February 11, 2016
Today’s Major Developments
Abadi opposes Barzani’s proposed independence referendum.
Defense Secretary Carter says US wants to accelerate campaign to take Mosul and Raqqa.
Russia pledges support to Iraq; slams Turkey’s troop deployment in Bashiqa.
Army and tribal forces prepare to attack Daesh west and south of Falluja.
Albu Nimr, Albu Mahal tribes attack Daesh near Hit.
Iraq Federal Police fend off Daesh attack west of Samarra
Iraq’s planning for Mosul campaign seems to leave out the PMFs.
REPORTS FROM IRAQ
BAGHDAD
Political developments
PM Abadi, in a joint press conference with Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, says that it’s not in the best interest of Kurdistan to separate from Iraq and that the region will develop more within Iraq. He says there is no need for a Kurdistan independence referendum and he hopes it stays within Iraq. He says a referendum leading to no result will undermine the value of public opinion. He also says he is surprised that the KRG is exporting 612,000 oil barrels a day (15% of Iraq’s production) yet cannot pay its employees’ salaries, suggesting the need for more transparency in the KRG. [Mada] [Rudaw] Abadi also thanked Germany for giving Iraq a 500 million Euro loan. [Rudaw]
Abadi also says he is waiting for an answer from the political blocs about his call for changes in the cabinet. [Mada]
DaeshDaily comment. Speaker Jubouri had said he didn’t receive an official request from Abadi about the cabinet change.
Ashton Carter, US Secretary of Defense, says “the U.S. is determined to accelerate the war campaign and recapture as soon as possible the Islamic State group’s main strongholds—Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq.” He says Gulf countries are ready to provide more support to the anti-Daesh Coalition. He added that an agreement has been made to “send NATO forces to Iraq to assist in the war on Daesh.” [AP] [Sumaria]
DaeshDaily comment. The Secretary’s reassurance is helpful, after yesterday’s problematical statement by the Director of the DIA, about which we commented at length.
Poland told NATO of its readiness to participate in the war effort on Daesh, mainly through reconnaissance and training. [Buratha]
In his press conference with Matteo Renzi, Italy’s Prime Minister, Haider Al-Abadi said that Mosul will be liberated in collaboration with Peshmerga and tribal forces. [BasNews]
Dmitry Rogozin, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, said that Russia assisted Iraqi armed forces to achieve combat readiness, adding that Russia is ready to expand cooperation. As for intelligence cooperation with Iraq, Rogozin described it as “confidential”. [Sumaria]
Rogozin also said, in a joint press conference with Foreign Affairs Minister Al-Jaafari, that his country supports Iraq’s position regarding the Turkish troops and considers their presence a violation of Iraq sovereignty. He also says that Moscow will support Iraq in its counter-terrorism efforts in coordination with the Iraqi government, unlike Turkey. He says the joint Iraqi-Russian government committee met to discuss furthering the relationships between the two countries and suggested that the next meeting will be held in Mosul after the liberation. [Mada] [Mada]
DaeshDaily comment. This shows serious fallout from Erdogan’s refusal to remove Turkish troops from Bashiqa even when confronted by the Iraqi government and international opposition. The Russians, now more hostile than usual to Turkey after their military plane was shot down along the Syrian border, are exploiting the diplomatic opening. As most of the Iraqi government favors the Assad government in the Syria crisis, while Turkey opposes it, Russia’s has an inside position with both governments while Erdogan is now on the outside with both governments. (Notice also the story below under “Syria” in which the Kurdish YPG militia opposed by Turkey seems to have received bombing support from the Russians near the northwest Syria border.) It seems that recent developments have produced something of a realignment.
The tribal sheikhs of the Baghdad “belt” (mainly from the western side of Baghdad) will hold a meeting in Um Al-Tubool mosque Thursday to discuss the consequences of the proposed Baghdad wall on smooth movement in and out of Baghdad. Most of them are rejecting the project, the meeting organizing committee said. [IraqPress]
The Sunni Mufti in Baghdad says the Baghdad wall will destroy Iraqi unity and that hundreds of people might be killed because of it. [Mada]
DaeshDaily comment. The Baghdad wall project has quickly become a sectarian issue. One major reason is that the wall will separate Shia-majority Baghdad city from the predominantly Sunni areas on the north, south, and west sides of the city, which arguably marginalizes them. That’s a fair issue. However, most (but not all) of the IEDs are coming into the city from the outside, are being carried by people claiming to be Sunnis, and are killing people in Shia areas. That’s a life and death issue. It would be hard to reach a fair conclusion without considering both sides of the issue.
PM Abadi orders formation of a committee, headed by the chairman of the Sunni Endowment, Abdullatif Al-Humaim, to oversee the return of the displaced families to Ramadi. [Mada]
Ambassador Stuart Jones met with Dr. Al-Humaim on February 10 and thanked him for his leadership in helping alleviate the suffering of IDPs in Anbar and other parts of Iraq, especially those men, women and children displaced during the liberation of Ramadi. [US Embassy FB Page]
DaeshDaily comment. Aside from demonstrating humanitarian concern, this is also a deft political move that plays to Anbar sensitivities and eliminates any accusations of government sectarianism. Complaints about the process will fall on the committee, dominated by Sunnis, and limit the political pressure on the Prime Minister. Displaced persons are now a huge problem in Iraq, with tens of thousands of people affected, and stability depends on making their home cities livable and returning them to their houses.
A PMF official says the PMFs, in accordance with orders from PM Abadi, have started a campaign to return the houses of Iraqis, including Christians, to their owners after they were taken over by other residents in the owners’ absence. He says, contrary to what is reported in the media, the number of such houses is very low. The Babelyoun (Christian Iraqi PMF unit) commander says two houses were returned so far and they are working on 6 others. He also says that they will start the same procedure in Basra. The commander stressed that it was not PMF units that took these houses. [Mada]
The Muthanna Governor says Iraq detected “unusual” Saudi military activity for more than a month now near the Iraqi border. He says a special military unit will be established “to study the intentions” of the Saudi troops. [Mada]
A PMF source denied that Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, deputy commander of the PMF was removed from office by Prime Minister Al-Abadi. [AIN]
DaeshDaily comment. Several rumors have appeared about firing Al-Muhandis, which may suggest that people behind the rumors don’t like him, but which turned out not to be true.
Terrorism victim compensation was distributed to 112 families in Balad, Bani Saad, and Hatimiya at the rate of 9 million dinars per martyr for each family. The next payments will be done in Amerli and Tuz Khurmatu, the Compensation Committee said today. [Mada]
Security developments
A unit of the 7th brigade of the IFP arrested the person responsible for transporting suicide bombers for the so-called Al-Farouq regiment of South Baghdad. The arrest of the so-called Abu Khammas was made in Yusufiyah, where a cache of weapons and explosives was also found, a security source in Baghdad said. [Mada]
A member of the media committee in the CoR said that controlling Daesh websites and internet channels is beyond Iraq’s control. He said this would cost millions of dollars and require the cooperation of involved companies. He said that the internet is not owned by anybody, and that even the US and Europe have failed to stop Daesh internet activities. [Etejah]
Steve Warren, the Coalition spokesman, confirmed today that the 101st Airborne Division will not have any combat mission, and that it is taking over from the 82nd Airborne in missions of training and support. [Shafaq]
72nd brigade of the 15th army held a training on street battles and breaking into buildings. Brigade companies executed the training under the supervision of top army and joint operations commanders in Basmaya, south of Baghdad, the Ministry of Defense said. [AIN]
A video of Major Alaa Al-Idani, the MoD’s media correspondent, who is recovering from injuries in an IED explosion near Ramadi in December. Idani lost his sight but he hopes to go back to his job as a military correspondent. [Sumaria]
A video of IAF airstrikes on Daesh in Salahuddin and Diyala [MoD Website]
According to security sources:
Baghdad Center
An IED placed near a popular restaurant in Sheikh Omar, downtown Baghdad, killed one civilian and wounded five. [Baghdadia]
A sticky bomb attached to a car belonging to a medical equipment importer exploded, killing him and his son in Bab Al-Moatham in downtown Baghdad. [Mada]
North Baghdad
The body of a woman stabbed to death was found in Shaab neighborhood, northeast Baghdad. [Mada]
Northeast Baghdad
Unidentified armed men in a car shot dead a civilian passing through Ur neighborhood. [Sumaria]
Southeast Baghdad
An IED exploded in Sahiroun neighborhood in Jisr Diyala area in southeast Baghdad, killing two civilians and wounding seven. [Mada]
South Baghdad
An IED exploded in a commercial area in Mada’in District in southern Baghdad Governorate, killing one civilian and wounding seven. [Mada]
An IED placed in a popular marketplace in Latifiya, in southern Baghdad Governorate, killed two civilians and wounded seven. [Mada]
A roadside IED exploded in Latifiya as an army patrol was passing, wounding five soldiers including an officer (major). [Baghdadia]
A roadside IED exploded in Yusufiyah, in southern Baghdad Governorate, as a PMF car was passing by, and wounded three PMF fighters. [Sumaria]
BOC troops destroyed 2 foreign fighter guesthouses and defused 5 IEDs in Yusufiyah.
West Baghdad
Bodies of two men shot to death were found in Al-Makaseb village in Radwaniya. [Maalomah]
A woman was killed and three men wounded when a mortar shell fell on a house in Hameed Shaaban neighborhood in Abu Ghraib. [Maalomah]
BOC troops found 9 IEDs in Nassr wa Al-Salam area near Abu Ghraib. [BOC Facebook Page]
Total Baghdad incidents reported: 13 (Not an overall total)
The IWMC announced the killing of 126 Daesh terrorists and wounding of many more in army and security operations all over Iraq Thursday, including 14 in Anbar by land forces and Coalition warplanes, 10 in west Samarra, 17 in Albu Shijil, 15 in Al-Sahal, 7 by the Air Force in the Samarra area, 7 in Albu Obeid in Ramadi, and 44 by the Coalition in Mosul, Thirthar, Albu Hayat, Sinjar, Baghdadi, Albu Dhiab and Kirkuk. [Baghdadia]
The Coalition initiated 13 air strikes. 3 of them in Ramadi and 3 in Mosul, in addition to one strike on Manbij in Syria. [Baghdadia]
A statement by the Coalition said that over 420 Daesh targets were destroyed by the Coalition during the first week of February. [Mada]
ANBAR
Falluja
Khamis Khalaf Al-Eissawi, the commander of Tribal Mobilization in south Falluja, said that army and tribal forces are about to attack and liberate the areas of Albu Hawa and Albu Eissa west of Falluja, and Albu Alwan, Halabsa, and Falahat south of the city. Army artillery attacked all the target areas while the Iraqi Air Force attacked the Zoba’a, Nuaimiya, and Suhada areas south of Falluja. [Maalomah]
Baghdad Operations Command says its troops killed 17 Daesh terrorists and wounded 18 and defused 17 IEDs and 7 booby-trapped houses and destroyed a vehicle carrying a machine gun in Albu Shijil. [BOC Facebook Page]
The IAA killed 3 Daesh terrorists and destroyed a vehicle in Albu Shijil. [IWMC Report]
An Iraqi CH4 drone destroyed a construction shovel, a truck, and several other Daesh vehicles in Albu Shijil. (video) [AIN]
A video of Iraqi forces in Albu Shijil [Harbi]
The Imam Ali Division, a PMF unit, says its troops cleared 2 areas north of Saqlawiya during the last couple of days and advanced towards Habbaniya base, killing 65 Daesh terrorists and destroying 3 vehicle bombs and a boat so far. [Harbi]
Daesh says its snipers killed 16 Iraqi soldiers in several areas near Zoba’a yesterday. [A3maq]
Al-Wala police station in Thirthar was captured by the 9th army division and PMFs, killing 4 terrorists and destroying their vehicles, PMF media said. [Buratha]
Jumaa Faza’ al-Jumaili, commander of the Popular Mobilization brigade of Falluja denied reports of the withdrawal of his forces from areas east of Falluja. He says the initiative is in the hands of the popular forces, who are ready to attack the city when the Commander in Chief orders. [Maalomah]
Shakir Al-Eissawi, the chair of Ameriyat Al-Falluja subdistrict, said that the displaced families moved there from other areas of Anbar are staying in the open as the subdistrict has no capacity to host more people, adding that a camp with a capacity of 10,000 people is needed in the city. [Sumaria]
A video of Iraqi soldiers in a close battle with Daesh in Thirthar area [YouTube]
Ramadi
A video of Iraqi forces parading east of Ramadi [YouTube]
Steve Warren, the Coalition spokesman, says he is happy that the Iraqi Counter Terrorism forces captured Ramadi but there are still thousands, if not tens of thousands, of IEDs in addition to mines and booby-trapped houses that need to be defused. He says after the CT troops liberate and clear an area they hand it to the local police trained by the Italians, or local tribal fighters trained by Iraqi trainers under Coalition supervision. [Xendan]
Counter Terrorism Service announced that 9,000 civilians were evacuated from war areas east of Ramadi in the past 4 days, adding that the Counter Terrorism troops will liberate all areas of Anbar one after another, while other troops will liberate Falluja. [Mawazin]
A video of Daesh terrorists shooting at families while the families are trying to escape from Juwaiba [Facebook]
A video of Iraqi forces securing families from areas east of Ramadi [YouTube]
The CT commander also says the families secured from Ramadi informed security forces about 60 Daesh terrorists who tried to sneak with the civilians to leave Ramadi. [Etejah]
DaeshDaily comment. That’s not such a smart move. Daesh terrorists hurt and subjugated civilians when they were in charge, and now they want the same civilians to cover up for them.
Army helicopters attacked Daesh positions in Jazeera Al-Khaldiya, killing 20 terrorists including leaders, and destroying four vehicle bombs, according to the Khaldiya subdistrict council. [Maalomah]
A video of Iraqi forces destroying a charging Daesh vehicle bomb in Jazeera Khaldiya [YouTube]
The Khaldiya council announced the defusing of 800 IEDs in Hsaiba and Juwaiba east of Ramadi, in addition to “tens” of booby-trapped houses. It said that Daesh booby-trapped all roads, houses, power poles, trash cans, and every other possible place. [Mada]
While clearing the Thirthar basin, PMF units captured a large quantity of rockets, missiles, and explosives in destroyed Daesh positions, a PMF media source said. [Mawazin]
Iraqi forces killed 4 Daesh terrorists and destroyed a vehicle near Albu Aitha. [IWMC Report]
Iraqi forces killed 2 Daesh terrorists and destroyed a vehicle, a motorcycle and a military position in the Albu Dhiab area. [IWMC Report]
Daesh says its terrorists stopped an Iraqi attack in the Jaraishi area. Daesh says an Iraqi helicopter mistakenly bombed Iraqi forces during the attack. [Ana Al-Muslim]
Daesh says heavy clashes erupted between its terrorists and Iraqi forces in the Albu Delma area north of Ramadi without giving more details. [A3maq]
The IAF destroyed a Daesh hideout in Albu Ubaid in Ramadi District, killing 7 terrorists.
A security source said that Ramadi Police shot down a Daesh drone over the governmental complex in the center of the city. [Ghad]
The Daesh drone shot down by the 39th brigade of the 10th army division in Jaraishi yesterday is the second Daesh drone downed by the army in 3 days. Another drone was shot down in Al-Wafa subdistrict a few days ago, said Anbar Operations Command, raising questions as to the source of these drones. (photos) [IraqPress]
A video of Iraqi forces stopping a Daesh attack and destroying vehicle bombs and capturing 2 terrorists north of Ramadi [YouTube]
Counter Terrorism units arrested several Daesh terrorists in liberated areas who were dressed as women (photos) [Maalomah]
Hit/Haditha
Albu Nimr and Albu Mahal tribes assaulted a Daesh gathering and killed 22 of them in addition to destroying two vehicle bombs west of Kubaisa. The tribes liberated two families held by Daesh, according to Sheikh Naeem Al-Gaood, the chief of the Albu Nimr tribe. [Sumaria]
Jazeera Operations Command troops killed 13 Daesh terrorists in Mahboubiya in Baghdadi subdistrict. Its troops also killed 9 terrorists and destroyed 3 Humvees on the road between Baghdadi and Zuwiya. [MoD Website]
Iraqi forces destroyed 3 Daesh vehicles in Mabghiya area in Hit district killing the terrorists inside them. [MoD Website]
Coalition warplanes killed 8 Daesh terrorists and destroyed 4 rocket launchers in Gharraf in Hit District. [MoD Website]
Western Anbar
Daesh says its terrorists implemented a suicide attack on Iraqi forces between the Ain Al-Asad base and Kilo 160 area without giving more details. [A3maq]
SALAHUDDIN
Shirqat
An Iraqi helicopter strike killed 17 Daesh terrorists and destroyed 3 vehicles in an attack near the city of Shirqat, using local intelligence, a security source said. [Maalomah]
A PMF source says a tribal force from Shirqat attacked 3 Daesh checkpoints in the city and the clashes are still going on. [Harbi]
Baiji
A PMF source said today that army helicopters attacked Daesh moving targets in Fatha northeast of Baiji, destroying two vehicles. [Ghad]
Tikrit
PMF command denied the news published earlier on imposing a curfew in Tel Ksaiba and cutting off the Tikrit-Udhaim road. It said that such measures are unnecessary as the situation is under control. [Mada]
Major General Maan Al-Saadi commander of the 2nd special forces unit said that Daesh keeps attacking Allas oil fields, Tel Ksaiba, and Makhoul, but are always repelled by his forces with heavy losses. He praised the role of the IAF and IAA, saying their presence in Speicher camp is very helpful. He said that the army is ready to go on the offensive, pending command orders. [Mawazin]
Daesh shelled Speicher base with three mortar shells without causing any casualties, according to Mahmoud Sorachi, spokesman of Ninewa National Mobilization. [IraqPress]
A video of Badr fighters destroying a charging Daesh vehicle bomb in Himrin Hills area [Ghadeer]
Samarra
The IFP Commander, Major General Shakir Jawdat, said that the 19th brigade of the IFP repelled a Daesh attack from three directions west of Samarra, killing 20 terrorists and destroying one vehicle. [Mawazin]
A joint force of PMFs and IFP repelled a Daesh attack in Jazeera Samarra, killing 15 attackers, a security source said. [Ghad]
Iraqi forces stopped a Daesh attack from three sides north of Jazeera Samarra. Iraqi forces also killed 10 Daesh terrorists and wounded 20 in the same area. Three IFP fighters were wounded in the operation. [IWMC Report]
DaeshDaily comment. Clearly Iraqi fighters are being killed in the battles against Daesh, but the IWMC is not transparent about the casualties. This has been its consistent policy.
The IAA killed 4 Daesh terrorists and destroyed a construction shovel bomb and 2 vehicles in Jazeera Samarra in addition to 7 terrorists in the Strategic Line area. [IWMC Report]
Army rocket units killed 6 Daesh terrorists and destroyed a machine gun-mounted vehicle in Mkaishifa. [Mawazin]
Southern Salahuddin
74th army brigade found 3 IEDs and a booby-trapped Daesh position in Yathrib subdistrict near Balad, and destroyed them all. [Mawazin]
DIYALA
Baquba
Muthanna Al-Timimi, the governor of Diyala, said that kidnapping crimes have declined significantly following recent security measures in the province. [Rudaw]
Adnan Al-Lahibi, a leader in the tribal mobilization of north Baquba, complained that there are ghost soldiers collecting salaries from the tribal mobilization. He said that as some fighters received their payments, there were names on the list “who never held a gun”. [Sumaria]
KIRKUK
A Coalition strike on Al-Rashad and Al-Riyadh subdistricts in southwest Kirkuk killed 10 and wounded 12 terrorists, and destroyed 4 tactical units, a security source said. [Sumaria]
The PMF media office said that Daesh leaders are fleeing Al-Riyadh in large numbers, as Iraqi forces are drawing closer to the area. [Maalomah]
Daesh shelled Taza subdistrict south of Kirkuk with two Katyusha rockets, destroying two houses without causing human casualties. [Mada]
A security force in Kirkuk arrested 4 persons connected to the car bomb explosion in the city Wednesday, Kirkuk police said. The arrest was made in Al-Askari in the south of the city. [Mada]
NINEWA
Mosul
Coalition warplane destroyed a Daesh truck, but it had ten civilians inside. The civilians were arrestees of Daesh being punished by grave digging, and were on their way back to detention when attacked, sources in Mosul said. [Mada]
A PUK official says heavy clashes erupted in Hay Al-Dhubat on the east side of Mosul between Daesh and an armed group. The clashes lasted for hours followed by Daesh starting an arrest campaign against civilians in the area. [PUKMedia]
DaeshDaily comment. Arresting civilians in the location of any incident is a typical Baathist procedure. They would arrest dozens, and sometimes hundreds of people, from the location of the incident, torture them all, and maybe someone would confess something.
A PUK official says Coalition warplanes bombed Daesh in Lazzaqa village near Badoush, west of Mosul, and in Hamdaniya and Bartella to the east, killing 9 Daesh terrorists and wounding others. Coalition warplanes also bombed a Daesh location between Kasik and Badoush, destroying 2 vehicles and killing the terrorists inside them. [PUKMedia]
Atheel Al-Nujaifi, ex-governor of Ninewa, said that it is still too early to speak of a date of liberation of Mosul, but “we can say that preparations are underway”. Al-Nujaifi said that the Americans, the Peshmerga, Iraqi Forces, and the National Mobilization are all preparing for the battle. [Sumaria]
DaeshDaily comment. The more immediate question is why the discredited Nujaifi is being allowed to position himself as a spokesman.
A Badr commander said that his militia is not happy about the Coalition contribution to Mosul liberation, saying that the PMF and the army can liberate it without their assistance. He said that there is an impression that US pressure is being applied to exclude the PMFs from this process. [Mawazin]
DaeshDaily comment. The gentleman should listen to himself talk. He says something really dubious in order to make another anti-American statement, then accuses the Americans of being against the PMFs. We think there should be a role for the PMFs in Ninewa, but who could blame the US for not wanting to deal with people like this?
Major General Najim Abdullah Al-Jebouri, the commander of Ninewa Operations, said that the Peshmerga will cooperate with the army to liberate Mosul, in coordination with the coalition and tribal mobilization. He added that 13 safe exit routes were opened for the Mosul population to evacuate the city. [AIN]
DaeshDaily comment. Taking his statement literally, and also that of the Prime Minister reported above, it does seem that the PMFs are being excluded from the Ninewa liberation campaign. Perhaps this is the belated explanation for the PMF meeting two days ago in Baghdad led by Shia militia leaders.
Daesh issued an order today to confiscate all motorcycles that do not have the number plates of Wilayat Ninewa issued by Daesh, and is imposing financial penalties on violators. [Mada]
Makhmur
The Ninewa Operations Commander says units from the Iraqi Army 16th Division arrived in Makhmur to prepare for Ninewa liberation operations. [Buratha]
Other Governorates
KURDISTAN
President Barzani’s media official says Barzani started the reforms in his own party to be an example for other Kurdish parties to follow. [Sumaria]
DaeshDaily comment. His initiative will probably force the PUK to pursue a similar initiative, as its internal corruption has paralleled that in the KDP over the years. The other parties have little to reveal by comparison. Gorran has made its reputation by opposing and exposing the corruption in both major parties.
The real test of this reform effort will be how much the investigators will be allowed to reveal to the public. Over the years, at least until Gorran and new independent media came along, all the dirty secrets—such as the amount of public money being diverted from the KRG treasury to the two major parties—were hidden from the public, and until recent years from each other. This is one reason why there were separate Finance ministries until very recently. Neither party could have revealed the others’ secrets anyway without indirectly revealing its own.
A PUK MP says Barzani’s reform orders have no value because officially he is not the KRG President. She says Barzani issued similar orders after the demonstrations in 2013 and nothing happened. [SotKurdistan]
A Gorran official says in a joint press conference with PUK and Islamic Group officials that the three parties are united in their demands to fix the political situation in the IKR. [SotKurdistan]
The PUK submitted a request to the KRG demanding to cancel the salary decrease on law enforcement employees and employees with lower salaries. The PUK submitted another request to have more decentralization in the IKR so that each governorate can manage its own affairs. [Rudaw]
SOUTHERN IRAQ
Qadessiya. A man was arrested on terrorism charges at his house in Diwaniya, a security spokesman said. A unit composed of intelligence and national security personnel arrested the man, described as a “dangerous” terrorist. [Ghad]
Babil. The Chairman of the Security Committee in Babil Provincial Council says 2 men were arrested on terrorism charges in Iskandariya in northern Babil. [Sumaria]
REPORTS FROM TURKEY
Political developments
In remarks to the press, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized the United States for what he described as Washington’s reluctance to describe the PKK as a “terrorist” organization “America, how many times have I asked you, are you with us [Turkey] or with the terrorist organization PKK and YPG?” Erdogan reportedly referred to US State Department spokesman John Kirby by name in his remarks, citing what he called American reluctance to refer to the PKK and YPG as terrorist groups in spite of Turkey’s insistence. In other remarks Erdogan warned that Turkey’s patience with the Syrian crisis was limited, and called for UN intervention to prevent ethnic cleansing in Syria, saying that Iran-backed Syrian troops were carrying out “ferocious massacres” in the country. [Cihan] [Erem]
DaeshDaily comment. In fact, the US long ago labeled the PKK as a terrorist organization, as Erdogan knows. The real issue is US cooperation with the YPG, the military arm of the PYD political party that is linked to but not provably part of the PKK. The US chooses to give the YPG the benefit of the doubt, to maintain its so-far successful role as a partner in the anti-Daesh coalition. Erdogan chooses to define the PYD and YPG as part of the PKK, as this serves his political purposes of the moment. Living with the US stance on the matter would help the fight against Daesh, which is another way of saying that defeating Daesh is not Mr. Erdogan’s highest priority.
Security developments
Turkish border troops fired on civilians crossing the border between Syria and Turkey near Afrin, injuring one person, according to the pro-YPG Hawar. (photo). [Hawar]
REPORTS FROM SYRIA
Northeast (Hasaka, Raqqa)
The Syrian Army retrieved the border crossing at Al-Sarraf, located in north Raqqa Governorate, occupied by Daesh 4 years ago, and raised the Syrian national flag there after fierce clashes assisted by Russian warplanes. Daesh supplies from Turkey are now cut off. This coincides with YPG control of Ming airport in northern Aleppo after it expelled Al-Nusra fighters from that location, also with the assistance of Russian warplanes. [PUKMedia]
DaeshDaily comment. YPG supported by Russian planes? On the west side of the Euphrates where Turkey demands they don’t go? If the report isn’t erroneous, it could be significant.
Daesh publishes a video of executing Syrian “spies”. The men were put inside a vehicle then a 4 year old boy pressed the remote control and blew the vehicle up. [Isdarat]
Daesh publishes photos of cutting off the hand of a young man in Raqqa accused of theft. [DabiqNews]
A field military source says Daesh shelled two villages in Kobane’s southwestern countryside with mortars and locally made rockets, wounding two young men. The source says the Kurdish forces responded by shelling Daesh locations in the Al-Shamiya hills on the western bank of the Euphrates. [BasNews]
Daesh “zakat” units are distributing oil and coal for home heating in areas of southern Hasaka Governorate, a local source said. [ARA]
Northwest (Aleppo, Idlib)
Opposition militias repelled separate attacks by Daesh and the Syrian Army north of Aleppo Thursday, a militia fighter reports. Daesh attacked the allied militia factions in and around the villages of Ghazl, Baraghida, Al-Bul, and Dudyan, in an attempt to seize the strategic area on the Turkish border. Fighters of the Sultan Murad Brigade, the Al-Mu’tasam Billah Brigade and the Al-Sham Corps repelled the attack, killing five Daesh fighters, wounding others, and capturing Daesh weapons, the fighter said. The factions retaliated with shelling on Daesh sites in surrounding areas of Soran Azaz and Um Wahsh, the fighter said, inflicting further casualties, after which Coalition airstrikes on Daesh sites in the area destroyed three local Daesh command centers. [ARA]
Syria Democratic Forces seized the Menagh military airbase and a nearby village of the same name from other opposition militias north of Aleppo on Wednesday. [Hawar] [Welati]
Photos of the Menagh airbase. [Hawar]
Russia’s Ministry of Defense blamed the United States for a bombing attack on Aleppo Wednesday, according to Russian media reports that said a Pentagon spokesperson had accused Russia of bombing two hospitals in Aleppo on Wednesday. [Qasioun]
An Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander, Col. Saadat Khawa, was reportedly killed in fighting near Aleppo, Iranian media announced Thursday (photo). [Qasioun]
Central and West (Damascus, Homs, Hama, etc.)
Violent clashes continued between Syrian Army troops and Daesh near the city of Dowa east of Homs, amid Syrian artillery fire on the battle lines. Daesh directed artillery fire on positions of the Syrian Army and allied Shia militias near Qaryatayn. No casualty reports are available. [Qasioun]
East (Deir Ez-Zor)
Unknown gunmen killed four Daesh militants in an ambush in Bukamal, east of Deir Ez-Zor. Unidentified warplanes struck Al-Shahil city east of Deir Ez-Zor, wounding four civilians including a child. Warplanes also struck an oil refinery near Al-Mayadin east of Deir Ez-Zor, igniting fires in the equipment. Daesh meanwhile staged an arrest campaign in Al-Mayadin, detaining an unspecified number of men, many of them former opposition fighters. [Qasioun]
Daesh sabotaged a helicopter landing strip at the Transportation Directorate in Deir Ez-Zor with mortar shells. The attack comes amid a Daesh bid to prevent helicopters from landing in Deir Ez-Zor. Violent clashes continued between Syrian Army troops and Daesh around Deir Ez-Zor’s military airport, amid Daesh shelling in and around the airport, killing or wounding an unspecified number of Syrian troops and allied militiamen. Russian planes and Syrian artillery fired on the Al-Siyasiya Bridge “continuously” on Thursday, in a bid to separate Daesh-held Deir Ez-Zor from the Daesh-held hinterland. [Qasioun]
Daesh publishes a video of Russian cluster bombs dropped near Hajin city in Deir Ez-Zor eastern countryside. [A3maq]
OTHER MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA REPORTS
North Africa
Egypt
Egyptian helicopters fired on an Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis parade south of Sheikh Zuweid Wednesday, killing 35 militants and wounding “tens” of others, as well as destroying ten vehicles including four mounted with machine guns and carrying Daesh flags, security sources said. Residents of the area said that members of the group returned to the scene of the attack on Thursday at dawn to retrieve the corpses and body parts of fallen militiamen. [ElWatan]
Egyptian warplanes destroyed a convoy of vehicles of Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis, destroying it and killing 40 terrorists. The raid followed an explosion that targeted a police armored car and wounded two policemen. [Buratha]
An IED exploded in the Rawda area west of Arish on the road leading to Qantara in North Sinai, after a security detachment passed by, a security source said. No injuries were reported in the blast. [ElWatan] [VetoGate]
The Egyptian Minister of Higher Education has announced that four new universities are to be established in Egypt, two of them in Sinai. One new university will be located in each of the governorates of North Sinai, South Sinai, Marsa Matrouh, and Red Sea. No further details are available.
DaeshDaily comment: The move, if implemented, comes as part of Egypt’s effort to bring development to North Sinai (and other underserved areas). It is believed that recruitment in North Sinai’s armed groups is fueled in part by lack of economic opportunity.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has “postponed” its WEF Middle East and North Africa conference that had been scheduled for Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh in May, citing security concerns. The WEF is known for its annual conference in Davos, Switzerland. A WEF spokesman said the decision was made last November following the apparent bombing of a Russian charter plane after it departed from Sharm El-Sheikh’s airport. Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis, which calls itself Daesh’s “Wilaya” of Sinai, claimed responsibility for the attack. [EgyptIndependent (English)]
Daesh says it shelled military unit units in Arish airport with Grad rockets while the Egyptian Ministers of Defense and Interior were there. [DabiqNews]
Libya
A troop movement from Misrata, reported earlier, was not part of military operations but was instead a show of force by the Misrata Military Council, according to Thursday’s reports. The Council carried out a military parade in a gesture directed at Daesh, local security sources said. The parade included more than 200 armed vehicles and passed east from Misrata along the Coastal Road and south through Saddada and other cities in the area. In response, Daesh carried out a parade of its own, with over 100 armed vehicles flying its black banners, through Sirte. [Wasat]
A member of the “Supreme Council for Tribes and Libyan Cities” has called for Tunisia to lobby against foreign intervention and airstrikes in Libya, saying that Libyans are counting on “sister countries” (i.e. from the region) to support and protect them, and that foreign intervention will only make matters worse in Libya. [AfriGate]
Libya’s ambassador to the League of Arab States, Ashour Bu Rashid, has (again) ruled out the possibility of a foreign ground troop presence in Libya. [AfriGate]
The Tripoli-based government has called for the resumption of airline flights between Tripoli and Algiers. Algerian authorities suspended air travel between Tripoli and Boumedienne International Airport in January. [AfriGate]
Daesh says its terrorists attacked and damaged a Libyan Army vehicle with mid-size weapons in Laithi in Benghazi. [DabiqNews]
Daesh says some of its terrorists sneaked into an Abu Salim Martyrs Brigade camp in west Derna and planted an IED, then detonated it remotely, killing 3 fighters and wounding others. [Ana Al-Muslim]
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