These areas in geographical order (upstream along the Euphrates River) are in or around Khalidiya, Ramadi, Hit, al-Baghdadi, Haditha, Anah, Rawah and Qaim. Sometimes, groups of islands are known all together by one name, such as the Hit islands, which are located in and around the town of Hit.
IS’ presence on these vastly separated islands poses a major threat to the liberated areas, as they are exposed on an ongoing basis to a daily barrage of Katyusha rockets and mortar bombs, not to mention suicide bombers crossing the river to carry out attacks.
The area between the Hit islands and Haditha — including al-Jaba, al-Baghdadi and al-Dulab — also contains a number of small islands.
The Iraq operations command has taken it upon itself to liberate the small islands, in addition to those at Hit, working with the Iraqi army's 7th Division and tribal fighters in al-Sumoud Brigade.
The operations to liberate the Hit islands were launched Sept. 29, only to come to a halt a few days later as troops were preoccupied with the liberation of al-Baghdadi. This is not to mention the fierce resistance by IS and bad weather conditions.
In the meantime, military units and the 7th Division were taking part in other battles in al-Jaba and al-Baghdadi, whose liberation was announced Sept. 23, two days after launching the operations.
On Sept. 28, the military units managed to liberate al-Dulab, with all its villages and towns — Dankiya, Waradiya, Tahmaniya, Talihiya and Maraabadiay. A floating bridge connecting al-Baghdadi to the eastern side of the river was also set up.
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