Author Archive | Caroline de Winter

 National Overview Iraq declares victory in battle for Tikrit city, as PMU and aviation assets turn north for the next stage of the ISIS counter-offensive. Starting with coordinated ground assaults on the city centre from 29 March, the final breakthrough against ISIS in Tikrit occurred two days later on 31 March when security forces stormed […]

 National Overview US involvement in Tikrit air campaign sparks discord within Shia PMU factions, as regional issues overshadow ongoing anti-ISIS offensive. Since Thursday 26 March, key players in Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Unit (PMU) alliance, including the Iranian-backed Badr Organization, Asaib al-Haq and Kitaib Hezbollah are understood to have withdrawn from the Tikrit theatre in protest […]

 National Overview Coalition prepares to cooperate in ISF-militia campaign to liberate Tikrit, amid extension of US reconnaissance and air support. While US drone flights are known to have been taking place since 21 March, (reaching as far east as Muqdadiya, 50km from the Iranian border), official participation by the United States in the stalled Tikrit […]

 National Overview Ground operations against the militant stronghold of Tikrit have reached a temporary halt outside the city’s central districts as reinforcements arrive in preparation for further heavy fighting. Following last week’s Iraqi update, militia-backed reserves have pressed into the city from the northern, western and southern axes, capturing much of the outlying suburb of […]

National Overview The United States offers April date for Mosul offensive as use of foreign military hardware is increased across Iraq’s western battle zones. Announced to the international press on Thursday 20 February (and confirming details reported by EI in December 2014), the United States has committed to training a joint Arab-Kurdish force, including divisions […]

National Overview Financial challenges threaten to derail Baghdad-Erbil oil agreement as militants open new fronts in Anbar and the Northern provinces. High level negotiations on the implementation of the December 2014 Federal-Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) budget ended in acrimony this week, as Kurdish officials denounced what they described as an attempt by the Baghdad authorities […]

National Overview Jordanian air campaign in Syria occurs amid ongoing counter-ISIS offensive across Iraq, as militant activity is curtailed in northern and central conflict zones. While Jordan’s armed forces have substantially increased their military presence along Iraq’s south-western border following the killing of pilot Muath al-Kasasbeh by the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham […]