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Battle of Hit (2016)

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Hīt offensive (2016)
Part of the Iraqi Civil War (2014–present),
the American-led intervention in Iraq (2014–present),
and the Anbar offensive (2015–present)
DateMarch 12, 2016 – present (8 years, 9 months and 4 days)
Location
Hīt, Anbar Governorate, Iraq
Status Ongoing
Belligerents

Iraq Iraq

Air support:[1]

 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Commanders and leaders

Haider al-Abadi (Prime Minister of Iraq)

Suhaib al-Rawi (Governor of Anbar)
Mohanad Zbar (Mayor of Hīt distict)		 Abu Waheeb (Top ISIL commander in Anbar, alleged killed)
Isaq al-Libyan † (ISIL prince of Kabisa region)[2]
Strength
Unknown 1,000+ fighters (300–400 fighters in Hīt)[3]
Casualties and losses
45+ killed, 50+ wounded 150+ killed
1,500+ civilians evacuated[4][5]
5 civilians executed by ISIL
25,000 civilians trapped in Hit, another 10,000 abandoned the city

The Hīt offensive (2016) refers to an ongoing offensive in the town of Hīt, during the Anbar offensive, in which Iraqi government forces are trying to drive out ISIL forces. Hit and Fallujah are the only large cities still under the control of ISIL in Al Anbar Governorate after the Iraqi forces recaptured the city of Ramadi.

Background

On February 19, it was revealed that the next target of Iraqi operations in the Anbar Province was going to be the town of Hīt, with an estimated 12,000 civilians and 300–400 ISIL militants in the town, and many more ISIL militants in the surrounding area. On February 23, the Iraqi government deployed reinforcements to the Al Asad Airbase airbase near Hīt, in preparation for a future offensive to recapture both Kabisa and the Hīt District from ISIL.[6] On the same day, clashes erupted between local Sunni tribesmen and ISIL forces in the Hīt District.[7] On the next day, the US-led Coalition destroyed the ISIL headquarters in Hīt and Kabisa, killing multiple ISIL militants.[8] On February 28, the Iraqi government warned the civilians in Kabisa and the Hīt District to leave within 48 hours, to avoid an imminent offensive to recapture those areas.[9]

The offensive

The offensive began when on March when ISIL forces abandoned the Zankourah district without any resistance against the Iraqi government fighters.[10][11] On March 12, U.S.-led coalition forces conducted several airstrikes within Hit, killing a number of ISIL leaders and militants, Iraqi officials confirmed.[12]

On 13 of March, ISIS has pulled most of its fighters out of Hit, on which security forces were advancing, a military spokesman said. “The majority of Daesh (ISIS) fighters in Hit, Rutba and Kubaysa have fled through the desert to other regions,” Yahya Rasool, Iraq’s top security spokesman, told the press. Earlier, an army general and a mayor said ISIS, some days earlier pulled its fighters out of Rutba, a desert town in Anbar, and headed to al-Qaim.[13]

On 14 March, an armed group of young people in Heet district opened fire toward a detachment belonging to ISIS near a house inhabited by ISIS members, killing six ISIS members and burning their vehicle.[14]

On 17 March, Iraqi security forces and allied Sunni tribal paramilitary units, backed by Iraqi aircraft, fought heavy clashes with IS militants and drove them out of al-Mohammadi, which is located northwest of Ramadi and southeast of Heet. Sources said that Iraqi soldiers killed at least 21 militants in the battles and raised the Iraqi flag on a building in the village.[15][16] Meanwhile, more troops and Sunni tribal units, backed by U.S.-led coalition and Iraqi aircraft, advanced during the day in two routes from Al Asad Airbase, towards Heet and the nearby town of Kubaisa.

On March 19, ISIL beheaded 5 civilians, considered them as Iraqi government spies, in front of their families.[17]

On March 20, 20 ISIL fighters were killed during a battle with Iraqi forces near Hit.[18]

On March 21, Iraqi forces halted operation to give the residents time to flee.[19]

On March 22, at least 10,000 residents of Hit abandoned the city, with another 25,000 still left inside it.[20]

Between March 25-30, the US-led coalition, launched 17 airstrikes against ISIL positions, in and around of Hit.[21]

On March 31, 17 ISIL militants killed in the Hit by coalition airstrikes.[22] Eight Iraqi soldiers were also killed after an ISIL suicide car bomber detonated near an army convoy advancing towards the town of Heet. Iraqi Army managed to recapture areas south and west of Heet on the same day.[23] A security source announced that another 60 ISIS militants were killed in an aerial bombing targeted by Iraqi F-16 fighter jets on their strongholds and gatherings in the districts of Sharqat and Heet.[24]

On April 2, government forces carried out a string of counter-terrorism operations in close proximity to the city of Hit, and managed to wrest control over the regions of Basateen, Mourour, Saklat and Askari. Nearly 100 ISIL fighters and 15 Iraqi soldiers were killed during the offensives. Iraqi fighter jets also bombed a ISIL base and killed 13 terrorists elsewhere in Anbar, while a weapons depot and a tunnel were destroyed in al-Sen and Tal al-Marg districts of Hit.[25] Iraqi security forces and allied paramilitary Sunni tribal fighters and managed to seize al-Ma'mil district on the eastern edge of the town after heavy clashes with IS militants. Iraqi troops killed 14 IS militants and destroyed a booby-trapped vehicle during the clashes that also resulted in the killing of three soldiers and the wounding of four others.[26]

On 2 April there were reports by Iraqi officials, that around 1,500 prisoners, mostly civilians, were freed from an ISIL underground prison near Hīt.[27] This was denied a day later by Major General Ali Ibrahim Daboun, the army commander responsible for the area. He said that no prison was found, but that civilians, mostly families, had been "evacuated" from Hīt. Other officials confirmed that.[5] The northern edge of the city was recaptured by the Iraqi army at the beginning of April.[28] The offensive was reported to be delayed, because hundreds of roadside bombs littering the surrounding area slowed progress for days. The troops worked to encircle the city.[28] Furthermore, it was reported that a significant number of troops had been pulled out of Al Anbar Governorate earlier to protect protesters in Baghdad, which also resulted in delays.[27]

On 5 April, it is reported that the Iraqi Security Forces are in control of more than 70% of Heet District.[29] The state TV reported a local commander saying that the military had routed ISIL from the city, but fighting was still going on. The military's control of the town appeared to be incomplete and fragile. An Iraqi commander informed that the insurgents had tried to retake a main street but were repelled. Iraqi forces also managed to seize the government compound and raised the Iraqi flag on a main building after IS militants withdrew from the downtown and eastern part of the town.[30]

In 8 April of 2016, Iraqi forces reached Hit town center by repelling the ISIL forces from the city, but the fighting was still still ongoing. At least 30 Iraqi soldiers were killed, and more than 50 wounded.[31]

On April 10, Iraqi soldiers took control of the Al-Qal'a and Ummal districts. Six soldiers were also killed and 13 others were injured during one incident, as eight landmines exploded whilst an army convoy was passing through Hamam Street in central Heet, destroying four military vehicles. Coalition warplanes also bombarded an IS post in the area of Gesierat close to the town of al-Baghdadi, killing 16 IS militants.[32]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Roadside bombs slow Iraqi forces' advance on Ramadi". Aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
  2. ^ Amre Sarhan (19 March 2016). "ISIS so-called prince of Kabisa killed in coalition strike west of Ramadi". Iraq news, the latest Iraq news by Iraqi News.
  3. ^ Loveday Morris (19 February 2016). "With Islamic State under pressure, Iraqi forces hope to reclaim city of Hit". Washington Post. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  4. ^ "1,500 prisoners, mostly civilians, freed from ISIS prison dungeon in Iraq". 3 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  5. ^ a b Iraq officials deny IS prison discovered in Anbar province, Middle East Eye, 4 April 2016
  6. ^ Amre Sarhan (23 February 2016). "Military reinforcements arrive in Assad base to participate in liberating Heet City, Anbar". Iraq news, the latest Iraq news by Iraqi News. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  7. ^ Amre Sarhan (23 February 2016). "Armed clashes erupt between tribal fighters and ISIS in Heet, Anbar". Iraq news, the latest Iraq news by Iraqi News. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  8. ^ Loaa Adel (24 February 2016). "ISIS headquarters in Heet & Kabisa destructed by coalition bombardment". Iraq news, the latest Iraq news by Iraqi News. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  9. ^ Abdelhak Mamoun (28 February 2016). "Security forces prepare to storm Heet and Kabisa, give residents 48 hours to leave". Iraq news, the latest Iraq news by Iraqi News. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  10. ^ "PressTV". Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  11. ^ "Iraqi forces recapture more territory held by Daesh in Anbar province". Al Bawaba. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  12. ^ "U.S.-led coalition strikes ISIS Sharia Court in Iraq's Anbar, kills top leaders - ARA News". ARA News. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  13. ^ http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/03/13/ISIS-pulls-out-of-town-in-Iraq-s-Anbar-province.html
  14. ^ http://gnnliberia.com/2016/03/14/6-isis-militants-shot-by-youths-in-heet-district-anbar/
  15. ^ "Security forces free village from IS militants in Iraq's Anbar". Xinhua. 17 March 2016.
  16. ^ "PressTV". Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  17. ^ Sam Prince. "PHOTO: ISIS Beheads Young Iraqi 'Spies' in Front of Their Parents". Heavy.com. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  18. ^ "Iraqi Forces Foil ISIL Attack on Haditha, Kill 30 in Anbar". Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  19. ^ "Hit offensive halted by Iraqi Army". Rudaw.
  20. ^ "Baghdad politics slows fight against ISIS in Anbar". MilitaryTimes. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  21. ^ "Thousands of civilians trapped between Iraqi army and Isis forces". the Guardian.
  22. ^ "34 IS Militants Killed in Iraq's Anbar". The New Indian Express.
  23. ^ "Iraqi special forces lead march on ISIL-controlled Heet". Aljazeera. 1 April 2016.
  24. ^ "Iraqi F16 fighter jets kill 60 ISIS militants in Sharqat and Heet Districts". IraqiNews. 31 March 2016.
  25. ^ "PressTV".
  26. ^ IANS (3 April 2016). "52 IS militants killed in battle to free Iraqi town".
  27. ^ a b Iraq forces free prisoners from ISIS jail, Al-Arabiya, 3 April 2016
  28. ^ a b Booby traps bog down Iraqi forces on verge of taking Islamic State-held Hit, Japan Times, 4 April 2016
  29. ^ "Iraqi security forces control 70% of Heet, ISIS members besieged". AhlulBayt News Agency. 6 April 2016.
  30. ^ "Iraqi forces push Islamic State from western town of Hit - state TV".
  31. ^ http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/04/iraqi-forces-oust-isil-key-anbar-town-160408144126609.html
  32. ^ "22 IS militants killed, hundreds of families return to Ramadi". Shanghai Daily. 10 April 2016.
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