Hīt offensive (2016)

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 – April 14, 2016 (1 month and 2 days)
LocationHīt, Anbar Governorate, Iraq
Status

Decisive Iraqi victory

  • Iraqi forces recapture the town of Hīt from ISIL[1][2]
Belligerents

Iraq Iraq

Air support:[3]

  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 district)

Raed Mounir al-Zubaidi † (Top ISIL commander of Hīt District)[4]

Isaq al-Libyan † (ISIL commander of Kabisa District)[5]
Strength
5,000+ fighters (two brigades) 1,000+ fighters (300–400 fighters in Hīt)[6]
Casualties and losses
62+ killed, 50+ wounded 339+ killed
40 arrested[7]
5 civilians executed by ISIL
25,000 civilians trapped in Hīt, another 20,000 fled the Hīt District[8]
1,500+ civilians evacuated[9][10]

The Hīt offensive (2016), also known as Operation Desert Lynx,[11] was an offensive launched by the Iraqi Government during the Anbar offensive, with the goal of recapturing the town of Hīt and the Hīt District from ISIL. After the Iraqi forces recaptured the city of Ramadi, Hīt and Fallujah were the only cities still under the control of ISIL in the Al Anbar Governorate. Iraqi Forces fully recaptured of Hīt and the rest of the Hīt District on April 14, 2016.

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.[12] On the same day, clashes erupted between local Sunni tribesmen and ISIL forces in the Hīt District.[13] On the next day, the US-led Coalition destroyed the ISIL headquarters in Hīt and Kabisa, killing multiple ISIL militants.[14] 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.[15] On March 8, ISIL forces abandoned the Zankourah district, without any resistance against Iraqi government fighters.[16][17]

The offensive

The Iraqi Government launched the offensive on March 12.[11] On the same day, U.S.-led Coalition forces conducted several airstrikes within Hīt, killing a number of ISIL leaders and militants, which Iraqi officials confirmed.[18]

On March 13, ISIL reportedly pulled out most of its fighters from the Hīt area, on which security forces were advancing, a military spokesman said. “The majority of Daesh (ISIS) fighters in Hīt, 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 that ISIL had also pulled its fighters out of Ar-Rutba, a desert town in Anbar, and headed to al-Qaim.[19]

On 14 March, an armed group of young people in Hīt district opened fire on a detachment belonging to ISIL, near a house inhabited by ISIL members, killing six ISIL members and burning their vehicle.[20]

On March 17, Iraqi Security Forces and allied Sunni tribal paramilitary units, backed by Iraqi aircraft, fought with ISIL militants and drove them out of al-Mohammadi, which is located northwest of Ramadi and southeast of Hīt. Sources said that Iraqi soldiers killed at least 21 militants in the battles, and raised the Iraqi flag on a building in the village.[21][22] Meanwhile, more troops and Sunni tribal units, backed by U.S.-led coalition and Iraqi aircraft, advanced during the day in two routes from the Al Asad Airbase, towards Hīt and the nearby town of Kabisa.

On March 19, ISIL beheaded 5 civilians, considering them to be Iraqi government spies, in front of their families.[23]

On March 20, 20 ISIL fighters were killed during a battle with Iraqi forces near Hīt.[24]

On March 21, the Iraqi Army came within 1 kilometer of the eastern outskirts of Hīt.[25] On the same day, Iraqi forces paused offensive operations, to give the remaining civilians in the district time to flee.[26]

On March 22, at least 10,000 residents of Hīt abandoned the city, with another estimated 25,000 still left inside it.[27]

Between March 25–30, the US-led Coalition, launched 17 airstrikes against ISIL positions, in and around Hīt.[28]

On March 31, 17 ISIL militants were killed in the Hīt by Coalition airstrikes.[29] Eight Iraqi soldiers were also killed after an ISIL suicide car bomber detonated explosives, near an Iraqi Army convoy advancing towards the town of Hīt. Iraqi Army managed to recapture areas south and west of Heet on the same day.[30] A security source announced that another 60 ISIL militants were killed in an aerial bombing by Iraqi F-16 fighter jets on their strongholds and gatherings, in the districts of Sharqat and Hīt.[31]

On April 2, Iraqi government forces carried out a string of counter-terrorism operations in close proximity to the town of Hīt, and managed to recapture the regions of Basateen, Mourour, Saklat, and Askari. Nearly 100 ISIL fighters and 15 Iraqi soldiers were killed during the offensive. Iraqi fighter jets also bombed an ISIL base and killed 13 terrorists elsewhere in Anbar, while a weapons depot and a tunnel were destroyed in the al-Sen and Tal al-Marg Districts of Hīt.[32] Iraqi Security Forces and allied paramilitary Sunni tribal fighters and managed to seize the al-Ma'mil District on the eastern edge of the town, after heavy clashes with ISIL militants. Iraqi troops killed 14 ISIL militants and destroyed a booby-trapped vehicle during the clashes, which also resulted in the killing of three soldiers and the wounding of four others.[33]

On April 2, Iraqi officials reported, that around 1,500 prisoners, mostly civilians, were freed from an ISIL underground prison near Hīt.[34] 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.[10] The northern edge of the city was recaptured by the Iraqi Army at the beginning of April.[35] The offensive was reported to have been delayed earlier, because hundreds of roadside bombs littering the surrounding area slowed progress for days. The Iraqi troops worked to encircle the city.[35] 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.[34] On April 3, Iraqi forces recaptured the Hīt Training Camp from ISIL, along with the surrounding areas, reducing ISIL control of the Hīt District to the town of Hīt.[36]

On April 5, it was reported that the Iraqi Security Forces had recaptured more than 70% of the Hīt District.[37] The state TV reported a local commander saying that the military had routed ISIL from the city, but that fighting was still going on. The Iraqi Army'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 ISIL militants withdrew from the downtown and eastern part of the town.[38]

On April 8, Iraqi forces recaptured the Hit town center, and expelled ISIL forces from most of the city, but the fighting was still ongoing. At least 30 Iraqi soldiers were killed, and more than 50 were wounded in the clashes.[39]

On April 10, Iraqi soldiers took control of the Al-Qal'a and Ummal Districts. Six Iraqi soldiers were killed, and 13 others were injured during one incident, as eight landmines exploded while an Iraqi Army convoy was passing through Hamam Street in central Hīt, destroying four military vehicles. US-Coalition warplanes also bombarded an ISIL post in the area of Gesierat, close to the town of Khan al-Baghdadi, killing 16 ISIL militants.[40]

On April 11, Iraqi forces had raised the Iraqi flag over the local municipal building, and confirmed they were in complete control of the city center. Abdul Ghani al-Assadi, head of Iraq's Counter-Terrorism Service claimed that they were in complete control of the town. He said his forces still needed to clear a few neighborhoods where fighting was ongoing, but insisted that the ISIL militants were fleeing.[41]

On April 12, Iraqi Security Forces managed to recapture the Hīt Teaching Hospital and the al-Jamayia neighborhood in central Hīt, after fierce battles against ISIL fighters, resulting in the killing of 40 ISIL fighters.[42] On the same day, the commander of the 3rd special operations brigade in the Anti-Terrorism Directorate Sami Kadim al-Aredi announced the liberation of al-Zohour, al-Qadisiyyah, and al-Shohada neighbourhoods in Hīt, with the backing by the Iraqi Army's 16th Brigade.[43] Commander of Anbar Operations Command, Maj. Gen. Ismail al-Mahalawi, announced the killing of four ISIL militants, including a suicide bomber, in the Hīt District on the same day.[44]

On April 13, 33 ISIL militants were killed during an operation to liberate a neighborhood in central Hīt.[45] British warplanes carried out airstrikes on the same day that helped in destroying one of the last remaining strongpoints of the militants on the eastern outskirts of the town and struck an ISIL machine-gun position. The airstrikes allowed Iraqi forces to enter the town's hospital where they found a booby-trapped ambulance which was later destroyed by RAF jets.[46]

On April 14, Iraqi forces fully recaptured the town of Hīt, along with the remainder of the Hīt District.[1][2][4][47] British warplanes destroyed boats that were being used to evacuate ISIL fighters from the town.[46]

Aftermath

40 ISIL members who were trying to escape from the town were arrested by Iraqi security forces on April 16.[48] On April 23, Iraqi army liberated the Albu Naim area to the west of the Hīt District. Dozens of ISIL militants were killed during the operation.[49]

On April 29, Iraqi security forces and allied paramilitary Sunni tribal units, backed by Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition aircraft, freed the villages of Khazraj and Nuwy'im in west of the town of Heet, resulting in the killing of 13 IS militants and two soldiers and the wounding of five others. Meanwhile, Iraqi troops killed another suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest near the police station in the town of Kubaisa.[50] Also on the same day, Islamic State has issued a news release claiming to have carried out a suicide attack on a police station in the same town, killing over 50 police officers and soldiers. According to the terrorist group’s statement, four ISIS militants attacked the station; two detonated their explosives and two returned to ISIS headquarters.[51]

On the afternoon of 2 May, international coalition aviation bombed ISIS gatherings and strongholds in Falij al-Sharqiya area in Heet District, killing 11 ISIS members. Security forces were able to dismantle 200 explosive devices in the eastern axis of Heet District, as well as destroying a 23 mm machine gun and a rocket launcher.[52]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Iraqi forces 'recapture IS-held town of Hit'
  2. 1 2 URGENT: Iraqi joint forces liberate Heet District completely
  3. ↑ "Roadside bombs slow Iraqi forces' advance on Ramadi". Aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
  4. 1 2 Security forces expel ISIS from key district in Iraq’s Anbar
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ Loveday Morris (19 February 2016). "With Islamic State under pressure, Iraqi forces hope to reclaim city of Hit". Washington Post. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  7. ↑ "40 ISIS members arrested while trying to escape from Heet District, Iraq". 17 April 2016.
  8. ↑ Iraqis call in jets in battle for Hit
  9. ↑ "1,500 prisoners, mostly civilians, freed from ISIS prison dungeon in Iraq". 3 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  10. 1 2 Iraq officials deny IS prison discovered in Anbar province, Middle East Eye, 4 April 2016
  11. 1 2 Iraqi Security Forces, Anbar Tribes Launch Operation Desert Lynx To Liberate Hit
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ 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.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ 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.
  16. ↑ "PressTV". Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  17. ↑ "Iraqi forces recapture more territory held by Daesh in Anbar province". Al Bawaba. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  18. ↑ "U.S.-led coalition strikes ISIS Sharia Court in Iraq's Anbar, kills top leaders - ARA News". ARA News. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  19. ↑ http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/03/13/ISIS-pulls-out-of-town-in-Iraq-s-Anbar-province.html
  20. ↑ http://gnnliberia.com/2016/03/14/6-isis-militants-shot-by-youths-in-heet-district-anbar/
  21. ↑ "Security forces free village from IS militants in Iraq's Anbar". Xinhua. 17 March 2016.
  22. ↑ "PressTV". Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  23. ↑ Sam Prince. "PHOTO: ISIS Beheads Young Iraqi ‘Spies’ in Front of Their Parents". Heavy.com. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  24. ↑ "Iraqi Forces Foil ISIL Attack on Haditha, Kill 30 in Anbar". Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  25. ↑ Security forces advance 1 km away from Heet, Anbar
  26. ↑ "Hit offensive halted by Iraqi Army". Rudaw.
  27. ↑ "Baghdad politics slows fight against ISIS in Anbar". MilitaryTimes. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  28. ↑ "Thousands of civilians trapped between Iraqi army and Isis forces". the Guardian.
  29. ↑ "34 IS Militants Killed in Iraq's Anbar". The New Indian Express.
  30. ↑ "Iraqi special forces lead march on ISIL-controlled Heet". Aljazeera. 1 April 2016.
  31. ↑ "Iraqi F16 fighter jets kill 60 ISIS militants in Sharqat and Heet Districts". IraqiNews. 31 March 2016.
  32. ↑ "PressTV".
  33. ↑ IANS (3 April 2016). "52 IS militants killed in battle to free Iraqi town".
  34. 1 2 Iraq forces free prisoners from ISIS jail, Al-Arabiya, 3 April 2016
  35. 1 2 Booby traps bog down Iraqi forces on verge of taking Islamic State-held Hit, Japan Times, 4 April 2016
  36. ↑ Anti-Terrorism Directorate: ISIS booby-trapped all houses and streets in Heet
  37. ↑ "Iraqi security forces control 70% of Heet, ISIS members besieged". AhlulBayt News Agency. 6 April 2016.
  38. ↑ "Iraqi forces push Islamic State from western town of Hit - state TV".
  39. ↑ http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/04/iraqi-forces-oust-isil-key-anbar-town-160408144126609.html
  40. ↑ "22 IS militants killed, hundreds of families return to Ramadi". Shanghai Daily. 10 April 2016.
  41. ↑ "Iraqi forces push Islamic State out of key city in Anbar province". Washington Post. 11 April 2016.
  42. ↑ http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/heet-hospital-cleansed-west-anbar-40-isis-fighters-killed-liberation-battles/
  43. ↑ http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/anti-terrorism-forces-liberate-zohour-qadisiyya-shohada-neighborhoods-heet/
  44. ↑ http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/army-forces-kill-4-isis-elements-heet-district-west-ramadi/
  45. ↑ http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/joint-forces-liberate-area-heet-district-33-isis-fighters-killed/
  46. 1 2 http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/662471/Islamic-State-hit-Iraq-RAF-airstrikes-hit-booby-trapped-ambulance-terror-boats
  47. ↑ https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2016/4/14/iraqi-forces-recapture-key-town-from-is-militants
  48. ↑ http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/40-isis-members-arrested-trying-escape-families-heet-district/
  49. ↑ http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/area-liberated-heet-district-dozens-isis-members-killed/
  50. ↑ "Security forces free 2 villages in Iraq's Anbar, 27 IS militants killed". 30 April 2016.
  51. ↑ "ISIS claims to kill 50 in suicide attack in Anbar province". 30 April 2016.
  52. ↑ http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/11-isis-members-killed-coalition-airstrike-200-ieds-dismantled-west-ramadi/
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