Battle of Anbar: Update

Iraqi Security Forces, including U.S.-trained Iraqi Army units, have made some advances in east and south of Ramadi. Backed by U.S.-led airstrikes, Iraqi forces took an ISIL command post at the University of Anbar, south of the city. The advance into the city, however, has apparently slowed down in the face of strong defense by the Islamic State fighters.

The situation is less favorable in Fallujah area. Iran-led Shia militia offensive to take the city has apparently stalled due to ISIL’s stiff resistance. Meanwhile, ISW reports that should the Iranian proxies be redeployed from Fallujah to Diyala because of deteriorating situation in that province that borders Iran, anti-ISIL Fallujah operation may lose further momentum. (ISW, Iraqi Situation Report; July 24-27, 2015).

Last August, Islamic State insurgents occupied Jalula, only 19 miles from the Iranian border, and were poised to move toward the border city of Khanaqin, when a Quds Force-led counter-offensive drove them out of the area. Iran does not want to see a resurgence of ISIL so close to its border and now it faces a dilemma. If it redeploys significant number of the Shia militia to Diyala, it risks losing the Battle of Fallujah. Keeping the militia in Anbar risks further deterioration of the situation in Diyala.

File photo: An Shia militiaman holds position north of al-Kamra, near Fallujah, 14 April 2015 (AFP/Press TV) 

ISIL Overruns Mosul

Second Largest City in Iraq

ISIL militants overran Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, on Monday. After five days of fierce fighting, hundreds of ISIL members armed with rocket-propelled grenades, sniper rifles and machine guns seized key buildings in the city, including the provincial government’s headquarters. Reinforcements deployed to the city today by the Iraqi military failed to halt the advance by the militants. (BBC, 10 June)

Mosul becomes the second major city in Iraq to fall to ISIL. Since January, they have controlled Fallujah. They also have control over parts of Ramadi. ISIL has now established itself in Anbar and Nineveh provinces and is within threatening distance to western Baghdad.

UPDATE: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki asked the country's parliament to declare a state of emergency after ISIL militants captured Mosul. Reports from the city indicate that police and armed forces have abandoned their posts, leaving ISIL in complete control of Mosul and its surrounding areas.

Map: BBC

Iraqi Army Launches Fallujah Offensive

Iraqi Army has launched a major new offensive to retake the city of Fallujah in Anbar province, Iraqi Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on Friday. The Washington Post reported that 42,000 troops have been dispatched to Anbar.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) and anti-government tribesmen overran the city in January, and despite previous attempts by the army, the city remains completely out of government control. The ISIL also controls other areas in Anbar, including neighborhoods in the provincial capital of Ramadi.

The Ground Forces, Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) forces, Iraqi Army Aviation (IAA), Ministry of Interior Forces, and tribal elements are taking part in the operation, MoD said (alsumaria.tv/iswiraq, 9 May) 

The operation, led by Anbar Operations Command, started at Naimiyah, close to Fallujah Dam, which was overrun and closed by ISIL, causing flooding around Fallujah and disrupting army’s line of communication. The MoD also said that government forces retook the control of the Tufaha Bridge in the first hours of the operation.

General Military Council for Iraqi Revolutionaries, an anti-government tribal military council, said in social media that its members responded to the attack, inflicting losses against the government security forces and were launching a counter attack. (iswiraq, 9 May)

Photo credit: Iraqi Army launching new Fallujah offensive. (alsumaria.tv)

Iraq Closes Abu Ghraib

Citing Concerns It Could Be Overrun by Insurgents

The Iraqi government said Tuesday that it had closed the Abu Ghraib prison because of fears that it could be overrun by Sunni insurgents. Iraqi Justice Ministry said it had moved 2,400 prisoners to other high-security prisons in central and northern Iraq, the New York Times reported today.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) captured Fallujah, in Anbar province, early this year. The Times is also reporting that the insurgents are in control of other areas in Anbar, including sections of Ramadi. If the insurgents are feared to overrun Abu Ghraib, they must be moving from Anbar toward western outskirts of Baghdad.

The Iraqi Army announced weeks ago it was ready to recapture Fallujah, but the Times report shows not only the insurgents are in control of the city three months after its captured, but they are also controlling sections of Ramadi and other areas in Anbar. And now they are threatening Abu Ghraib and western outskirts of Baghdad, which is home to Baghdad International Airport.

The worsening security situation in Iraq is especially troubling considering that the country will be holding its all-important parliamentary election on 30 April. Under the Iraqi constitution, the parliament chooses the prime minister. Maliki has served two terms and apparently wants to stay on for a third term.

Photo credit: Abu Ghraib Prison in western Baghdad (Andrea Bruce/The New York Times)

Iraq Government Loses Control of Fallujah to ISIL

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Control

An Iraqi government official told AFP today that the government has lost control of Fallujah to Al Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) fighters. Videos also showed ISIL in control of the main Fallujah highway. (AFP/Al Jazeera, 4 January)

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, speaking on state television today, vowed to eliminate “all terrorist groups” from Anbar province and retake Fallujah.

“We will not back down until we end all terrorist groups and save our people in Anbar,” Maliki said. (Al Jazeera, 4 January)

The ISIL has announced that its goal is to establish an Islamic government in the Sunni-dominated Anbar province, near the Syrian border.

The situation in Anbar shows the civil war in Syria is spilling over to Iraq, threatening full-fledged sectarian war in the country.

Photo credit: ISIL fighters in Fallujah (Al Jazeera)