8 months in, clashes in Anbar continue
Houses and shops have been completely destroyed in Anbar as a result of the clashes between the Iraqi army and members of armed factions.
![A view of damaged houses during a patrol in the city of Ramadi, west of Baghdad A view of damaged houses during a patrol in the city of Ramadi, 100 km (62 miles) west of Baghdad, May 5, 2014. Iraqi forces are locked in a four-month fight with al Qaeda offshoot the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) for the cities of Ramadi and Fallujah. Picture taken May 5, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS CONFLICT MILITARY) - RTR3O0MV](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2014/08/RTR3O0MV.jpg/RTR3O0MV.jpg?h=c2c5b897&itok=RQv5eBIO)
It is hard to assess the losses to the infrastructure in Anbar province as a result of the ongoing clashes that started in December 2013 between the Iraqi army on the one hand and the forces of the Islamic State (IS) and some armed tribal groups on the other.
Throughout the conflict, which has not subsided over the last eight months, both parties have been using mortar shells randomly and indiscriminately, which led to the destruction and demolition of houses.