Today’s Major Developments
Al-Abadi plans cabinet changes based on professional criteria.
Wave of IED attacks hits Baghdad.
Army operation to clear area east of Ramadi virtually completed.
Pressure increases on Daesh in Hit-Kubaisa area.
PMF force joins pending military campaign in Kirkuk province.
Money, salary issues roil Kurdistan.
REPORTS FROM IRAQ
BAGHDAD
Political developments
Prime Minister Abadi says in a televised speech he wants to make a “substantial” change in the Cabinet that will include professionals and technocrats, and asks the CoR to support him.
PMF commands held an extensive meeting in Baghdad chaired by Hadi Al-Amiri of Badr, Qais Al-Khazali of AAH, and the deputy chair of Al-Abdal militia, attended by representatives of other PMF militias, to discuss political and military developments in the country. [Ghad]
DaeshDaily comment. The significance and purpose of this meeting is not clear. However, it was led entirely by leaders of pro-Iran militias; Saraya Al-Salam, the Sadrist militia, was not in the meeting, and others were also absent. Logically, any general meeting of all PMF organizations should have been sponsored by the government’s PMF organization.
Majid Al-Garawi, a member of the CoR Security Committee, said that Iraq has a new plan to control the borders with Syria in coordination with the Syrian government, including intensifying military presence and border posts. [Mawazin]
The Sunni alliance in the CoR issued a statement saying houses in Balad and Yathrib in southern Salahuddin are being destroyed for the last two days by “criminal gangs” and holds the central and provincial governments accountable. The statement says the destruction coincided with the release of the compensation funds for the families. [Mada]
Security developments
Joint Operations Command says that 2016 will witness liberation of all Iraqi territories occupied by Daesh. He predicted that new and surprising tactics will be used by the army. [Buratha]
Vincent Stewart, the director of US military Intelligence, predicts that Daesh will initiate more global attacks citing Mali, Bangladesh, Tunisia, Somalia, and Indonesia, where Daesh has emerging cells. [BasNews]
The Ministry of Defense is sending several battalions to train in the Special Forces School in Egypt in the next two months, by agreement of the ministries of defense in both countries, the MoD said. The Ministry said that the cooperative agreement between the two military organizations has a wide scope. [IraqPress]
Saad Al-Mutalibi (State of Law), Security Committee member of the Baghdad Provincial Council, and a supporter of the wall project, said that the eight entry points of Baghdad have been provided with modern explosives detection vehicles. [Mawazin]
A force of the 22nd army brigade found a weapons cache in Albu Shallal in Taji District in northern Baghdad Governorate, while the 17th army division cleared 4 houses and defused 4 IEDs. One IED went off, however, wounding two soldiers in the Sherifat area, a Baghdad Operations Command (BOC) statement said. [Shafaq]
The Saudi Ambassador in Baghdad says he will work to overturn the recent sentences against Saudis charged with for terrorism in Iraq because some prisoners said they were pressured during the investigation.
DaeshDaily comment. There is some negative context here. Some Saudis previously sentenced and then released, circled through “repentance” sessions back in Saudi Arabia, then quickly came back to Iraq and resumed their terrorist activities.
According to security sources:
- An IED exploded today in Taji, killing two civilians and wounding eight. [Mada]
- An IED placed in Dhira’ Dijla near Taji and targeting a minibus, killed two civilians and wounded four. [Maalomah]
- Armed men shot and wounded a civilian on Palestine Street in east Baghdad. [Madar]
- An IED placed in a front of an Education ministry employee’s house in Sadr City exploded and wounded a civilian passing by. [Baghdadia]
- Armed men shot dead a civilian in the Fudhailiya area in east Baghdad. [Sumaria]
- A man was found shot to death in Batawiyeen, downtown Baghdad. [Sumaria]
- An IED placed near the Technology Institute in Zafaraniya, in southeast Baghdad, wounded three civilians. [Baghdadia] Another IED in Zafaraniya wounded one civilian. [Ghad] BOC said its personnel defused a third IED in Zafaraniya. [Ghad]
- Bodies of two men shot to death were found in Zafaraniya. [Mada]
- A joint force of Baghdad Police and Intelligence found a weapons cache containing rockets and explosives in an agricultural area in Nahrawan, in southeast Baghdad Governorate. [Sumaria]
- An IED went off in Mahdiya neighborhood in Dora in south Baghdad, killing one civilian and wounding five. [Mada]
- An IED placed in a popular market in Mahmudiya in southern Baghdad Governorate killed one civilian and wounded six. [Baghdadia]
- A civilian was kidnapped by armed men in Mansour, in west Baghdad. [Sumaria]
- An IED placed in a commercial area in Bakriya in west Baghdad killed one civilian and wounded six. [Baghdadia]
- A roadside IED planted in one of the internal alleys in Ghazaliya in west Baghdad wounded one civilian. [Sumaria]
- An IED placed in front of the house of a Ministry of Interior employee in Al-Amel neighborhood in west Baghdad went off without causing any human casualties. [Ghad]
- An IED placed in a popular market in Al-Nasr wa Al-Salam neighborhood in Abu Ghraib in western Baghdad Governorate killed two civilians and wounded 5. [Maalomah]
Total Baghdad incidents reported: 18 (Not an overall total)
The Coalition executed 10 airstrikes by drones and warplanes in Iraq and Syria, 9 of them in Iraq. The targets were Habbaniya and Ramadi; Hawija; and Kasik and Mosul, destroying tactical units, vehicles, fighting positions, and anti-aircraft guns. The strike on Syria was in Hasaka, targeting a rocket launching position. [Mada]
Daesh publishes a video of battles in what it calls North Baghdad. [DabiqNews]
DaeshDaily comment. Daesh’s activities in the real North Baghdad are mostly IEDs and assassinations. The video might actually be from battles a couple of weeks ago in the Samarra Dam area. Daesh usually attacks fast just to film videos it uses later.
ANBAR
Falluja
A curfew was imposed by Daesh in Falluja after someone raised the Iraqi flag on one of Falluja’s bridges. Daesh initiated a search operation, a source in Ramadi said. [Sumaria]
Tribal mobilization forces repelled a major Daesh attack east of Falluja, killing 40 attackers in the Ma’amel area east of Falluja, said Col. Jumaa Fiza’ Al-Jumaili, the commander. He added that car bombs were used in the attack. [Maalomah]
Al-Jumaili warned that Daesh might open the gates of Falluja Dam to flood the villages of Zoba’a and Haswa to obstruct the advance of Iraqi forces towards Falluja. [Maalomah]
Authorities in Ameriyat Al-Falluja subdistrict east of the city imposed a comprehensive curfew after it was bombarded by Daesh with mortar shells for the second day in a row, which killed or wounded over 36 persons. Exceptional security measures were taken in anticipation of further surprises. (photos) [Maalomah]
BOC said 1 terrorist was killed in Albu Shijil, 3 in Awda Al-Shukur, 7 in Nuaimiya, 4 in Al-Atheer and Maamir. [Ghad]
Saraya Al-Jihad, a PMF militia, intercepted a Daesh assault on its line of defense southeast of Thirthar, killing 14 of them. They also gained control of a car bomb. [Buratha]
Daesh says its terrorists sneaked into the Blue Factory, Iraqi forces headquarters east of Falluja, and clashed with them for 3 hours, killing more than 30 soldiers and destroying 7 Humvees and 2 SUVs. [A3maq]
Daesh says here it was 2 pickups (not SUVs) and of course all its terrorists returned back safely. [Dabiq]
DaeshDaily comment. In Daesh’s propaganda, all Daesh soldiers either return successfully or blow themselves up successively. Either way they are always successful.
Daesh says a Coalition warplane mistakenly bombed Iraqi forces while they were fighting Daesh in Albu Shijil. [A3maq]
Daesh publishes photos of battles north of Falluja. [DawaAlhaq]
Ramadi
Iraq War Media Cell (IWMC) said that the whole of Ramadi is now liberated, including eastern areas of Sajariya, Juwaiba and Hsaiba and surrounding areas, but also says a few areas remain. The road between Baghdad and Ramadi passing through Khaldiya is now open. [Mada]
Ali Dawood, chair of Khaldiya subdistrict council, also announced that the 23 km (14 mile) road between Ramadi and Khaldiya is reopened. He credited the liberation of Hsaiba to army, counter-terrorism, SWAT, and IFP troops. [Sumaria]
Chairman Dawood said that 150 persons, including people suspected of being Daesh terrorists, were arrested in Juwaiba and Hsaiba while trying to exit the areas with the families evacuated from liberated areas. The arrestees will be investigated in Ramadi. [Mada]
A video of a Daesh terrorist caught while trying to sneak out of Juwaiba in women’s clothes [YouTube]
Videos of Iraqi forces in Juwaiba [YouTube] [Mada]
A video of clearing the roads in Hsaiba [YouTube]
A video of Iraqi forces fighting Daesh in Ramadi area [YouTube]
Coalition warplanes killed 35 Daesh terrorists in Jazeera Al-Khaldiya, a security source in Anbar said. He also said the armed forces are preparing to attack and retrieve this area. [Baghdadia]
Laith Jassam, a Daesh military leader in Khaldiya, was killed along with three of his companions in an IAA helicopter attack in Jazeera Al-Khaldiya, said Khaldiya subdistrict council. [Maalomah]
3,500 civilians were evacuated from Juwaiba to the city of Ramadi and then taken to Khaldiya and Habbaniya, said Counter Terrorism 3rd special units commander General Sami Al-Aridhi. He added that 40 terrorists were arrested. [Sumaria]
600 families were evacuated by the army from Juwaiba and Hsaiba to Habbaniya and Ameriyat Al-Falluja, the Ramadi District Council said. [Mada]
Photos of families that escaped Juwaiba [Sumaria]
The IWMC says that based on orders from Prime Minister Abadi, the IAA assembled a group of helicopters to carry the chairman of the Sunni Endowment, Abdullatif Al-Humaim, and 9 tons of food supplies and other humanitarian supplies to the displaced families at Habbaniya base. [Shafaq]
The Ministry of Defense said that the liberation of Ramadi and surrounding area was a very “clean” operation in terms of preserving civilian lives, despite rumors spread by some media sources. The operation was performed at the highest level from a professional and logistical perspective, the Ministry said. [Mada]
A video of Ramadi after the liberation [YouTube]
Daesh says its terrorists destroyed an Iraqi tank in Thirthar north of Ramadi. [A3maq]
A video of a Daesh vehicle bomb attack on PMFs in Thirthar [YouTube]
Hit/Haditha
A high ranking security source said that the Ramadi area was liberated only after fierce battles, especially in Sajariya, and 9,000 civilians were evacuated.
The next step is to the west, in Hit and Kubaisa, where leaflets warning the population to evacuate are scheduled to start dropping in 72 hours. A camp to host displaced civilians in Al-Wafa subdistrict has been prepared. [AIN]
The Ministry of Interior says Daesh is under siege in Hit District. [AIN]
The MoI spokesman says the liberation of the areas east of Ramadi trapped Daesh in Hit. They can’t get to the areas farther east. He also says the citizens in Daesh controlled areas in Anbar are revolting against the terrorists. 16 Anbar police battalions are prepared to hold the ground in Ramadi. [IraqPress]
Coalition warplanes attacked a Daesh command center in Gharraf village east of Baghdadi, destroying the building and killing 22 terrorists, a source in 7th Army said. [Sumaria]
IWMC says Army artillery killed several Daesh fighters in Gharraf and several more in Duwailiba. Artillery also shelled Daesh positions in the Dolab area, killing ten terrorists and destroying a weapons cache and a boat. A Coalition plane killed Abdullah Saud Al-Mawla, a Daesh leader in the Abli area. [Shafaq]
The IWMC says 8 Daesh suicide terrorists tried to sneak into the residential compound in Baghdadi from the Baraziya area but Iraqi units stopped the attack, killing 4 terrorists and forcing the rest to flee. [Shafaq]
The IAF bombed and destroyed a Daesh convoy of 2 armored vehicles and 3 vehicles carrying machine guns while the convoy was heading from Hit to attack Al-Omariya village in Baghdadi subdistrict, according to the IWMC. [Shafaq]
The IWMC says the IAF bombed Daesh in Wadhahiya and Jubba, killing several Daesh members and destroying their vehicles. Coalition warplanes also bombed Daesh in Al-Sawer, killing more Daesh fighters. [Shafaq]
Daesh says its terrorists shot at an American cargo plane east of Haditha and prevented it from landing in Ain Al-Assad base. [DabiqNews]
SALAHUDDIN
Shirqat
In an unprecedented incident, Daesh found several of its flags hung upside down on roof tops of houses in Shirqat. This “message” reportedly caused confusion among Daesh fighters. [Sumaria]
A video of Daesh convoy destroyed by the IAA near Shirqat [YouTube]
Baiji
“Tens” of Daesh terrorists were killed by artillery shelling in Himrin Hills, a security source said. [Baghdadia]
Tikrit
Tikrit District Council said that the tribes of Tikrit are ready to form a force to liberate the remaining areas of Salahuddin from Daesh and to hold liberated areas. The step is pending approval of the government and the PMFs. [Mawazin]
The Governor of Salahuddin, Raed Al-Jubouri, said that 408 persons from 149 families who escaped Daesh-controlled areas in Shirqat and Hawija were rescued and transferred to Kirkuk, before moving them to Tikrit later on. [Baghdadia]
Samarra
Waadallah regiments, a PMF militia, said it cleared a whole village in west Samarra of mines and IEDs and destroyed a Daesh position in that village. [Mawazin]
The IAA killed 9 Daesh terrorists and destroyed an armored construction shovel and a vehicle carrying a machine gun in the Strategic Line area. [Shafaq]
Tooz
Armed men opened fire on a bus carrying university students on the Tuz Khurmatu-Kirkuk Road, wounding three of them, a security source said. [Sumaria]
DIYALA
Baquba
A network of “very dangerous” terrorists was arrested in Hibhib subdistrict northwest of Baquba, a national security source in Diyala said. [Sumaria]
Muqdadiya/Abu Saida
Tribal PMFs north of Muqdadiya have been on alert for the past 14 months, with no salaries or financial support, says Adnan Al-Lihaibi, their commander. He says that the government made untrue promises of solving this issue. He said that Daesh threat in the Al-Zor area of northeast Muqdadiya is real. [Sumaria]
Two soldiers were wounded when armed men opened fire on a checkpoint near Sheikhi village, near Abu Saida. [Sumaria]
KIRKUK
A large fully equipped force of PMFs arrived in Taza subdistrict, southwest Kirkuk, a security source said. The source said that the coordination among the PMFs, Kurdish forces, and Kirkuk Governorate is at the highest level, so as to liberate the remaining areas of the province. [Maalomah]
A PMF leading figure said that Daesh will be surprised by an operation in Kirkuk to regain areas still under Daesh control. This will start with Al-Bashir, a Shia Turkmen village near Taza. [Maalomah]
Mohammed Al-Karbouli, Sunni member of the CoR Security Committee, says many Arab families have been prohibited from entering Kirkuk Province for over a week now, after escaping their homes in Daesh-occupied areas. Al-Karbouli questioned the role of Peshmerga forces controlling the checkpoints in assisting these families, who are suffering from hunger and the cold weather. [Maalomah]
An intelligence source in Kirkuk said that Daesh is aiming to delay the attacks on Shirqat and Hawija by opening diversionary fronts in Allas and Ajeel fields, Makhoul, Fatha, Thermal power area, and the Shirqat bridge, in addition to assassinating security and intelligence officers in Kirkuk. [Ghad]
Four persons, three of them brothers, were arrested by Police Intelligence and Counter Terrorism units on terrorism charges; one was trying to enter Kirkuk from Taza subdistrict. The three brothers were arrested in a house in the Qadisiya neighborhood east of Kirkuk. [Mada]
A man in his twenties was shot dead by an armed group in a marketplace in Kirkuk, a security source said. [Maalomah]
The body of a man shot to death was found on a road in the 1st of June neighborhood in south Kirkuk city, a security source said. [Sumaria] Daesh later claimed responsibility, saying the victim was a PMF soldier. [DabiqNews]
NINEWA
Mosul
This was a day filled with Daesh executions.
Daesh executed 14 Ninewa Police officers after 3 months in detention. 4 more were killed by being dropped from a high building in Mosul, on charges of cooperating with security forces and Peshmerga. [Karemlash]
A PUK media spokesman said that Daesh executed 43 persons from Mosul at the Ghizlani military camp on the right (west) side of Mosul on various charges. [PUKMedia]
Daesh executed a female Dawasa bank employee on Palestine Street east of Mosul, on charges of communicating with security forces, a security sources said, adding that the phone was checked by the terror group and SMS messages insulting Daesh were found. [Mada]
Daesh executed Amir Al-Jawari, a former election candidate, after one year of detention, according to security sources in Mosul. [Shafaq]
Eyewitnesses say Daesh executed 7 of its fighters, from Arab countries, who were trying to escape from Hammam Al-Alil to Syria, then to Turkey. [Maalomah]
Zuhair Al-Jubouri, a leading figure in the National Mobilization formed by Atheel Al-Nujaifi, said that Peshmerga participation in Mosul liberation is welcomed, unlike that of the PMFs, who are not welcome in the area due to abuses committed in Tikrit and Baiji. [Rudaw]
DaeshDaily comment. His real reason, of course, is that the presence of PMFs in Ninewa could upset the National Mobilization’s separatist plans.
Daesh publishes photos of mid-term exams in Mosul schools. [DabiqNews]
Other Governorates
KURDISTAN
All the news from Kurdistan is about money.
A police source in Suleimaniya says 20 police officers submitted their resignations, objecting to the salary cuts. [Sumaria]
Peshmerga and police cut off a major road in Suleimaniya to emphasize their demand to be paid. [SotKurdistan]
A Gorran MP says the IKR will face massive demonstrations because of the delayed salaries. [SotKurdistan]
A PUK CoR member says the sale of KRG oil during the last two months is enough to pay the salaries of the KRG employees. He says the KRG MPs wanted to question the KRG PM and the Minister of Natural Resources many times but that didn’t happen because of understandings among the political parties in the government coalition. [Sumaria]
An informed source says the United States will pay the delayed salaries of 35,000 Peshmerga fighters (out of 150,000); the Peshmerga Ministry asked for more.
Commenting on the report, the Ministry’s general secretary says a Peshmerga delegation met with American officials in the IKR but the American response is not official yet. He says the negotiations are still going on and it should be approved by the US Administration and by the Congress. A KRG MP expects the size and details of the American support for the Peshmerga will be decided in the coming week. [BasNews]
The KRG’s Minister of Agriculture says the KRG will not allow food products, imported or made in the IKR, to go to central and southern Iraq. This is a reaction to the central government’s decision to prevent poultry products from entering the IKR. He also says the KRG will not release extra water to the Tigris, but hasn’t decided to cut the water yet. [Sumaria]
An Iraqi Ministry of Trade official says the decision to prevent the IKR poultry products was for health reasons because of the diseases that killed hundreds of thousands of chickens in Dahuk and Suleimaniya. [Sumaria]
SOUTHERN IRAQ
Qadessiya. Two persons wanted on terrorism charges were arrested in Diwaniya, a security source said, adding that one of them is wanted on terrorism charges in Najaf. [Ghad]
Dhi Qar. Dhi Qar’s Governor announced today the arrest of 8 men impersonating PMF members in a government office in the province, adding that all were in military uniforms, 3 with the insignia of a Colonel, Lt. Colonel, and Captain. [Mada]
REPORTS FROM TURKEY
The Hurriyet newspaper reported that the Turkish government, which views the Democratic Union Party (PYD) as a terrorist group, expressed its “unease” to US ambassador John Bass over the remarks by State Department spokesman John Kirby. Kirby had told his daily press briefing in Washington on Monday: “We don’t, as you know, recognize the PYD as a terrorist organization. We recognize that the Turks do, and I understand that. Even the best of friends aren’t going to agree on everything.” [BasNews] [AFP]
REPORTS FROM SYRIA
Northeast (Hasaka, Raqqa)
Daesh publishes a video of a reconciliation gathering it organized between 2 tribes in Raqqa western countryside. [A3maq]
DaeshDaily comment. Daesh usually turns to tribal outreach activities when it feels it is in trouble and needs more support.
Daesh publishes photos of a session in Raqqa where it asks non-Muslims to join Islam. [DawaAlhaq]
Northwest (Aleppo, Idlib)
The pro-YPG site Hawar claims that Daesh and the Fath Halab Operations Room, which encompasses a number of opposition factions, have entered into a “secret agreement” to cease fire, allow food supplies to pass, and open border crossings between the areas held by the two groups in rural areas around Aleppo. Hawar claims that it has a copy of the agreement, which it alleges was brokered by Ankara and signed by the relevant parties. It also reports that its local sources have seen trucks transporting what appear to be goods and fuel into the areas held by both sides. [Hawar]
A YPG source says they tried to cross the Euphrates twice using small boats, but Turkish warplanes bombed them before they reached Jarabulus. [BasNews]
Daesh publishes photos of battles west of Kowaires airbase. [DabiqNews]
Daesh publishes photos of shooting at Russian warplanes near Kowaires. [DabiqNews]
Daesh publishes photos of its reconstruction efforts in Tadif. [DabiqNews]
Daesh publishes photos of the “return of life” to Tal Jijan village after its terrorists captured it. [DabiqNews]
Central and West (Homs, Hama, etc.)
Daesh fought pitched battles with Syrian Army troops and its Lebanese Hezbollah militia allies in the city of Mahin, east of Homs. Five Syrian troops and Lebanese militiamen were killed in the fighting. Daesh battled Syrian Army troops in Al-Dowa east of Homs, amid Syrian artillery shelling of the area. [Qasioun]
Daesh says it stopped a Syrian Army attack on the Hazm Mahin hills southeast of Homs. The attack was preceded by Russian airstrikes and Syrian heavy shelling. [A3maq]
Daesh publishes photos of its terrorists in Hazm Mahin. [DabiqNews] [DabiqNews]
Daesh publishes a video of battles in Homs. [DabiqNews]
Daesh publishes a video of a truck loaded with cigarettes its terrorists caught in Homs. [A3maq]
Daesh publishes photos of the graduation of a new group of its terrorists in Hama. [DabiqNews]
East (Deir Ez-Zor)
Russian warplanes struck Al-Shumaytiya west of Deir Ez-Zor city on Tuesday afternoon, killing a child and wounding three civilians. Russian planes also struck Al-Haweiqa and Al-Ummal neighborhoods of Deir Ez-Zor city, amid Syrian Army artillery shelling of the same areas. Russian planes also struck the strategic Al-Siyasiya Bridge area in the city, targeting one of the only links between town and countryside in the Daesh-held city. Ground clashes continued between the Syrian Army and Daesh militants around Deir Ez-Zor’s military airport, with both sides trading explosive shells in the clashes. [Qasioun]
Daesh publishes photos of battles against Syrian troops in Deir Ez-Zor. [DabiqNews]
South
A car bomb exploded in Barza, near the Police Officers Club in downtown Damascus, killing 8 or 9 and wounding 15 civilians. Daesh claimed responsibility. [BasNews] [Qasioun] [Arabi21]
Here Daesh says 20 Syrian armed forces members were killed and many others wounded in the attack. [A3maq]
Daesh has been “defeated and completely expelled” from the city of Al-Tal in Rif Damashq Governorate according to a statement issued by opposition militias Tuesday. According to an activist in the area, Daesh antagonized the opposition factions by attacking their headquarters, prompting them to unite and counter-attack. [ARA]
OTHER MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA REPORTS
Neighboring countries
Saudi Arabia
The Chairman of Iran’s Supreme Council of National Security has expressed opposition to the possible entry of Saudi ground troops into Syria to combat Daesh, saying that any such intervention must have approval from the Syrian regime and could cause confusion on the ground in Syria. The irony of Iran’s (and Russia’s) intense support for the Assad regime in Syria is not lost in Al-Sharq Al-Awsat’s report. [Aawsat]
North Africa
Egypt
An Egyptian policeman was killed and three others injured by sniper fire south of Arish on the Bir Lahfan road, a security source said.
An IED exploded on an armored police vehicle in the Karm Al-Qawadis area south of Sheikh Zuweid Tuesday morning, injuring two policemen. [ElWatan] Daesh claimed responsibility.
Four gunmen believed to be from the Daesh-affiliated Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis abducted a civilian from the village of Abu Tawila, south of Sheikh Zuweid, claiming that he was cooperating with the Egyptian military. The tribal source in the area who provided the report said that the men arrived in a Hyundai Verna and violently blindfolded the 33-year-old victim, taking him away at gunpoint to an unknown location. [ElWatan]
Daesh says one of its snipers killed an Egyptian soldier on the international road between Arish and Rafah. [DabiqNews]
Libya
Daesh in Sirte published a list on Monday of individuals whom it has condemned to execution, eyewitnesses say. The group hung a list of 130 names on the entrance of its Islamic court in Sirte, 80 of whom are identified as condemned to death, and the remaining 50 condemned to other punishments such as whiplashing and amputation of the hand, the sources say. The group began implementing its rulings on Monday, executing two people and whipping a man who permitted his wife to leave the house without wearing the veil. [Ewan]
A Libyan military aircraft crashed on Monday after carrying out bombing raids on Daesh positions in Derna. Security sources said the vessel crashed due to a technical fault, while “Ansar Al-Sharia” claimed responsibility. [Moheet] [AfriGate]
New Daesh leaders and militants of various nationalities are visible in Sirte, eyewitnesses reported. A column of 14 armed vehicles was seen entering the Ouagadougou complex on Monday evening, according to witnesses. Reports suggest that these vehicles held newly arrived Daesh leaders, who have been provided with furnished residences in downtown Sirte. Other witnesses spoke of “red-bearded” men arriving, suggesting the arrival of new Daesh militants of Balkan origin or from the Caucasus. [Wasat]
Daesh “Islamic Police” raided five homes in Al-Hawara, 70 km (43.5 miles) east of Sirte, local sources said, in what appeared to be a search operation for weapons. The raiding Daesh militants, many of whom appeared to be Tunisian, did not discover any weapons, the sources said. [Wasat]
Russia’s Ambassador to Libya has said his country will seek an exception to UN sanction on arming the Libyan military in order for Russia to be able to transfer weapons to the Libyan Army to combat Daesh and other armed groups. [Ewan]
Libyan military officials have reached an agreement with Egypt to train Libyan troops, and another similar agreement with Jordan is being studied. [AfriGate]
Photo shared by anti-Daesh activists of Daesh religious police in Sirte forcing a man to raise his trouser cuffs over his ankles to comply with Daesh’s dress code. [Moheet]
Daesh publishes photos of destroying graves in Benghazi. [DabiqNews]
DaeshDaily comment. By destroying graves Daesh is alienating the vast majority of Sunni Muslims, but Daesh doesn’t seem to care. Its main audience is Salafis, who consider built graves as non-Islamic, and it wants to show that it is the sole representative of the “right” Islam.
Daesh says it killed two Libyan fighters with an IED in Derna. [DabiqNews]
Daesh publishes a video for its hisbah activities in Sirte. [DawaAlhaq]
DaeshDaily comment. We mentioned yesterday that this video was from Tripoli. We apologize.
Tunisia
Tunisia’s government spokesman has reiterated the government’s position that it will not participate directly in military intervention in Libya against Daesh. The spokesman, Khaled Shawkat said that Tunisia adopts a policy of non-interference in other country’s internal affairs, but that his country would welcome Libyans who flee the war in their country. [Tunisien]
Other countries
Russia
Chechnya has sent spies to infiltrate the Daesh ranks in Syria to help the Russian effort to combat Daesh, according to remarks by Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov reported in the Russian media. [ARA]
Indonesia
Indonesian courts sentenced seven people to prison terms ranging from five to seven years on accusations of supporting Daesh. Four of those sentenced traveled to Syria to join Daesh, the court said, while the other three were found to have purchased tickets and recruited members. The court did not indicate any connection between the seven and the deadly attack in Jakarta in January that was claimed by Daesh. [Aawsat]
SOCIAL MEDIA SOURCES
Facebook Page of the Day
A Ninewa displaced people page
Daesh Twitter Accounts of the Day
https://twitter.com/ploiualjjgffddg
https://twitter.com/abohafss049
https://twitter.com/accountsansa100
Other Daesh media
The17th issue of Daesh’s Al-Naba’ weekly magazine [DabiqNews]
