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<p>Since ISIL’s expansion in the summer of 2014, the Government of Iraq (GoI), with
the support of the Global Counter-ISIL Coalition, including the UK, has succeeded
in halting ISIL’s advance and pushing them out of a quarter of the territory they
have captured. However, the security situation in Iraq remains concerning.</p><p>In
central and western Iraq the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), supported by Coalition airstrikes
have generally succeeded in containing ISIL advances, and in places like Tikrit, retaken
territory. On 17 May, however, ISIL captured the city of Ramadi in Anbar province.
While this represents a symbolic and tactical advance for ISIL, we do not judge it
to be strategically significant.</p><p>Some areas of Iraq, such as Mosul, remain under
complete ISIL control whilst others like Fallujah and Baiji continue to be heavily
contested.</p><p>In the north, the Kurdish Security Forces (KSF), supported by Coalition
airstrikes, have recaptured territory, particularly around the Sinjar area, and continue
to make incremental gains. The majority of southern Iraq remains calm.</p>
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