August 23, 2016
Iraqi Forces in Qayara (Sumaria)
Today’s Major Developments
Iraq, UNHCR brace for a further huge increase in displaced people. […]
Controversial CoR move to fire Minister of Defense postponed for lack of a quorum. […]
Ramadi District Mayor says 50,000 families have returned to Ramadi. […]
Iraqi forces attack Qayara city, seize much of city center. […]
Syrian Army-YPG clashes end in Russian-brokered cease-fire. […]
Biden arrives in Ankara for talks with Erdogan, Barzani. […]
Turkey has reportedly sent troops into Syrian border city of Jarabulus. […]
REPORTS FROM IRAQ
NATIONAL NEWS
Prime Minister Abadi says in a press conference his government has approved the Amnesty Law and asks the CoR to pass it. The law was up for consideration today but the vote was postponed to next week. [Sumaria] The law provides amnesty for previous crimes by Iraqis, but not foreigners, and does not include terrorism, kidnapping, human trafficking, incest, rape, drug dealing, smuggling, counterfeiting, bribery, and other major crimes. Those imprisoned for murder in cases in which a settlement was reached with the victim’s family would be among those released.
DaeshDaily comment. Amnesty laws in Iraq serve important political purposes but also have some bad history. They have at times been concessions to Sunni Arabs but have also been used to get a lot of people convicted of corruption out of jail, one reason for Iraq’s continuing corruption problem. When even serious crimes have a political solution, respect for the rule of law is undermined.
Abadi also says that KRG President Masoud Barzani has informed him that the Kurds don’t have any ambitions in Ninewa. Abadi repeated his demand for the Turkish troops to withdraw from Bashiqa. [Sumaria]
In another story, Abadi says the central government calls on all people of Ninewa to cooperate with the KRG after the liberation, but also says the Peshmerga should not extend its presence in the liberated areas. He also says the Iraqi government doesn’t have enough capacity to deal with the pending displacement problem in Ninewa and asks the international community for help. [Mada] [Mada]
DaeshDaily comment. Actually, the situation surrounding Barzani’s previously expressed independence and territorial ambitions, the Atheel Nujaifi-led separatist movement, and the Turkish troops is confused. However, some clarity may come from ongoing conversations in Ankara among Barzani, Nujaifi’s brother and former Vice President, and Erdogan, to be shortly joined by Vice President Biden. (See below under “Reports from Turkey.”) Something seems to be up but it’s not yet clear what that is.
As for the displacement problem already, in recent months, some 213,000 people have fled their homes in different parts of the country. This includes 48,000 from the Mosul area, 87,000 from the Falluja area, and 78,000 from Shirqat, Qayara and surrounding areas, based on estimates by the UNHCR.
Mosul is Iraq’s second largest city, so the humanitarian impact of a military offensive there could be enormous, affecting up to 1,200,000 people according to UNHCR. UNHCR says it is doing what it can, but additional funding and land for camps is still needed.
Iraq already faces one of the world’s worst internal displacement situations. Some 3,380,000 people have fled their homes since January 2014, among them families displaced more than once. [UNHCR]
The CoR postponed a vote on firing the Minister of Defense because of the lack of a quorum. Speaker Jubouri postponed the vote without giving a new date. [BasNews]
DaeshDaily comment. This is another example of Iraqi politicians risking the nation’s interests in order to serve their own political purposes. The Minister set off a firestorm recently in the CoR by accusing Speaker Jubouri among others of corruption in dealings with his Ministry. The Speaker sought an immediate investigation and was cleared. Now it looks like political payback time. However, the country is in the middle of a war and the Minister’s leadership has seemed to make a positive contribution to the war effort. Al-Abadi has opposed firing him and Ambassador Jones, while remaining neutral, made it clear the timing was bad. At least the issue is not sectarian, but it’s unlikely any good will come from this initiative. The lack of a quorum seems to reflect the legislative tactic of being absent so as to prevent the body from passing something you oppose (a political trick not invented in Iraq).
The Baghdad Operations Command spokesman says 34 explosive detection vehicles (XBLM) entered service and will be used in Baghdad. [Rudaw]
DaeshDaily comment. It took almost 10 years and thousands of casualties before the Iraqi government admitted that the magic sticks it was using to detect explosives were worthless.
The Coalition says it conducted 8 airstrikes on Daesh targets in Iraq, near Qayara (4), Kasik (1), Ramadi (1), Haditha (1), and Baghdadi (1). [InherentResolve]
BAGHDAD
Security-related incidents reported
North (Tarmiya, Taji, etc.)
Iraqi Army 22nd brigade destroyed a Daesh guesthouse and found an explosives vest and 6 grenades in the Hiyaliyeen area. [BOC Facebook Page]
Northeast (Adhamiya, etc.)
An MoI source says the owner of a street electricity generator was killed and two other civilians wounded when an IED exploded near the generator in Hay Al-Basateen, in Shaab. [Mada]
A security source says a civilian was wounded when unknown armed men shot him in Shaab. [Sumaria]
East (Sadr City, New Baghdad, etc.)
An MoI source says two people were killed and seven wounded when an IED exploded near a commercial area in Ameen. [Mada]
Southeast (Mada’in, etc.)
A police source says the body of a man was found shot in his car in the Diyala Bridge area. [Sumaria]
South (Dora, Mahmudiya)
An MoI source says two people were killed and nine wounded when an IED exploded near a busy market in Mahmudiya, in far south Baghdad. [Mada]
Iraqi forces captured a man wanted on terrorism charges in Mahmudiya who led them to 2 ammunition and explosives caches. [MoD Website]
An MoI source says an Iraqi Army officer was killed and two soldiers wounded when a sniper shot at their checkpoint in Latifiya, in far south Baghdad. [Mada]
Iraqi Army 23rd brigade defused 6 booby-trapped houses in the Air Defense, Ukaidat, and Khtaimiya areas. The brigade also captured a man wanted on terrorism charges in the Fadhla area in Mahmudiya. [MoD Website
Iraqi Army 23rd brigade destroyed 3 Daesh guesthouses and defused 2 IEDs in the Baijiya area. [BOC Facebook Page]
A local police source says an Iraqi soldier was killed and three others wounded when an IED exploded on their patrol in the Albu Aitha area. [Maalomah]
The MoI spokesman says the Intelligence Service captured in south Baghdad a terrorist who was recruiting young men from his own tribe to join Daesh. [AIN]
Total Baghdad incidents reported: 13 (Includes only incidents reported)
ANBAR
Falluja
Iraqi forces defused 28 IEDs and destroyed a booby-trapped hideout, 2 explosives vests and large quantities of explosives and ammunition in the Falluja area. [BOC Facebook Page]
Ramadi
Jazeera Khaldiya
A Tribal PMF commander says Iraqi forces are in control of Jazeera Khaldiya after killing more than 600 Daesh terrorists. He says most of the terrorists had fled from the Falluja battles. Anbar officials say Iraqi forces will move to west Anbar after securing Jazeera Khaldiya. [Mada]
The Chairman of the Khaldiya subdistrict council says Iraqi forces killed more than 200 Daesh terrorists during the last 4 days, including tens of suicide terrorists, in a military operation to clear the area between Albu Bali and the international highway. He says Iraqi forces cleared the road between Ramadi and Falluja and east toward Baghdad. [Maalomah]
The IFP commander says his troops captured the Daesh emir of Jazeera Khaldiya, an Iraqi terrorist called Ghayeb Al-Mar’awi, in the Albu Bali area. [Harbi]
A military source says Iraqi forces found a mass grave with the bodies of 20 Daesh members in Jazeera Khaldiya. [Sumaria]
Prime Minister Abadi says Iraqi forces found huge Daesh weapons storehouses in Jazeera Khaldiya. [Mawazin]
Iraqi Army 39th brigade killed 2 Daesh terrorists in Jazeera Khaldiya. Iraqi Army 50th brigade found 5 Daesh tunnels and 10 IEDs, defused 2 booby-trapped houses, and destroyed several car bombs, and explosives vests in the Qurtan area. [MoD Website]
The chairman of the security committee in Khaldiya District Council says 2 Tribal PMF brigades were commissioned to hold the ground in Jazeera Khaldiya. [Mada]
Elsewhere in Ramadi
The Mayor of Ramadi District says 50,000 families have returned to their houses in the city so far. (Multiplying by 5 would convert this to an estimated 250,000 people.) He says most of the city has been cleared from Daesh IEDs and landmines, but there are still some areas that need to be cleared. He also says there are only 11,000 policemen in Ramadi district, which is not sufficient. There were 21,000 before the District fell to Daesh. [Mada]
A Tribal PMF commander says his fighters captured a Daesh terrorist in Tameem in the southwest corner of the city. [Sumaria]
Coalition warplanes killed 3 Daesh terrorists in the Albu Dhiab area. [MoD Website]
Rutba/Western Anbar
Daesh says a group of its terrorists, supported by mortar shelling, attacked Iraqi forces in the Kilo 160 area, killing or wounding several soldiers, before returning safely. [JustPaste]
Daesh publishes photos of agriculture in Al-Qa’im. [JustPaste]
SALAHUDDIN
Tikrit
The IAA destroyed 3 Daesh fuel tank trucks and killed 6 terrorists in Allas oilfield. [MoD Website]
Samarra
Iraqi Army 74th brigade captured 2 men wanted on terrorism charges in the Samarra area. [MoD Website]
Tooz
The Tooz mayoralty spokesman says unknown armed men shot a young Kurdish man in Tooz, wounding him severely. [BasNews]
KIRKUK
Kirkuk
A security source says the reluctant Daesh suicide boy who was captured in Kirkuk told the authorities that Daesh trained 50 boys, age 8-15, to conduct suicide attacks in different areas in Iraq. [Sumaria]
Hawija
A security source says a man and a one-year-old child were wounded by a Daesh IED as they were trying to escape the Hawija area. [Sumaria]
A video of displaced people from Hawija [Sumaria]
Daesh issues a video of its charity activities [JustPaste]
NINEWA
Mosul
A PUK official says Coalition warplanes bombed a Daesh convoy in the Ghabat area, killing tens of terrorists, including a local commander. [PUKMedia]
A PUK official says Mosul is facing a huge fuel crisis because of the extensive Coalition airstrikes on Daesh fuel tanker trucks during the last few days. He also says Daesh terrorists have disappeared from Mosul streets, and many have fled to areas west of the city or to Syria. [PUKMedia]
The IWMC says Iraqi planes dropped thousands of leaflets on Mosul asking citizens not to leave the city and to stay away from Daesh locations. [AIN]
A security source says Daesh mosque speakers told the people of Mosul that Daesh will issue a “general alert” ordering all the people of Mosul to “defend the caliphate”. Daesh also threatened doctors in Mosul who might order any sick leave to its terrorists. Many Daesh fighters have pressured the doctors to get such leaves in order to escape battles. The bodies of 40 Daesh fighters, and more than 80 wounded terrorists, arrived at the Mosul hospital and morgue during the last 2 days, most killed by airstrikes. More than 20 airstrikes have targeted Daesh locations in Mosul. [Karemlash]
Daesh says nine people were killed and seven wounded, including women and children, by “American” airstrikes on residential areas in Hay Al-Hadba’ and Hay Al-Zuhour in Mosul. [A3maq]
Daesh issues a video of the results of the airstrikes. [A3maq]
Daesh says it finished “quick” 3-day/30-minute religious seminars in 10 centers in Hay Al-Zinjili in Mosul, then move to Wadi Al-Hajar, and will continue so as to cover the entire city. [A3maq]
DaeshDaily comment. Time is running and Daesh wants to recruit as many suicide terrorists as possible. The “quickness” will recruit more young and uneducated people who fit the Daesh target profile.
Qayara
Qayara city
The Joint Operations Command issued a statement saying Counter Terrorism troops and Iraqi Army 9th armored division, supported by the IAF and Coalition warplanes, started the military operations to liberate Qayara city, after surrounding it from all sides. [Mada]
A security source says Iraqi forces entered Qayara from four sides at the early hours of the morning, killing tens of terrorists. [Baghdadia]
A military source says large numbers of Daesh terrorists fled Qayara toward Mosul after Iraqi forces broke into the city. [Ghad]
A Ninewa Operations Command (NOC) source says Iraqi forces advanced towards Qayara city center from the south, driving Daesh to the north, and killed 12 terrorists. Iraqi forces captured the Qayara subdistrict council building. [Maalomah]
The NOC issued a separate statement saying Iraqi forces captured the Qayara main market and the hospital in the city center. [Mada]
An Iraqi Army officer says ten Counter Terrorism Service soldiers were killed by a Daesh vehicle bomb attack in Qayara city. [Rudaw]
The Qayara subdistrict manager says there are 15-20 thousand civilians in Qayara. [Arabi21]
The Ninewa Operations Commander says Iraqi forces specified secure routes for people to leave Qayara. However, he says Daesh will prevent people from moving, and he urges them to stay in their houses and raise white flags. [Etejah]
Daesh’s version says it stopped an Iraqi forces attack on Qayara. Daesh says Iraqi forces are at the Qayara Bridge, the refinery, and the western hills areas, and are 3 km away from the city. It also says Iraqi forces’ attempt to surround the city has failed. [A3maq]
Daesh issues a video of its terrorists in Qayara claiming it is still control of the city. [A3maq]
DaeshDaily comment. In this video, a handful of terrorists show up on empty streets. Daesh issued similar videos in Ramadi and Falluja.
The Ninewa Operations Commander says Iraqi forces captured several government buildings in Qayara city, in addition to the residential compound of the Qayara oilfield. He says Iraqi forces stopped the attack because of the darkness and because of the land mines and vehicle bombs, and will continue Wednesday morning. [BasNews]
Elsewhere in Qayara
An informed source says Iraqi forces captured 6 oilfields in the Qayara area, after heavy battles with Daesh, killing “tens” of terrorists. [Baghdadia]
Daesh says it destroyed 3 Iraqi Army Humvees and a bulldozer near the Qayara Refinery. [A3maq]
A security source says Iraqi forces killed 10 Daesh terrorists and destroyed 3 vehicle bombs in Qayara. [Baghdadia]
A security source says Iraqi forces killed the Daesh military commander of Qayara, a Chechen terrorist called Abu Al-Futouh, in addition to 10 suicide terrorists and destroyed more than 20 Daesh vehicles in Qayara. [Sumaria]
A PUK official says Coalition warplanes bombed the house of a local Daesh commander in Asbagha village in Qayara subdistrict, killing him and several of his associates. [PUKMedia]
In revenge for its defeat in Qayara, Daesh blew up the houses of 20 policemen and PMF fighters in different villages in Qayara subdistrict, according to a Ninewa Police source. [BasNews]
Daesh says it damaged 2 Iraqi Army personnel carriers on the outskirts of Shabali village, south of Qayara. [A3maq]
DaeshDaily comment. Daesh feels kind of embarrassed to say it lost these villages, so it uses terms like “near” or “in the outskirts of.”
Daesh says it destroyed an Iraqi Army Humvee in the Hawasem area, south of Qayara. [A3maq]
Northwest (Tal Afar, Sinjar)
A PUK official says Coalition warplanes bombed a Daesh vehicle in the Hassan Koi area, killing 4 terrorists. [PUKMedia]
South (Baaj, Hatra)
A Ninewa Operations Command source says Daesh executed in Baaj ten young men from Mosul who were trying to escape toward Syria. [Etejah]
SOUTHERN IRAQ
Kerbala
The Kerbala Police chief says his troops captured 7 men wanted on terrorism charges who were fleeing Anbar toward Kerbala through the desert area, and 3 more at a checkpoint who were also trying to enter Kerbala. [Mada]
REPORTS FROM TURKEY
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday discussed strategy for fighting both Daesh and Kurdish PKK militants with visiting KRG President Masoud Barzani, sources at Erdogan’s office said.
They said Erdogan and Barzani also addressed necessary steps to shut down schools and institutions in Iraqi Kurdistan that are affiliated with Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based Islamic cleric whom Turkey blames for last month’s failed military coup.
The meeting in Ankara comes as Turkey faces multiple threats from Daesh at home and across the border in neighboring Syria as well as from the PKK militants whose bases are in the Qandil Mountains in northern Iraqi Kurdistan. It also coincides with Iraqi and Kurdish forces gradually closing in on Mosul. [Reuters]
Unlike previous meetings, the KRG flag was not displayed in the room. [SotKurdistan]
According to Turkish media sources, Barzani met with the Turkish Intelligence chief before he met with Erdogan. [SotKurdistan]
Barzani also met with Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, and will meet tomorrow with the US Vice President Joe Biden, who will arrive in Ankara. [ARA]
Turkish security sources say the authorities started evacuating Karkemish after 9 Daesh mortar shells from Jarabulus fell on civilian areas in the city, without causing human casualties. The source say Turkish artillery responded by shelling Daesh locations in Jarabulus. [ARA]
Turkish media outlets say the Turkish Army brought more reinforcements to the Karkemish area. [Dorar]
The Turkey Minister of Foreign Affairs says Turkey will provide “all the necessary support” to help opposition groups to capture Jarabulus. [ARA]
The Turkish opposition leader says sending Turkish troops to foreign lands (Jarabulus) is not right unless it is done within international law. [Dorar]
Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet says according to documents found in the house of a Daesh terrorist who detonated himself in June when security surrounded him, Daesh prepared 150 terrorists to conduct attacks in Turkey against several targets, including Alawite villages, Kurdish and leftist parties, international organizations, and amusement places and night clubs. [Arabi21]
REPORTS FROM SYRIA
The Coalition says it conducted 8 airstrikes on Daesh targets in Syria, four in the Manbij area, the others in Raqqa (1), Deir Ez-Zor (2), and Albu Kamal (1). [InherentResolve]
Northeast (Hasaka, Raqqa)
Hasaka city
Details were revealed on the cease-fire deal reached yesterday between the Syrian government and the PYD. The agreement includes these points: Syrian troops and allied militia will withdraw from the city, the YPG will hand over its positions to the Asayesh, the two sides will exchange prisoners, the roads will be reopened, the Syrian government will “reconsider” the issue of the allied militias, and the fired government employees will return to their jobs. [Hawar] [Hawar]
According to the agreement, Syrian police will continue their job as security for the government compound in the city. Tens of families returned to their houses in Hasaka after the cease-fire. [SyriaHR]
The Asayish issued a statement asking the people of Hasaka to return to their houses. Hundreds of people have left the city since the battles started last week. [Hawar]
Media source say the meetings between Syrian and PYD officials continued on Monday, under Russian sponsorship, in the Khmeimim airbase. [ARA]
A Syrian government sniper killed an 18-year-old girl in Hay Al-Nashwa in Hasaka on Monday. [Hawar]
Elsewhere in Hasaka
The YPG-backed Hawar says heavy battles erupted when Daesh launched an attack on Syrian Democratic Forces in Azzawi village, south of Shaddadi, at 3 am. It says the battles are still going on. [Hawar]
Daesh says it captured Kashkash Jubour and Tal Safiya villages, and half of Azzawi village, after 2 suicide attacks. [A3maq]
Daesh says it captured three YPG fighters in Azzawi village. [A3maq] [A3maq]
Daesh issues a video of one of the captured fighters. [A3maq]
Daesh issues a video of its attack on areas south of Shaddadi. [A3maq]
Daesh says it captured Sheikh Othman village, south of Shaddadi. [A3maq]
Daesh says it conducted a suicide attack on YPG fighters near Sheikh Othman village. [A3maq]
Daesh says it captured Hamidat village, south of Shaddadi. [A3maq]
Daesh targeted Shaddadi city with rockets, with no reports of human casualties. [SyriaHR]
Daesh says it captured Sheikh Hilal village, in addition to the other four and half villages, after launching a major attack on these areas. Daesh says it started with 3 suicide attacks, and a fourth one that targeted YPG fighters while they were fleeing Sheikh Othman village. Daesh says it killed 124 YPG fighters so far. [A3maq]
Later on, Daesh says it killed 23 YPG fighters in attacks on Atshana and Hajar Kabir villages, raising the total of YPG casualties in the Manbij and Shaddadi areas to 195. [A3maq]
Daesh publishes photos of religious seminars in Tabaqa. [JustPaste]
Northwest (Aleppo, Idlib)
Jarabulus
[Late news flash] Turkish Anadolu reports that Turkish Special Forces, supported by Coalition warplanes, have started a military campaign in Jarabulus. [Anadolu]
An earlier report said Russian warplanes launched extensive airstrikes on Daesh locations in Jarabulus. Daesh brought military reinforcements near the city anticipating an opposition groups attack. [Qasioun]
DaeshDaily comment. By reading the previous two stories, you can see the absurdity and complexity of the situation in Syria. It’s the Turks and the Americans. No, it’s the Russians. However, taking Jarabulus away from Daesh, especially after its loss of Manbij, would further restrict its ability to move men and supplies across the Turkish border.
The YPG-allied Jarabulus Military Council issued a statement saying it captured the killer of its commander and of a “secret network” that is linked to Turkish intelligence. The commander was killed yesterday, hours after he announced the formation of the JMC. [Hawar]
The Syrian Democratic Forces issued a statement supporting the JMC, and asking the Coalition to keep its promises to “provide international protection for our country” from regional powers. [Hawar]
DaeshDaily comment. We have a feeling they mean Turkey, when they talk about regional powers, but we need to verify.
Local sources say Turkish artillery continued its shelling on west Jarabulus for the fourth day in a raw. [Hawar]
Manbij campaign
Manbij Military Council fighters stopped a Daesh attack on Hajira Saghira village, south of Manbij, killing 7 terrorists. MMC fighters also captured several strategic hills south of Manbij, killing 2 terrorists and destroying a vehicle. North of Manbij, MMC fighters stopped a Daesh attack on Arab Hassan village near the Sajur River, and the battles are still going on. [Hawar]
MMC fighters stopped a Daesh attack on Atshana village, killing 14 terrorists. [Hawar]
The fighters found Turkish weapons in Atshana village (video). [Hawar]
Daesh says forty YPG fighters were killed or wounded in a land mine field in Yashli village, northwest of Manbij. [A3maq]
Daesh says it destroyed a YPG bulldozer with a guided missile in Nahilya village, south of Manbij. [JustPaste]
Mare’
An opposition groups commander says Daesh launched a heavy attack on Mare’ accompanied by shelling and rocketing, but opposition groups, supported by Coalition warplanes, stopped the attack and forced Daesh to retreat. He also says Coalition warplanes bombed Daesh locations in nearby Harbal and Um Hawsh. [ARA]
Later on, he says opposition groups attacked Daesh locations in Harbal and Tal Maled, southwest of Mare’, and the battles are still going on. [ARA]
Other Northwest Syria reports
Turkish troops killed a 15-year-old Syrian boy in the border area in Kobane (video). [Hawar]
Around 800 more displaced civilians arrived in Afrin on Tuesday from Jarabulus, Al-Ra’i, Al-Bab, Deir Ez-Zor, Albu Kamal, and Tadmur. [Hawar]
Daesh says it killed 25 YPG fighters in a booby-trapped house and IEDs explosions in Haqna village, east of the Tishrin Dam. [A3maq]
Turkey-backed opposition groups targeted Sheikh Maqsoud extensively with rockets and heavy artillery. [Hawar]
Daesh publishes photos of battles near Kowaires Airport. [JustPaste]
Central and West (Homs, Hama, etc.)
A local activist says Syrian troops and allied militias, supported by warplanes, attacked Daesh locations in the Talila area, near Tadmur, killing or wounding several terrorists. Russian warplanes targeted Daesh locations in the Tadmur Silos area. Another activist say Daesh stopped a Syrian troops attack on the Silos area. He also says Daesh snipers killed two Syrian soldiers in the Sha’er oilfield area. [ARA] [ARA]
Syrian warplanes destroyed Daesh vehicles and killed several terrorists in the Arak, Sukhnah, and Al-Hail areas in Homs. [SyriaNow]
East (Deir Ez-Zor)
Russian warplanes launched more than 10 airstrikes on Daesh in Deir Ez-Zor city, the Deir Ez-Zor airport area, and Mayadin. Battles continued in Deir Ez-Zor between the Syrian Army and Daesh. [Qasioun]
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the bodies of three people, including a young woman, were found in Albu Kamal and their organs were taken out. It also says Daesh executed one of its local security officials in Kashkiya village, in Deir Ez-Zor. [SyriaHR]
One civilian was killed in a Daesh shelling on the Joura area in Deir Ez-Zor. [SyriaHR]
South (Rif Damashq, Suwayda, Daraa, etc.)
Syrian troops killed several Daesh terrorists and destroyed their vehicles in Al-Qassr village, north of Suwayda. [SyriaNow]
OTHER MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA REPORTS
Neighboring countries
Saudi Arabia
Saudi media sources say security forces killed a terrorist and captured another as they tried to attack a Shia mosque in Qatif, in eastern Saudi Arabia. [Arabi21]
North Africa
Egypt
A 16-year-old young man was killed when unknown armed men shot him in the head in Arish city. [VetoGate]
Security sources say two police officers were killed when 3 Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis terrorists shot at them in Arish city center. [ElWatan]
Security forces launched a campaign in Hay Al-Safa in Arish after the attack. [ElWatan]
Eyewitnesses say unknown armed men kidnapped a police chief’s driver near the Wadi Bridge, in Arish. [ElWatan]
Security source say Egyptian forces destroyed 2 roadside IEDs on the international road between Sheikh Zuweid and Arish. [VetoGate]
Libya
Northeast
The Libyan Special Forces spokesman says two of his soldiers were killed and two others wounded by a land mine in Qawarsha, in west Benghazi. [Wasat]
A Libyan Special Forces commander says his troops captured more Daesh positions in the Qawarsha area. [Wasat]
The Benghazi Criminal Investigation Office issued a statement mourning the death of two of its members who were killed during the battles against Daesh in west Benghazi. [Wasat]
Central coast
A U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing operations, said Marine AH-1W SuperCobra helicopters participated in strikes against Daesh over the weekend.
Daesh terrorists retreated “to the densest, most built-up part of the city,” the official said. “[The AH-1] is a platform that lends itself well to that kind of mission.” [WashingtonPost]
AFRICOM issued a statement saying American forces conducted 9 airstrikes from Friday to Sunday, targeting Daesh vehicles and machinery, in addition to 25 fighting positions. The US has conducted 74 airstrikes on Daesh in Sirte since the beginning on August, according to the statement. [Wasat]
A military source says Libyan troops captured a Daesh field hospital and arrested its doctor in Hay 1 in Sirte. [Wasat]
Other countries
Nigeria
The Nigerian Army says the Boko Haram leader, Shikaw, was severely wounded and several other top commanders killed in an airstrike by an unattributed source on Smabisa Forest in Borno State on Friday. [Libya24]
SOCIAL MEDIA
A video of Iraqi forces in Jazeera Khaldiya [Yalla]
Videos of battles in Jazeera Khaldiya [Iba] [Etejah] [YouTube]
Videos of IAA helicopters attacking Daesh in Jazeera Khaldiya [YouTube] [YouTube]
A Facebook page from Anbar that exposes local Daesh terrorists who fled to the West as refugees [Facebook]
Photos of the leaflets dropped on Mosul [Yalla]
Videos of Iraqi forces in Qayara [Mosuliya] [Mosuliya] [RT] [Kut] [YouTube]
A video of the Ninewa Power Plant in Qayara after it was liberated from Daesh [Mosuliya]
OTHER DAESH MEDIA
Daesh audio newsletter for today [JustPaste]
Daesh publishes a new issue of its Naba’ magazine. [DawaAlhaq]
