ISIS shells Shiite forces gathering at Habanya base

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The historic military town of Habanya in Anbar province reportedly came under heavy ISIS artillery fire on Monday as thousands of Shiite militiamen continue to gather in the area for an assault on the captured provincial capital of Ramadi.  

The bombardment killed at least 12 members of the Iraqi forces and wounding several others, according to a Sky News report on Tuesday.  

According to the Sky News report, at least 20 missiles were launched by the extremists against the forces at the Habanya base, which is 15km Ramadi and 80km west of Baghdad.

An estimated force of 3,000 fighters from the Shiite militias known collectively as the Hashd al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization Units, have deployed this week to Habanya ahead of the expected offensive.

Habanya, also known as Habbaniyah, is roughly 8km east of Ramadi on the road to Fallujah and 80km from the capital. A former British Royal Air Force base established in the 1930s, the base was also used by the US military for campaigns in the province. 

After capturing Ramadi on May 15, ISIS pushed into other areas of Anbar such as the town of Husseiba, some 15km from the provincial capital. 

Azaal Fahdawi, a member of the Anbar provincial council, warned on Saturday the situation in the province was critical.  

“It is a really dangerous situation and the Daesh gunmen [ISIS] are now moving forward to Khalidiya and the military bases at Habanya and Haditha,” Fahdawi said.