ISIS Sanctuary Map: March 31, 2016

Since the publication of ISW’s last ISIS sanctuary map on March 3, 2016, ISIS lost control of the Syrian city of Palmyra to pro-regime forces. Additionally, Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) launched an operation on March 12 to recapture Hit district, and as of March 31 the ISF recaptured the subdistricts of al-Muhammadi, south of the town of Hit, and Kubaisa, west of Hit. As ISIS is pushed from its areas of control, it will consolidate its positions in Deir ez-Zour province, where it is likely to remain unchallenged. The map has also been updated to better reflect ISIS’s zone of control west of Hawija, Iraq.