01 March 2015

In Baghdadi, an Anbar Operations source has announced that ISIL has executed 19 residents of the westernmost sector of the town. The gunmen had told them to join the ISIL fight against the security forces, but they refused; they were shot in one of Baghdadi township's westernmost villages.

Meanwhile security forces engaged in a battle to secure the road linking Baghdadi and Haditha, in order to enable the delivery of food aid to Haditha's residents who are experiencing a grave humanitarian situation because of the virtually total lack of any foodstuffs or medicines.

Security forces have meanwhile advanced toward the perimeter of the residential complex in southwestern Baghdadi. Iraqi and coalition warplanes have carried out a number of sorties against ISIL positions in the area; casualty figures are not yet available.

In Ramadi, 9 gunmen, including a non-Iraqi Arab national, have been reported killed in the Khalidiya area by coalition and Iraqi air strikes. Meanwhile security forces have secured the northeastern rural areas of the city. Fighting is continuing in the city's southern sector. Coalition and Iraqi air strikes have targeted a number of the gunmen's positions, including the ISIL stronghold in the Hawz district.

In Fallujah, the general hospital has announced that 2 residents have been killed and 7 have been wounded by the random bombardment exchanges, particularly in the city's central and southern residential districts.

In Garma and its surroundings, heavy bombardment exchanges have been continuing for the fifth consecutive day. Iraqi army sources have reported that 30 gunmen have been killed in the area.

In Amiriyat al-Fallujah, mortar fire has wounded 3 residents and caused substantial material damage in the town's center.

28 February 2015

In Baghdadi, Security forces have succeeded in re-taking the perimeter of the town's western residential complex; an ISIL suicide bomber blew himself up at the complex's main entrance, killing one of the security personnel there and wounding 4 others. Security forces have also secured the route between the complex and the Ayn al-Asad military base. Many families and wounded residents were transported from the complex to the base. Security forces also tried to move into the ISIL-controlled southwestern sector of the township but were held off by the gunmen. A military operation aimed at liberating the sector and its residential complex is reported to be scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday).

Meanwhile, Baghdadi residents are reporting severe hardships in the town because of the extreme shortages of foodstuffs and fuel. There is also a serious shortage of drinking water following the the damage inflicted by the gunmen at the town's water distribution facilities. The HQ of the 7th Division has today received supply shipments that have been distributed to the camps set up at Ayn al-Asad.

In Ramadi, a military operation in the city's southern sector has set up a barrier aimed at protecting the city's southern and central districts from ISIL gunmen holding several districts in the sector. Meanwhile, the city's central districts are relatively calm today, while security forces supported by Iraqi and coalition airstrikes have been advancing in the city's outlying northeastern areas.

In Fallujah, the general hospital reported this morning that 3 residents have been killed and 4 were wounded by the ongoing random exchanges of mortar fire between security forces around the city's perimeter and ISIL forces holding the city.

In Garma, fierce clashes for the fourth consecutive day have killed 7 civilians and wounded 7 by the bombardment of the town's residential districts.

27 February 2015

In Haditha, ISIL gunmen have assaulted the residential complex in western Baghdadi and were able to overrun the complex after four of their suicide bombers detonated their explosive vests, and following the withdrawal of the army forces who were in control of the complex. The gunmen were able to storm a number of residential houses within the complex; they have blown up several power-generating facilities and a number of buildings belonging to the town's water distribution services.  But within five hours units of the 'Golden Division' and other army units were able to move into the complex and forced the gunmen to withdraw. Hoever, 7th Brigade sources are reporting that the gunmen are now positioned just one km. from the complex where they are attempting to regroup in order to retake the complex. They have also laid mines to prevent security forces from assaulting the site from the southwest.

Alao today, security forces killed 7 suicide bombers, including a Chinese national, who had tried to blow themselves up amid the security forces attempting to recapture the complex. There have been numerous calls for aid and supplies for the residential complex that has been under heavy mortar-fire from the ISIL gunmen. Sources from within the compound are reporting that 4 residents, including one child, have been killed and at least 13 have been wounded.

Fighting at the bridge connecting the town with Baghdadi Island has left security forces in control of the bridge.

In Ramadi, ISIL gunmen have launched a surprise attack on the city center, aiming to reach the government complex from the city's southern sector, but security forces with Iraqi air support and coalition strikes have driven the gunmen back into the southern reaches of the Hawz district. 3 tunnels dug by ISIL, leading into Ramadi, have been blown up.

In the northeastern Ramadi Shjariya area, security forces have advanced into the area after detonating a number of explosive devices laid by ISIL gunmen. A booby-trapped vehicle was also remotely detonated by the security forces.

In Fallujah, the hospital has today reported that 7 residents have been killed and 6 wounded by the ongoing random mortar bombardment exchanges between the security forces controlling the city's perimeter and ISIL gunmen holding the city.

In Garma, the general hospital is reporting that coalition and Iraqi air strikes against targets within the township have killed at least 11 civilians and wounded at least 25.

In Hit and Rutba, heavy bombardment since yesterday; security forces have reported that 9 ISIL gunmen leaders in the area southwest of Hit.

26 February 2015

Since yesterday and into this afternoon, coalition warplanes have mounted a number of sorties against targets in al-Qaim, Rutba, and Hit in western Anbar. It was announced today that Abu Tammam al_Turkmani, the number-two in the ISIL leadership after Abu-Bakr al-Baghdadi, was killed in one of those strikes on al-Qaim close to the Syrian border. Six of his intelligence aides were also killed. A further 23 gunmen were also killed by the strikes.

In Hit which is still held by ISIL, at least 20 gunmen have been killed.

In Baghdadi, the road between the township and Hit has been cleared. Hundreds of families are reported to have been making their way on foot toward ISIL-occupied Hit. Security operations have led to the clearing of a number of desert areas between Haditha and Baghdadi. A number of villages in southwestern Baghdadi township have also been liberated. Meanwhile, ISIL gunmen have attacked and captured an army barracks guarding the bridge linking the riverside areas between Hit and Baghdadi. The security forces were forced to withdraw from the area that is still the scene of fierce clashes.

A number of U.S. military advisers and experts are reported to have arrived at the Habbaniya base to assess the situation and to plan the necessary action in eastern Anbar and the areas leading to the capital, Baghdad.

In Ramadi, security forces supported by coalition warplanes have thwarted an ISIL attempt at advancing from the city's southwestern sector.  Alao today, large quantities of weapons and munitions have been seized in the Khalidiya sector of the city. Two explosives-loaded vehicles heading for Ramadi were hit and blown up by Iraqi air units.

25 February 2015

In Baghdadi, widespread security operations are still underway in the southern and southwestern parts of the township. Iraqi aircraft today attacked a number of ISIL positions in that sector, killing according to an Anbar Operations source, at least 23 gunmen. Meanwhile, security forces have advanced into areas held by ISIL, penetrating into a number of the town's districts near the residential complex in the town's center, from which a further 300 families have fled today to the southernmost areas of Baghdadi where foodstuffs and water wells are to be found.

An Anbr Council source has announced the arrival of additional military equipment and munitions at the Ayn al-Asad Base, in preparation for a security campaign expected to be launched later today to liberate the areas across the Euphrates from the town. Operations will include the liberation of the areas between Baghdadi and Hit.

In Ramadi, a military operation has killed at least 15 ISIL gunmen in the city's southern sector. 3 gunmen were captured when they attempted to detonate explosive devices at army checkpoints within the sector.

In the northeastern Shjariya area, security forces were able today to penetrate deep into the areas, of which they now control more than 80%, according to Anbar Operations sources. There are also reports of an imminent operation aimed at liberating the rural Ramadi Island area acroo the river from Ramadi City.

In Garma, there has been an increase today in civilian casualties as a result of the town's bombardment between last night and this afternoon. At least 13 civilians have been killed and at least 50 wounded, according to sources at the town's general hospital.

One civilian has been killed and 11 have been wounded by mortar attacks on the residential districts of Amiriyat al-Fallujah.

In Fallujah City, the General Hospital is reporting that at least 11 residents have been killed and at least 15 have been wounded by the random mortar-fire exchanges

24 February 2015

In Baghdadi, security forces have been able today to liberate a number of the rural areas around the town, particularly in the southwestern sector of the township, to the west of the town's residential complex in central Baghdadi. They have also broken the siege of a group of villages east of the town. There are reports that large numbers of ISIL gunmen have fled into the western desert between Baghdadi and Haditha and on towards Ana, Rawa and al-Qaim Townships. Iraqi air support, in cooperation with coalition warplanes, has carried out sorties against the southwestern areas of the town, where ISIL is still massing its forces. Reports indicate that military supplies have arrived today, to be used in the operations on the riverside areas across from Baghdadi. More than 300 families are still evacuating from Baghdadi's southwestern residential districts. Some of the families have arrived at the Ayn al-Asad Base where a large camp has been put up to shelter them.

In Ramadi, security forces have today been able to booby-trap a tunnel that ISIL gunmen were planning to use to reach central Ramadi and the government complex. The 700-meter tunnel extends from the Hawz district toward the city center. Security forces planned to blow up the tunnel while the gunmen are passing through it. The plan was implemented and at least 23 ISIL gunmen were killed as a result. Security forces have penetrated into the city's southern sector. Meanwhile, ISIL gunmen today launched a number of mortar rounds from the Ta'ameem district they control in western Ramadi, toward districts in the city's center. One woman was killed and 4 residents were wounded by the mortar attacks.

Across the river to the northeast of the city, security operations are still underway, in which 3 snipers, including one Saudi national, were killed. Security forces supported by tribal fighters have cleared the road leading to the areas on Ramadi Island.

In Fallujah, a hospital source has announced that 2 residents were killed and 6 were wounded by the clashes and ongoing random bombardment exchanges that have struck some of the city's residential districts in central and northern Fallujah.

In Garma, mortar fire has struck residential districts in the town, killing 5 members of one family within the town. Clashes are continuing in the township's outlying areas and coalition warplanes have also been in action against ISIL positions in those areas.

22 February 2015

In Baghdadi, security forces have announced that they have liberated the Gassr area in southwestern Baghdadi, following fierce fighting in which at least 40 ISIL gunmen were killed. U.S., French, and Australian coalition warplanes carried out a number of sorties into the area and targeted more than 30 of the gunmen's positions. Meanwhile, security forces advanced into the area which engineering units cleared of more than 150 explosive devices planted by the gunmen. The areas across the river in the direction of the Ayn al-Asad Base have also been secured. Buildings in central Baghdadi have also been secured, and food aid is being delivered to the long-besieged residents within the town.

In Ramadi, ISIL has attempted for the third consecutive day to overrun the city from the south, but they were unable to penetrate the city. Iraqi air support and coalition warplanes provided support for the security forces that prevented ISIL forces from capturing the government complex in the city center. Anbar Operations is reporting that 14 of the gunmen were killed in the fighting.

To the northeast, a surprise attack by ISIL resulted in  fierce clashes with security forces in the area, who were able, with the support of tribal fighters, to thwart the attack, killing 4 gunmen of whom 2 were non-Iraqi Arab nationals.

In Fallujah, the general hospital has reported that 3 residents have been killed and 7 wounded by the continuing random mortar-fire exchanges.

In Garma, Clashes  were accompanied by the shelling of various ISIL positions in and around the township's industrial zone.

In western Anbar, ISIL attempted today to penetrate from the town's extreme southwest, but security forces turned back the gunmen's attacks on some of the checkpoints in the area.