Anbar Council source has announced that ISIL has executed 26 Baghdadi residents who had been abducted two days ago. The executions were carried out in Rawa.

Security forces have meanwhile re-taken government buildings in western Baghdadi. Iraqi aircraft supported by coalition warplanes have struck a number of ISIL positions in southwestern Baghdadi.

Yesterday, an armored brigade has reached the Ayn al-Asad base to take part in the military operations in and around Baghdadi.

Reports are filtering through that the humanitarian situation in the township is severe: there is no water, no food, no baby milk, while 7 wounded residents have died, given the absence of medical facilities in the township. 260 others are described as being in a critical condition.

In Ramadi, a broad security operation is underway in the city's southern sector, and has turned back an ISIL offensive in the area. Anbar Operations are reporting that 9 gunmen were killed in the fighting. Operations are also continuing on the opposite banks of the Euphrates, in the Shjariya area.

In Fallujah, a medical source has reported today that 2 residents have been killed and 4 wounded with the resumption of the indiscriminate exchanges of mortar fire between the ISIL gunmen within the city and the security forces around its perimieter.

In Garma and the other areas lying between Anbar Province and the capital, Baghdad, coalition warplanes have concentrated their attacks on the southern reaches of the area. An ISIL bomb-making plant and training ground were also hit. Coalition air power has also struck areas around Hit, killing 9 gunmen, including two locally- based commanders.

15 February 2015

In Baghdadi, the Anbar Operations command announced today the start of a three-pronged military operation aimed at restoring control over this vital area that encompasses the Ayn al-Asad military base. The operation began in the Haditha area toward Baghdadi from the west. The second part of the operation began at the Ayn al-Asad base toward the opposite bank of the Euphrates. The third part of the operation was carried out by the 7th Division from its headquarters in the central and southern sectors of Baghdadi. Meanwhile there are reports that large quantities of arms and ammunition, as well as forces from the 'Golden Division' have arrived in the area of Baghdadi in order to liberate the town from the ISIL presence established during the last three days. There are also reports that ISIL has deployed more than 1,000 of its gunmen from the Syrian town of Raqqa to Baghdadi.

In Ramadi, security forces have successfully pushed back the gunmen from the government complex in central Ramadi. The complex is home to more than 2,500 families of the security forces and the local government officials.

In Khalidiya northeast of Ramadi, the local 'Awakenings' leader, Odeh al-Khalidi, announced that 6 gunmen attempted to assault the town while a surprise ISIL offensive in the area was being driven back.

Meanwhile, security forces have announced that they have secured the main highway between Anbar and Samarra city in Salahuddin Province.

Also in Ramadi, there are reports that an ISIL attack on the city's southern sector has been repelled.

In the northeastern Shjariya area, an announcement today stated that 90% of the area and the neighboring Bu-Ghanim area is now under the control of security forces who are now dealing with pockets of ISIL resistance.

In Fallujah, a medical source has announced that the general hospital has not received any casualties  today following yesterday's lull in the bombardment exchanges.

In Garma, more than 60 explosive charges have been disarmed and a number of ISIL's bomb-making locations have been bombed.