Iraq

The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) appears to be launching a coordinated campaign to target the Peshmerga along three fronts.

The anti-ISIS offensive north of Tikrit is the first of its kind to challenge ISIS control of the Tigris north of Tikrit.

The Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Iraqi Shi’a militias continue to challenge the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) on two fronts.

The current northern front is escalating between the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and the Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga.

The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) is likely attempting to prevent Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) gains in Diyala by flooding the Hawi Valley.

ISIS continues to seek control of Anbar and it is conducting operations to impose social control by removing possible opponents in Hit.

ISIS is advancing in Anbar and threatening Baghdad from the west, and U.S. airstrikes have not blunted their advance into key cities such as Ramadi. As of October 7, ISIS controls most of the territory between Qaim on the Syrian border and Abu Ghraib, only 40 km from Baghdad. ISIS has conducted a sophisticated campaign in Anbar Province over the past four weeks in order to capture additional cities in the Euphrates River Valley.