Control of Terrain in Iraq: January 7, 2015
January 7, 2015 - Institute for the Study of WarThe area of Nebai is part of the system north of Baghdad and is part of the northern Baghdad belt.
The area of Nebai is part of the system north of Baghdad and is part of the northern Baghdad belt.
ISIS has relied on the submission and occasional participation of rebel groups and Sunni tribes to maintain its control over large swathes of Deir ez-Zour Province, but these negotiated agreements appear to be coming under strain as ISIS shifts its force posture in the province from a phase of consolidation to one of enforcement.
ISIS is taking pre-emptive measures to prevent tribal resistance or cooperation with the ISF behind its lines. Although mass kidnapping incidents similar to those described here have taken place before, the last two days have witnessed an increase in tempo of such activities in multiple areas considered out of government control.
The fight for northern Iraq is intensifying, especially in areas of northern Iraq where front lines have remained static.
Peshmerga, local Iraqi Police, and local Iraqi Sunni tribal fighters challenged ISIS in areas near Mosul where the organization has enjoyed relative sanctuary since it took control of the city in June.
Regime forces continue to be successful in defending remaining regime-held terrain in the northeastern corner of Quneitra Province.
Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Iraqi Shi’a militias within the Popular Mobilization Units (PMUs) continued their operations north of Baghdad and the areas linking Baghdad and Samarra in northern Iraq.
Iraqi Security forces and Iraqi Shi'a militias undertook a major operation in southern Salah ad-Din province.
The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) is intensifying its efforts in Diyala province near the area of Muqdadiyah in northeastern Diyala province.
Local resistance to ISIS in Deir ez-Zour has occurred on a limited level since ISIS seized control of the province in July 2014.