At the beginning of August, the position of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) seemed to be more strengthened around the city of Ramadi, after having launched the Anbar liberation operation in mid-July and after having conquered in the end of July the south-west of Ramadi, the area in which is situated the University of Anbar.
Thanks to air raids against the terrorist positions, the ISF succeeded in taking control of the Train Station area in the south-east of Ramadi, bringing on the liberation campaign of the northern and eastern outskirts of the city: this represents the most significant step forward since the beginning of the operations.
Nevertheless, since mid-august the operations slowed down, instead of leading to the entrance in the center of Ramadi. That was due to a change in Daesh military tactics: the terrorists are more and more using asymmetrical war techniques with the large employment of Suicide Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (SVBIED) and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED). Such actions were extended across the country, in particular in the district of Baiji, in Samarra, in the district of Diyala and in the capital Baghdad. Here, on August 13th, Daesh claimed a truck-bomb attack in the main market of Sadr City neighbourhood, killing 76 people and injuring at least 200. It was the most serious attack in the capital since 2006-2007.
The attacks’ escalation is the consequence of Daesh attempt to divide ISF war efforts on several fronts, retaking control of already liberated areas. This will lead to a higher rate of dispersion of troops and resources of the ISF, while it seems that the operative capabilities of the so called Caliphate are still unchanged.
The controversial operations of the Turkish Army against PKK guerrilla, that caused the death of a dozen of civilians, earned the blame of the Arab League, and Premier Abadi’s invitation to Turkish President Erdogan to respect Iraq sovereignty and good bilateral relations.
These initiatives did not prevent the Turkish government from continuing bombing PKK positions in August both on Turkish and Iraqi territory, reacting to the escalation of the attacks against the Turkish security forces.
On the anti-Daesh operation front, Turkey is ready to launch a comprehensive air attack on the Syrian territory in collaboration with the United States. In the meantime, the Parliament in Istanbul is still discussing the extension of the Government mandate that expires on October 2nd. The mandate allows the Turkish government to deploy armed forces in Syria and Iraq, the transit of the anti-Daesh Coalition forces over the Turkish territory and the use of the Incirlik Air Force Base.