A/HRC/30/66 I. Introduction 1. The present report, submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 28/32, was prepared in cooperation with the Human Rights Office of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) continues to assist UNAMI in implementing its mandate on the promotion and protection of human rights in Iraq. UNAMI is located in Baghdad and has field offices in Basra, Erbil and Kirkuk. Despite the difficult security situation, UNAMI continues to conduct its activities in governorates of Iraq in coordination with relevant governmental and non-governmental institutions. II. Background 2. The human rights situation in Iraq remains alarming in the light of violations and abuses committed by the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and associated groups. The non-international armed conflict continues to affect large areas of the Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Ninewa and Salah al-Din Governorates, while acts of violence and terrorism continue in Baghdad and other areas of the country. On 13 March 2015, OHCHR expressed its concern about the situation in Iraq in its report on the human rights situation in the light of abuses committed by the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and associated groups.1 3. In March, Iraqi security forces and associated forces began military operations to retake Tikrit, Salah al-Din Governorate from ISIL, which had held the town since June 2014. Military operations commenced on 2 March with an assault by about 30,000 Iraqi security personnel, Popular Mobilization Units, armed groups and tribal fighters. Booby traps, roadside bombs and snipers impeded Iraqi and associated forces in taking the town. The offensive was halted on 14 March, ostensibly pending the arrival of reinforcements and to allow civilians to leave the city, but resumed on 27 March. Prime Minister Haidar alAbadi announced that the State had retaken control of Tikrit on 31 March. 4. On 13 April, ISIL attacked the country’s largest refinery, in Baiji, Salah al-Din Governorate, a strategically important facility accounting for more than a quarter of the State’s oil refining capacity. ISIL surrounded the refinery and set fire to three oil storage tanks. On 21 May, Iraqi security forces reportedly broke the siege by ISIL. Clashes continued, with ISIL targeting the Iraqi forces with suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices. ISIL fighters reportedly set areas of the refinery on fire to hinder the advance of Iraqi forces. Gains by the Iraqi forces and the Popular Mobilization Units were announced, but reportedly suffered heavy casualties on 6 June after the detonation of one or more improvised explosive devices. On 9 June, ISIL reportedly advanced into the city in the wake of a number of suicide and mortar attacks. At the end of the period under review, heavy fighting around Baiji was continuing. 5. On 9 April, the Government of Iraq began military operations against ISIL in Anbar; the next day, ISIL launched an attack on Ramadi District on multiple fronts. On 9 May, the authorities began enlisting 1,000 new recruits to a Sunni militia to assist the Iraqi security forces in Anbar. By 16 May, the city had fallen to ISIL, which then began moving eastwards. Reportedly, some 3,000 Popular Mobilization Forces were deployed to the Habbaniyah airbase to fight ISIL, while 60,000 fighters were deployed to Baghdad to protect the city. 1 A/HRC/28/18. 3