February 1, 2016
Today’s Major Developments
Leaders’ meeting in Baghdad focuses on the growing financial crisis.
Parliament member says Turkmen prefer to stay in Iraq.
Daesh kills 8 Peshmerga with mortar attack; blows up Shabak houses.
Residents of Sirte, Libya fleeing the city in reaction to Daesh executions.
Boko Haram kills at least 85 people in Nigerian village.
REPORTS FROM IRAQ
BAGHDAD
Political developments
The KRG Prime Minster Nechirvan Barzani arrived to Baghdad on Sunday and met with PM Abadi, President Masoum and former PM Nouri Al-Maliki. Abadi and Barzani discussed the financial crisis, the oil agreement between Baghdad and Erbil, and the displaced persons problem. They also agreed on an economic reform program to decrease the dependence on oil as a revenue source and on collecting border tariffs for Baghdad. [Mada] [Mada] [Mada] [BasNews] The KRG demanded a share of the World Bank’s 5 billion dollars loan to Iraq while Abadi demanded that the KRG collect the border tariffs and income taxes. [Rudaw]
Barzani also met with the Coalition envoy Bret McGurk and discussed the financial crisis in Iraq and ways the US might help, according to a statement from the American Embassy in Baghdad. [BasNews]
A Turkmen COR member says the Turkmen prefer to stay with Baghdad if the KRG decides to be independent. He also says the Turkmen refuse to divide Iraq. [SotKurdistan]
President Masoom says the Kurds don’t have an agreed upon project for independence. [SotKurdistan]
A report appeared about potential changes in the Iraqi Council of Ministers. So far nothing has been confirmed, but many MPs think Abadi is going to make some changes. [Mada]
A member of the Sunni Alliance in the CoR says that Speaker Jubouri’s visit to Washington was done without coordination with the CoR, and especially with the Alliance. Another Sunni MP complains that the Speaker went to DC as an Iraqi leader without forming a CoR delegation. The Speaker arrived in DC on January 27 but no official activities have been reported since his arrival. [Mada]
The Minister of Defense today denied any US pressure regarding Iraqi air attacks in Mosul, adding that all air strikes are fully coordinated with the Coalition and joint army commands. He also denied that Haditha city is under siege, describing the situation there as “sporadic Daesh attacks every now and then.” [Mawazin]
A Sunni MP from Ninewa says he was surprised by the American reports about the potential collapse of the Mosul Dam. He says a team of American experts visited the dam for 4 hours and they couldn’t possibly identify problems leading to the collapse of the dam in such a short time. However, he says several MPs asked for an emergency CoR meeting to host PM Abadi, the Minister of Water Resources and the Mosul Dam manager to clarify the issue. [Mada]
Former Vice President and the leader of the Sunni Alliance in the CoR, Osama Al-Nujaifi, meets with the Turkish Ambassador and asks Turkey to help with the Mosul Dam problems. The Ambassador says there are specialized companies ready to help. Nujaifi also asked Turkey to increase its military support to Iraq. [Sumaria] [BasNews]
Moqtada Al-Sadr says something logically needs to be done to prevent a catastrophe at Mosul Dam; however, the warnings about the Mosul dam are “fabricated” for political and economic reasons. He says he “prevented” the Sadrist Minister of Water Resources from intervening in the issue because it is a matter of national sovereignty and security and involves some corruption suspicions. He also said he asked PM Abadi to handle the issue of the Mosul Dam himself and not let America, or anyone else, interfere. He also threatened to end the interference of the “occupiers” in this issue. [Mada]
DaeshDaily comment. Why does the Minister follow the orders of his political leader instead of the Prime Minister? This is at the heart of Iraq’s official corruption. Ministers should be part of a national leadership team and should follow the lead of the Prime Minister. If you want to be in the opposition, withdraw your ministers and do as other peaceful opposition parties around the world do.
Security developments
The US-trained Counter-Terrorism troops, the elite Iraqi force, is feeling exhausted and short of personnel after 3 years of continued war with Daesh, said its commander Lt. General Abdul Ghani Al-Asadi. He added that these 20-25,000 men, who were re-gathered from all over Iraq after the fall of Ramadi, were the cornerstone in most Iraqi victories—in Amerli, Diyala, Jurf Al-Sakhar , Dhuluiya, Tikrit, Baghdadi, and Ramadi. There are three phases of concentrated training for soldiers before they qualify to join the division. [Mada]
The High Criminal Tribunal sentenced to death 7 Daesh terrorists who took part in bombing a funeral in the Al-Amel neighborhood in west Baghdad last year. The verdict is appealable. [SamaBaghdad]
President Fuad Masoom ratified the third batch of death sentences, the Iraqi Presidency said. Most of the cases involved terrorism. [BasNews]
800-1000 US soldiers have reportedly arrived at various Iraqi bases, including Ain Al-Asad and Balad, Majid Al-Garawi of the CoR security committee said, adding that there are more of them in the Kurdistan region. [Maalomah]
DaeshDaily comment. These stories about just-arrived new US soldiers keep coming up. Usually they get shot down. The US has indicated it might deploy additional Special Forces, but no specific Iraq locations have been named to our knowledge. So we can’t confirm or disconfirm the story.
UNAMI said that 849 were killed and 1450 wounded by violence in Iraq in January. [Mawazin]
According to security sources:
- An IED placed near a popular restaurant in Husseiniya, north Baghdad, killed one civilian and wounded 5 others. [Mada]
- Armed men in a 4-wheel drive car with no number plates shot dead an employee of the Ministry of Interior using silenced guns, in Rashidiya, north Baghdad. [Maalomah]
- An IED placed in a popular market in Saba’ Al-Bor in north Baghdad killed two civilians and wounded seven. [Maalomah]
- Armed men shot dead a civilian in the Al-Rashad neighborhood, east Baghdad. [Sumaria]
- An IED placed in a commercial area in Khansa’a village in Nahrawan, southeast Baghdad, killed one civilian and wounded eight. [Mada]
- A body of a man shot to death, with torture marks on his body, was found in the Tariq neighborhood in Sadr City, east Baghdad. [Ghad]
- The body of a woman stabbed to death was found in the Al-Nasser neighborhood in east Baghdad. [Mada]
- The body of woman was found shot to death in the Al-Ma’amel area in east Baghdad. [Baghdadia]
- Armed men in a 4-wheel drive car shot dead a civilian on Palestine Street in east Baghdad. [Sumaria]
- An IED placed near a popular restaurant in Jisr Diyala neighborhood, southeast Baghdad, killed two civilians and wounded six. [Baghdadia]
- Armed men kidnapped an employee working in the Green Zone after stopping his car, and took him away at gunpoint in Al-Sihha neighborhood, south Baghdad. [Mada]
- An IED placed in a popular vegetable and fruits market in Abu Dshir in Dora, south Baghdad, killed two civilians and wounded six.[Mada]
- Armed men shot and killed a liquor store owner and his brother in Jurf Al-Naddaf, south Baghdad. [Baghdadia]
- Security troops arrested today a person wanted on terror charges in Ja’ara in Mada’in District, southern Baghdad Governorate. [Baghdadia]
- Saqar Baghdad explosives brigade defused two IEDs in Albu Samir village in Mahmudiya, southern Baghdad Governorate. [Ghad]
- Armed men in a 4-wheel drive vehicle opened fire on a civilian in Saidiya, southwest Baghdad, killing him on the spot. [Ghad]
- Armed men wounded a civilian while stealing his car in Saidiya. [Ghad]
- An IED placed at the gate of the house of a doctor working in Al-Shula Hospital, in Ghazaliya in west Baghdad, caused damage to the house. [Sumaria]
- An IED placed in a commercial area in Ghazaliya killed one civilian and wounded 5. [Mada]
Total Baghdad incidents reported: 19 (Not an overall total)
A video of a woman confronting 3 Daesh members who killed her 2 sons. Two of the murderers were supposedly friends of the victims. [Iraqia]
Coalition air forces executed 13 strikes in Iraq on targets including tactical units, rocket launching sites, vehicles, and fighting positions. Two strikes were in Qayara south of Mosul, 6 in Ramadi, others in Anbar and Sinjar. The Coalition statement said that US, Canadian, Dutch, Jordanian, Danish, Belgian, French, and British warplanes participated in the attacks. [Mawazin]
ANBAR
Falluja
The Albu Shihab area was liberated, and “tens” of Daesh terrorists, including foreigners, were killed, said Ali Dawood, the Chairman of the Khaldiya council. “Tens” of IEDs in streets and houses were defused. [Maalomah]
Chairman Dawood had reported earlier that army units were advancing to liberate Albu Shihab and Albu Shijil in Jazeera Al-Khaldiya east of Ramadi. The troops moved from the Japanese Bridge to the east, backed by army helicopters. Albu Shihab is the crossing area between Falluja and Ramadi. [Sumaria]
Daesh says it attacked Iraqi forces in Albu Shijil, killing more than thirty soldiers and destroying 2 Humvees and 2 bulldozers. Daesh says the battles are still going on. [CSSN]
Army troops killed 3 Daesh terrorists including a sniper, while liberating the Bustan Al-Tikriti area southeast of Falluja. [AIN]
A Sunni MP warns that Falluja is suffering from starvation because of the Iraqi forces siege on the city. The Joint Operations Command has already denied such reports and said routes were secured to deliver food supplies to the city. [Sumaria] JOC confirmed the existence of two safe routes to bring food and medicines to the Falluja population, said the JOC spokesman. He says news reports stating otherwise are lying. [Etijah]
DaeshDaily comment. This is a typical situation when Daesh feels trapped, especially in Falluja. Daesh-friendly people inside and outside Iraq start a media campaign focusing on humanitarian suffering. The same people usually ignore the fact that the city was the source for many of the terrorist attacks in Baghdad and that Iraqi troops have no way to end such attacks other than by surrounding and then taking over the city.
Abu Maria Al-Muhajir, Daesh military commander in Saqlawiya, was killed today with six other terrorists at the Albu Shijil crossing north of Falluja. The army and security troops also destroyed three vehicles and storehouses for weapons and explosives in the area. [Buratha]
A video of Iraqi forces in Saqlawiya [YouTube]
Daesh publishes photos of executing a man publicly, after accusing him of “cussing.” [CSSN]
Ramadi
8th Army is advancing from Sufiya to Albu Ghanem, heading for Sajariya, said General Ismail Al-Mahalawi, Commander of Anbar Operations (AOC). The multitude of IEDs is slowing down the advance, he added. The operation is under Iraqi air cover, and a Daesh booby-trapped shovel, a vehicle, a motorcycle and a defensive position were destroyed, killing 4 terrorists. [Baghdadia]
A video of the Anbar Operations Commander supervising his troops in Sajariya [YouTube]
A video of battles in Sajariya [Masar]
A video of a Golden Division fighter defusing IEDs in Sufiya [YouTube]
AOC said that Coalition planes and army helicopters attacked Daesh positions in Albu Dhiab northwest of Ramadi and Albu Ghanem to the east, killing ten terrorists, and destroying a vehicle with anti-aircraft gun, a motorcycle, a booby-trapped vehicle and two defensive positions. [Baghdadia]
Joint Operations Command (JOC) denied reports that US pressure forced the withdrawal of Counter-Terrorism units from the city of Ramadi. A JOC statement said they were withdrawn to regroup following the extensive efforts they extended in the past few months, and as a step toward moving on to liberate other areas. The statement said that holding ground is the responsibility of Anbar police, tribes, and the regular army units. [Maalomah]
The Al-Karrar rocket unit of the Army’s Rapid Intervention forces destroyed 3 Daesh positions in Hsaiba, east of Ramadi, killing all terrorists inside, a source from the unit said. [AIN]
Hit/Haditha
Three families trying to escape the Daesh-controlled city of Hit were caught in an IED trap on a desert road. Seven of them, including children, were killed and five wounded. [Buratha]
Western Anbar
A strike by Iraqi Air Force on a Daesh gathering in Akashat on the Syrian border killed 13 Daesh terrorists, says the Al-Suqoor Intelligence Cell. Several prisoners of Daesh escaped their imprisonment following the attack, leading to a wave of arrests initiated by Daesh in the city. Among Daesh leaders killed in the strike is Abu Ali Al-Selmani (an escapee from Badoush prison), Abu Mansor, Abu Jaafar Al-Sjami, the suicide attack official of Akashat, Abu Turab Al-Suri (the Syrian), and Abu Alezz Al-Suri. [Mada]
The manager of Rahaliya subdistrict, in the Nukhaib District, says the city has been besieged by security forces for 2 months without any reason being given. He also says the subdistrict’s share of food supplies is held up in Ameriyat Al-Falluja and asks the central government to intervene. [Sumaria]
SALAHUDDIN
Shirqat
A video of the bodies of 4 Daesh terrorists killed near Shirqat. One was wearing a Saudi national guard uniform [YouTube]
Baiji
The Sunni Alliance in the CoR issued a statement saying the Prime Minister should take responsibility and protect the Baiji refinery. Several media reports mentioned that “organized crime” groups are looting the equipment in the refinery and selling it to a nearby country. The Alliance asked the PM to hand the refinery to the Salahuddin provincial government, to protect its equipment, and to start its rehabilitation. [Mada]
A video of a Daesh hideout in Baiji refinery [Harbi]
An Iraqi CH4 drone destroyed two Daesh vehicles carrying anti-aircraft guns in Makhoul Mountains in Salahuddin, killing all terrorists inside. [AIN]
10 Daesh terrorists were killed in a failed attack by Daesh northeast of Baiji, a security source said. Ali Al-Akbar brigade of the PMFs repelled the attack. [Ghad]
Tikrit
A security source said that army and security troops repelled a Daesh attack from three directions on Allas and Ajeel oil fields east of Tikrit. Three Daesh vehicles were destroyed. The source says the battle is continuing but the situation is now “under control.” [Mada]
Troops repelled an attack by Daesh on Tel Ksaiba, east of Tikrit, which used four vehicle bombs. The troops destroyed the attacking vehicles and killed over 10 attackers, a security source said. [Baghdadia]
A security source said the Kirkuk-Tikrit road is cut off due to the ongoing battle between Daesh attackers and security force in Tel Ksaiba. [Buratha]
Two PMF fighters from the Khurasani regiments, a PMF militia, were wounded in a car bomb attack on a PMF gathering near the Tel Ksaiba gas station, a security source said. [Mada]
The Governor of Salahuddin, Raed Al-Jebouri says the armed forces are in full control of east Tigris areas, including Fatha, Zarqa, and Ajeel, and that recent attacks of Daesh were a failure. [Mada]
IWMC said army helicopters killed “tens” of Daesh terrorists in an attack on their gathering in Al-Zarqa in Salahuddin. [Ghad]
Joint Forces announced repelling a Daesh attack east of Al-Alam subdistrict between Al-Alam and Tuz Khurmatu in Salahuddin. The battle is still ongoing. [Ghad]
Daesh says 2 of its terrorists attacked Iraqi forces in the Laqlaq area north of Al-Alam killing seven of them. Daesh says one of its attackers was killed and the other returned safely. [CSSN]
Daesh says 3 of its suicide terrorists, 2 Iraqis and one Pakistani, attacked Iraqi forces on the road between Tikrit and Tooz with 3 vehicle bombs, killing “tens” of them. Daesh publishes photos of 2 of the terrorists. [CSSN]
Saraya Al-Aqida militia of the PMFs repelled a Daesh attack in Himrin Hills, of which the first wave started 4:00 AM Monday and ended at 7:00 AM, while the second followed and is still continuing, a PMF source said. He described the attack as “very violent”. [AIN]
5th brigade and special forces of the 3rd IFP division repelled a Daesh attack in the Himrin mountains with the support of IFP artillery. A shovel and three vehicles were destroyed and all attackers were killed. [Maalomah]
Daesh publishes photos of shelling the Speicher base with locally made rockets. [CSSN]
Samarra
The IFP repelled a Daesh attack on its 19th infantry brigade west of Samarra, destroying three attacking vehicles, a security source said. [Ghad]
Saraya Al-Salam militia of the PMFs repelled two attacks by Daesh west of Samarra, the first in the Strategic Line (pipeline) area and Watban Street, and the second in Mkaishifa, a security source said. Artillery and rocket units contributed to repelling the attacks. [Ghad]
Waadallah militia of the PMFs, with the support of IFP troops and artillery, advanced 1 km to the left and right of the Strategic Line area west of Samarra, and cut Daesh supply lines in the area. [AynIraq]
DIYALA
Baquba
Dijla Operations Command said a media war is going on in Diyala, and that security units intensified their efforts so as to deal with it. He added that there is an elaborate media campaign aiming to exaggerate the incidents that took place recently. The Command says that the situation in Diyala is under control. [Mawqif]
Muqdadiya/Abu Saida
In an unprecedented incident, armed men shot in the air, threw hand grenades, and fired rockets to celebrate the release of Abdul Muttaleb Al-Jandeel, a Shia militia leader affiliated with the PMFs in Muqdadiya. The man was known for allegedly terrorizing people in Muqdadiya, leading attacks on civilians, bombing villages, and killing mosque imams. He was arrested by troops coming from Baghdad, but was released under political pressure. [Ghad]
DaeshDaily comment. This seems to go counter to previous actions by the Prime Minister. We feel the need to confirm the story before assuming it’s accurate.
Northern Diyala
The manager of Jalawla subdistrict says 200 families returned to the city in the 11th group of displaced families within the return program. [Sumaria] A separate report said 200 families returned to the Al-Talea neighborhood of Jalawla, which ended the first phase of the displaced families return plan, according to the District Mayor. [Buratha] Both reports say the second phase will start next week.
The Chairman of the Udhaim subdistrict council says the directorate of education in Diyala approved the reopening of 7 schools. He says reopening the schools will accelerate the return of the displaced families. [Sumaria]
An IED exploded when a Kurdish security unit (Asayesh) was conducting a house to house search for a hostage in Nafut Khana, in Khanaqin in northeast Diyala, killing several and wounding others, a security source said. [AIN]
KIRKUK
Mohammed Al-Waziri (Abu Eman) ex-Saddam intelligence officer and the Daesh wali of Kirkuk, Abu John, commander of Daesh special forces, Abu Mohammed (Libyan), and Abu Asaad (Chechen), were all killed in an airstrike by the Coalition on a Daesh meeting in the Al-Zab area near Hawija, killing all 60 terrorists and destroying 15 vehicles. The meeting was discussing a new Daesh attack on Samarra. [SamaBaghdad]
Daesh terrorists fired a Katyusha rocket from Al-Bashir village towards Taza District south of Kirkuk. It fell near the Taza power station without causing any casualties, a Kirkuk Police source said. [Buratha]
A Coalition drone killed Mulla Shwan (Abu Haroon), the military commander of Daesh in southwest Kirkuk and 4 others, when it attacked a building in Hawija used for commanding Daesh military operations, a security source said. The Daesh member killed was a resident of Erbil. [Sumaria]
DaeshDaily comment. Mulla Shwan was the most famous Kurdish leader in Daesh, and has been repeatedly recycled, having been reported as killed on multiple previous occasions.
A security force in Kirkuk arrested the Daesh “repentance and allegiance” official in downtown Kirkuk, a security source said. The man entered Kerbala with the IDPs and remained in custody before being released with faked personal documents. [Shafaq]
The Kirkuk Governor says the KRG paid the provincial government 10 million dollars as a first installment of the governorate’s petro-dollar share. The oil agreement between Baghdad and Erbil stated that Erbil pays Kirkuk its part of the petro-dollar money, which is paid to the other Iraq governorates by the central government within a formula based on population. [Mada]
Daesh publishes photos of schools in Kirkuk governorate. [CSSN]
NINEWA
Mosul
Daesh gunmen broke into the house of Omar Saleh Ahmed Al-Jebouri (alias Abu Yamama), their hisbah official, in the Al-Tanak neighborhood of west Mosul, and shot him dead, a security source in Mosul said. [Mada]
8 Peshmerga fighters were killed and 6 wounded in a Daesh mortar attack on Al-Khazer, east of Mosul. Daesh also reported blew up ten houses belonging to Shabaks, in Khazna village, 10 miles east of Mosul, according to the Ministry of Peshmerga. [Ghad]
Peshmerga forces shot down a Daesh drone in Al-Khazer. Daesh fired several rockets on Peshmerga positions in the area. [BasNews] A photo of the Daesh drone shot down by the Peshmerga. [BasNews]
Abdulrahman Al-Wakaa, a member of the Ninewa Provincial Council, said the support within Mosul’s population for Daesh is very limited, and does not exceed 5%. He added that all details of persons cooperating with Daesh are well documented. [Mawazin]
DaeshDaily comment. Daesh would have us believe that they are a state, a caliphate, controlling a big city. The reality is that people in Mosul who stayed after Daesh arrived are trying to live their lives under this regime. The real control is through a kind of gang rule, with spies, sudden arrests, and public executions to keep people in line. Public support is the bottom line in this scenario, and Daesh has a lot less of that than in the past.
Daesh executed 8 young men in Qayara south of Mosul by “electrifying” them in public, a source in the city said. The charge was sexual harassment. [Maalomah]
Daesh published a video showing the execution of 5 Iraqis on charges of spying. An executioner with a fluent French then threatens the US and France with attacks that will make them forget past New York and Paris attacks. The video was published by Daesh’s Ninewa Media Office. [CSSN]
Nasr Awwad Al-Shimmari, a Daesh military official, was killed with three of his escorts in an attack in downtown Mosul, according to Mahmoud Sorachi, spokesman of the separatist National Mobilization Forces. [Mada]
Makhmur
Peshmerga units accompanied by American advisors in two US army vehicles liberated three villages in Makhmur District, namely Kermerdi, Gdaila and Kherban. Tribal forces of Sheikh Nezhan Al-Sakhar participated in the attack, and were reported heading towards Sheikh Ali village, a source in Mosul said. [Mawazin] A separate report said fighters of the Al-Lahib tribe liberated Kermerdi, killing “tens” of Daesh terrorists with the air support of the Coalition, a security source said. [Baghdadia]
Northwest Ninewa (Tal Afar, Sinjar)
A Coalition airstrike killed 6 Daesh leaders, including foreigners, in Hassan Kawi in Tal Afar. The nationalities of the terrorists are Afghani and Saudi, a source in Ninewa Police said. [BasNews]
Daesh publishes a video of the results of Coalition bombing on bridges in Tal Afar and other areas in Ninewa, and its efforts to rehabilitate the bridges. [A3maq]
Ammar Mustafa Yusuf, the Daesh wali of Tal Afar and Jazeera, was killed on his way from Tal Afar to Mosul, by a helicopter airstrike, Ninewa Liberation Operations said. [Mada]
Other Governorates
SOUTHERN IRAQ
Babil. Babil intelligence presented a video today of the confession of Abbas Ali Hussein, the official in charge of Daesh ammunition and weapons caches in Babil. He guided security forces to a cache of seven barrels of explosives, sufficient to booby-trap 30 vehicles, and confessed to conducting attacks on security forces before going into hiding in Iskandariya. [Mada]
Qadessiya. 6 persons were arrested in various parts of Diwaniya on terrorism and criminal charges. [Mada]
Najaf. A person was arrested on terror charges in Najaf, a police source said. Another 11 were arrested on criminal charges. [Mawqif]
Kerbala. Kerbala police found 8 IEDs in a garden of a house in Kerbala, and safely removed them. [Mada]
REPORTS FROM TURKEY
Political developments
Turkey’s highest ranking cleric, Mehmet Görmez, the President of the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Turkey, has denounced Daesh’s actions as “barbaric and terroristic” in the monthly magazine published by the Religious Affairs authority in Turkey. [Cihan]
Military developments
Turkish police arrested seven foreigners in Karaman in south-central Turkey on Saturday on suspicions of ties to Daesh. [ARA]
Turkish police shot and wounded a suicide bombing suspect in the Beşiktaş area of Istanbul, according to a report published Saturday. Acting on intelligence information, a person said to have cables in his rucksack was placed under police observation. When the suspect did not heed police warnings to stop in Beşiktaş near the İnönü Stadium, police shot the suspect in the leg. The wounded suspect lay in a pool of blood and the area was evacuated. As wide-scale security measures were triggered in the vicinity, bomb disposal experts were summoned. The suspect is receiving treatment at Şişli Etfal Hospital. [Cumhuriyet]
DaeshDaily comment: Thank you to a loyal reader for the tip.
REPORTS FROM SYRIA
Northeast (Hasaka, Raqqa)
The pro-PYD Hawar alleges that Daesh and Turkey have opened three border crossings allowing Daesh to resupply and transfer civilians and fighters across the Turkish border, the first allegedly near Halwaniya village, west of Jarabulus, the second allegedly near the villages of Haji Wali north of Aleppo, and a third alleged crossing near the village of Sheikh Yaqoub. [Hawar]
Residents of border areas in Hasaka say that Turkish border guards have threatened to shoot residents who come within 50 meters of the border, making it impossible to tend agricultural plots on the border. [Hawar]
Turkish border troops reportedly fired warning shots on Friday and Saturday toward protestors in the Syrian border village of Sarmasag who say they were gathered peacefully to protest Turkish provocations across the border. [Hawar]
The YPG issued a statement saying that it won’t keep silent about the Turkish Army’s “provocative” behavior, referring to the Sarmasag incident. [SotKurdistan]
The YPG says a 20 year old female Kurdish journalist was killed and a YPG fighter wounded when a Daesh landmine exploded on their vehicle in the Iskandaron village near Al-Hawl on Sunday. [BasNews]
Two motorcycle vehicle bombs exploded in succession on Saturday in Abu Rasin, near Darbasiya in the Hasaka countryside, causing material damages, a resident said. [ARA]
Daesh publishes photos of its hisbah activities in Raqqa. [CSSN]
Northwest (Aleppo, Idlib)
An informed source says Daesh attacked a YPG barrier south of Sarrin, 45 km (28 miles) south of Kobane, with a car bomb, killing or wounding several fighters. [BasNews]
The YPG announced that it repelled a Daesh vehicle bomb attack on Saturday south of Tishrin Dam. [ARA]
A local activist says Russian and Syrian warplanes launched more than 10 airstrikes on Daesh in Manbij, and destroyed a Daesh main headquarters at Al-Etihad University. [BasNews]
Daesh executed three brothers with gunfire in the village of Aoun Al-Dadat in the Manbij countryside, one on Sunday and the other two brothers two days prior, according to an activist. Daesh executed a young man in Jarabulus on Saturday on charges of apostasy, ARA writes. [ARA]
Syrian Army troops and their militia allies seized control of the village of Tal Maksour east of Aleppo after heavy fighting with Daesh. [Qasioun]
Russian airstrikes on opposition militias on Monday north of Aleppo provided Daesh an opportunity to advance against the militias, striking near Mare’, Talalin, and Harbal, a Jabha Shamiya commander said. An unspecified number of Daesh fighters were killed or wounded in the ensuing fighting, the source added. [ARA]
The Ahrar Al-Sham militia has sent reinforcement fighters and weaponry to the countryside north of Aleppo in what may signal an attempt on the part of that militia to launch a campaign against both Daesh and the Syrian government forces in the area. [Qasioun]
Daesh says the Turkish Army shelled Qara Kubri, Ghazl, and Kufra villages in Aleppo’s northern countryside with around 100 shells. [A3maq]
Daesh says its terrorists shot down a French drone west of Manbij. [A3maq]
Daesh later corrected the report and said it was a winged rocket and not a drone. [A3maq]
Central and West (Homs, Hama, etc.)
Daesh and Syrian Army troops, backed by Syrian artillery, fought renewed battles over the gas fields of Sha’ir and Hajjar east of Homs on Sunday. [Qasioun]
Daesh publishes a video of destroying a gas pipeline going to Homs near Al-Furqlus, 40 km (25 miles) east of Homs. [A3maq]
Daesh says the pipeline was destroyed by its men on Sunday evening. [A3maq]
Daesh says one of its Syrian suicide terrorists attacked Syrian troops in Dowa with a vehicle bomb, killing or wounding many of them and destroying a tank. Daesh publishes photos of the terrorist. [CSSN] [CSSN]
Daesh says its fighters sneaked into Syrian Army positions in Dowa and captured 3 locations and destroyed a rockets storehouse. [CSSN]
East (Deir Ez-Zor)
Daesh seized control of the Faculty of Arts building in central Deir Ez-Zor on Monday after fierce battles with Syrian Army troops. The building was targeted in a Daesh car bombing two days before, killing an unspecified number of Syrian troops and destroying much of the structure. Daesh and Syrian ground troops fought heavy battles in the neighborhoods of Al-Haweiqa, Al-Sina’a, and Al-Jubayla in Deir Ez-Zor city on Monday, as well as in the Al-Baghlila area west of the city. Syrian Army units launched rockets and artillery shells on Daesh-held areas from the Deir Ez-Zor airport, causing property damage, but without reports of human casualties. At least 15 civilians died in Russian airstrikes on multiple areas of Deir Ez-Zor Governorate on Saturday. [Qasioun] [ARA] [Qasioun] [Qasioun]
Eyewitnesses in Deir Ez-Zor and Qamishli report that the Syrian Army is using its airbases in the two cities to transport the bodies of slain soldiers from Deir Ez-Zor to Qamishli. [Qasioun]
Daesh publishes photos of destroying a Syrian tank in Tal Al-Ruwad in Deir Ez-Zor. [CSSN]
Daesh publishes photos of shelling Syrian Army locations west of Deir Ez-Zor. [DawaAlhaq]
South
A Daesh commander known as Abu Bakr Al-Attar detonated himself as opposition factions attempted to capture him amid heavy fighting between Daesh and various opposition and Islamist militias in the Wadi Barada area in Rif Damashq Governorate. Several militias including Al-Nusra Front and a number of moderate-opposition militias have battled with Daesh in the besieged city of Al-Tal including the Wadi Mousa area outside the capital. Seven civilians were killed amid the fighting, and “tens” of others injured. Daesh also deployed its fighters to the Saraya area, where they instructed residents to remain in their houses and close their businesses until further notice. [Qasioun] [Qasioun] [ARA]
Daesh and Al-Nusra Front fought clashes in Yarmouk Camp on Saturday south of Damascus after Nusra fighters targeted a Daesh security official and local deputy known as Abu Salim Al-Iraqi and a number of his associates in an IED attack. When Daesh began abducting Nusra operatives in response to the attack, clashes erupted. Abu Salim reportedly survived the blast, but lost a leg according to an activist. Several other Daesh-affiliated leaders were wounded in the blast. According to an unidentified source, Nusra Front captured 20 Daesh fighters in the conflict and killed two others. A Daesh delegation reportedly reached a truce with Nusra to end the fighting south of Damascus but tensions remain high between the two sides. [Qasioun] [Arabi21]
Daesh says its terrorists shot down a Lebanese recon drone in West Qalamoun in Damascus countryside (video). [A3maq] [A3maq]
OTHER MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA REPORTS
Neighboring countries
Jordan. Jordanian police have frustrated a Daesh plan to attack members of the Jordanian Armed Forces, according to a report in the Jordanian media. Four suspects have reportedly been arrested and will be tried on charges of conspiracy to commit terrorist acts and of “promoting the ideas of terrorist groups.” [Arabi21]
Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Interior Ministry has identified an Egyptian as a suspect in Friday’s attempted suicide attack on a Shia mosque in Al-Ahsaa. The ministry’s spokesman said that the surviving would-be bomber, who is undergoing medical care in custody, is Talhat Hisham Muhammad Abduh, who received a visa to enter Saudi Arabia three years ago to visit his family, who reside in the Kingdom. The other would-be bomber, whose vest detonated during the attack, killing him before he could enter the mosque, was identified as 22-year-old Saudi national Abd Al-Rahman Abdullah Sulayman Al-Tawijri, according to the Ministry. [Erem (photos)] [Arabi21]
North Africa
Egypt
Sinai
Running water returned to Rafah and Sheikh Zuweid on Sunday after an eight-day interruption in service. [ElWatan]
Egyptian MP Muhammad Saidi has stated he is supportive of the idea of an international coalition to target Daesh in Libya but that this action must come in coordination with Egypt. [AfriGate]
Two policemen were killed, including one officer, and others were injured, when an IED exploded as they passed on foot patrol in the Karam Al-Quwaydis area south of Sheikh Zuweid on Sunday. Another IED exploded on a police armored vehicle on Sunday during raiding operations south of Rafah, killing two policemen. An IED exploded on a police armored vehicle near the entrance of Arish city on Monday, wounding three policemen. Eight militants were killed on Saturday in fighting with Egyptian security troops in a village south of Sheikh Zuweid. [VetoGate] [VetoGate] [VetoGate] [VetoGate] [ElWatan]
Armed men blew up the home of a security officer in Arish on Sunday, family members reported. The house was empty at the time, they said, and no injuries were reported. [VetoGate]
Gunmen from the Daesh-affiliated Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis group raided a home in the village of Yamit south of Rafah on Sunday and abducted a man, claiming that he was being taken for collaboration with the Egyptian military, a security source said. [VetoGate]
Starting Monday, Egyptian security agencies are no longer permitting Egyptians younger than age 40 from traveling to North Sinai, according to “high-level security sources.” [Erem]
Egyptian security agencies are installing security cameras in Arish to monitor sensitive areas including police checkpoints and major roads. [VetoGate]
Photos of a funeral service Monday in Ismailia for one of the policemen killed in the IED attack in Rafah on Sunday. [AkhbarElYom]
Daesh says its terrorists destroyed an Egyptian Army personnel carrier with an IED in Zare’ Al-Khair village east of Arish. [A3maq]
Giza
Daesh says 2 of its terrorists attacked a security barrier in the Munib area in Giza killing four policemen and an officer before returning safely. [CSSN]
Libya
Many Sirte residents are fleeing the Daesh-held city and attempting to reach secure areas after the group conducted arrests and executions last week, fleeing residents said. At least ten people have been executed in the last week. The same sources said that Daesh executed 50 people “in the last few months,” and arrested 250 people in the same period. [AfriGate]
Daesh has taken control of the village of Buerat, east of Misrata, according to local eyewitnesses who reported two Daesh Toyotas arriving on Monday with the Daesh banner and the Daesh banner now hanging from the village’s mosque. [AfriGate]
Unidentified warplanes targeted Daesh sites on the outskirts of Sirte Sunday and Monday, causing Daesh to withdraw from some of its positions, eyewitnesses say. The same sources said the streets of Sirte are nearly empty on Monday and drones and warplanes, of unknown identity, can be seen constantly in the skies over the city. Eyewitnesses report that Daesh commanders have moved their families out of the hotel complex where they have been based, and that Daesh fighters appear to be in hiding while the airstrikes are underway. [QanatLibya] [AlArabiya] [AfriGate] [AfriGate]
The Libyan interim government released a statement on Sunday condemning Daesh’s execution of three Oil Facilities Protection guards last week, and calling for international restrictions on arms sales to the Libyan Army to be lifted. [Hadath]
An oil pipeline connecting the Intisar oilfield and port infrastructure exploded Monday morning near “Station 108” near Zuweitina. Local sources suspect the involvement of an armed group. The area has seen clashes between the Salafi Ansar Al-Sharia militia and armed groups aligned with the interim government. [AfriGate]
Residents found a crashed surveillance drone near Ajdabiya. [AfriGate]
Algeria. Algeria has refused to allow the use of its airspace for airstrikes on Libya and will not play a part in any Western-led coalition to strike Daesh in Libya, according to Algerian media reports. [AfriGate]
Other countries
Nigeria. More than 85 people were killed in an attack by Daesh-affiliated Boko Haram on Saturday in northern Nigeria, according to medical sources and eyewitnesses at the scene. The bodies of at least 20 victims are badly burned and have yet to be identified, an eyewitness said, Boko Haram militants opened fire on the village of Maiduguri and then set fire to the village. 105 villagers remain missing and the death toll is expected to climb. [Arabi21]
SOCIAL MEDIA SOURCES
Facebook Page of the Day
A news page from Diyala
Daesh Twitter Accounts of the Day
https://twitter.com/Abu_saam11
https://twitter.com/AllahAzezGhaleb
https://twitter.com/Abdalmontaqm13
https://twitter.com/amiir961065231
Other Daesh media
Daesh audio newsletter for today in English [CSSN]
