Iraq

ISIS continues to attack the Baiji oil refinery with the intent to complete its control of Baiji city.

Although ISIS has had experience in governing urban centers in Syria and Iraq before, the City of Mosul is the largest and most developed area now under ISIS control now.

On June 24, ISW assessed that the area of Udhaim was cleared by the ISF and Iraqi Shi’a militias. On July 28, however, the Defense Ministry announced the start of an operation that has thus far cleared three villages and remains ongoing. The operation appears to be prompted by an increasing number of clashes and IEDs emplaced in the city, which indicates a level of ISIS access to the area that challenges full ISF control.

Reports that ISIS is sending reinforcements to the vicinity of the Hamrin Dam indicate that ISIS is seeking to control the dam as a military objective rather than pursuing it as a feint to divert ISF resources away from other targets.

Significant ISIS attacks occurred in the north, west, and east of Iraq.

ISW is placing a watch on Hit as an area that ISIS likely desires to control.

Hundreds of members of Iraqi Shi’a militias and their supporters gathered in central Baghdad to participate in parades celebrating Quds Day, an Iranian-backed annual event expressing solidarity with Palestine.