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More Fighting Reported In Western Iraq

January 10, 2014
by RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq

RAMADI, Iraq -- Fierce fighting between Iraqi security forces and Sunni tribesmen on one side and Al-Qaeda-linked militants on the other is reported in the western Anbar Province.

A provincial spokesman, Dhari al-Rishawi, told AP that fighting was taking place along the southern parts of Ramadi and in Albu Bali, a village between Ramadi and Fallujah on the north side of the Euphrates River.

Security forces have completely encircled Albu Bali and several houses have been blown up., according to an RFE/RL correspondent in Ramadi.

Abdulkhalqi Muhammad also reported that there was tank shelling, aerial bombardments, and car-bomb explosions in Ramadi overnight.

Security forces, allied with fighters from local Sunni tribes, have been trying to expel antigovernment Sunni insurgents and Al-Qaeda-linked fighters who overran parts of Ramadi and the nearby city of Fallujah last week.

The Iraqi Army has held off on launching a major offensive to retake the two cities, fearing civilian casualties could incite Sunnis to side with the Al-Qaeda insurgents.

But Defense Ministry spokesman Muhammad al-Askari told AP on January 10 that 'if there is no other solution, then the security forces and allied tribal fighters will enter these cities.'

Ramadi 'Back To Normal'

In Ramadi, several tribal sheikhs and local government officials were targeted with car bombs. Casualty tolls from those attacks and the latest violence aren't available.

Most of Ramadi is reportedly returning to normal, although the Al-Qaeda insurgents are still holed up in some southern neighborhoods in the city, where some Al-Qaeda black flags are visible, RFE/RL's correspondent reports.

But he says clashes in Ramadi are sporadic and that Iraqi security forces have bombarded the militants with artillery and mortar fire.

The Al-Qassim Bridge, which leads to Ramadi's city center, has been blown up in the fighting.

Fleeing Fallujah

But the situation in Fallujah is far less stable, with armed clashes occurring frequently and people fleeing the city.

Fallujah resident Mundhir Attaullah described the situation as he left the city with his family.

'The army is shelling residential areas of the city. When the shells land, they land randomly and there are areas where there aren't any militants present, so they land on families who have caused no trouble,' Attaullah said.

'The people cannot stay in their houses and therefore we decided to flee. The road to Baghdad is closed and the areas around Ramadi are out of bounds, we had no choice except this route, so we came here.'

There are also shortages of electricity, water, gas, and foodstuffs in many parts of the city, according to another Fallujah resident, and 'the nearby medical clinic was closed, as there was no one to work.'

But some parts of Fallujah, which has a population of some 325,000, are returning to normal, another resident said.

'The situation is good and the market is stable. All of the shops are open and we ask all the families who left to return to Fallujah,' he said.

Clashes have also occurred the Gurma administrative district, about 30-35 kilometers from Fallujah, as well as in Saqlawia, which is linked administratively with Fallujah.

With reporting by AP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/iraq-anbar-fallujah-ramadi-more-fighting/25225987.html

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More Fighting Reported In Western Iraq