February 16, 2016
Today’s Major Developments
ISCI announces opposition to Al-Abadi; Al-Sadr supports him.
Three kidnapped Americans recovered safely. Kidnapped UNAMI staff member now confirmed killed.
Anbar Governor says 3,000 buildings in Ramadi are destroyed.
Anti-Daesh incidents start in Hit.
Latest Daesh executions in Mosul include beheading a 14 year old boy.
Another 1,000 Iraqi troops arrive in Ninewa; tribal forces, Peshmerga repel attack on Gwer.
Confusion about who’s fighting whom increases in Syria.
REPORTS FROM IRAQ
BAGHDAD
Political developments
A leader in ISCI says that the proposed cabinet change should include the Prime Minister, while a Sadrist leader says the Sadrists support the PM’s reforms and authorize him to choose the right ministers as long as he doesn’t lean towards any political party. [Mada]
Prime Minister Al-Abadi appointed Mustafa Abdullatif Al-Kadhemi as the new head of the National Intelligence Organization. [SkyPress]
Former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi issues a statement saying the PMFs filled a gap created by the mishandling of the security situation and helped fight terrorism. He says the PMFs should be integrated in the official military and security forces. [Mada]
Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, deputy head of the PMF organization, ordered the arrest of any person impersonating PMF fighters and the closing-down of all “fake” headquarters. [AIN]
Security developments
The three American citizens kidnapped in Baghdad earlier have been freed. They are being handed over to the Americans, according to several press sources including Hurra TV. [Shafaq]
The US Embassy in Baghdad issues a statement saying the Department of State welcomes the news that the Government of Iraq has secured the release of the three U.S. citizens, who were reported missing in January. [Facebook]
Ján Kubiš, Special UN Representative for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), says he condemns in the strongest terms the killing of one of its staff members, who was abducted in April 2015 and whose death was verified only on Monday. The Mission calls on the Iraqi authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice. [Mada]
17th Army troops found a large weapon cache in south Baghdad, containing IEDs, rockets, and mortar shells. The raid was made based on intelligence information, according to a security source. [Ghad]
A 17th Army operation in the areas of Hor Rijab, Rakoub, Shakha 2, and Karaghoul in south Baghdad killed 7 Daesh terrorists, destroyed 6 IEDs and three booby-trapped houses, and defused 10 IEDs. Several terrorists were arrested while two large weapons caches and two Hummer vehicles were captured in Rakoub and Karaghoul, according to the Ministry of Defense (MoD). [Shafaq]
MoD published a video of a Daesh cell of 9 terrorists captured in north Baghdad. IEDs, suicide vests and other weapons and explosives in addition to military uniforms were confiscated.
DaeshDaily comment. Months from now we will see some Iraqi politicians asking for the release of these “innocent” people, alleging that confessions were taken under pressure, and many people will believe that. While the judicial procedures to deal with terrorism issues are not perfect, groups who are found red-handed with suicide vests and IEDs must be punished.
Iraqi forces destroyed 16 IEDs and defused 3 booby-trapped houses in the Manari area in Arab Jabour in south Baghdad. [IWMC Report]
According to security sources:
North Baghdad
Two bodies of men shot to death were found near Al-Muthanna Bridge. [Maalomah]
A Ministry of Justice employee was killed when an IED exploded under his car in Adhamiya. [Mada]
East Baghdad
Unidentified armed men threw a hand grenade on a house in Baladiyat, causing material damage. [Sumaria]
South Baghdad
An IED exploded in Yusufiyah in south Baghdad, killing one person and wounding nine. [Mada]
Security forces found the body of the son of a Ministry of Electricity employee in Mada’in in southern Baghdad Governorate. The young man was kidnapped with his brother after they left their school. [Mada]
West Baghdad
A person was killed and six wounded when an IED exploded in Saidiya in southwest Baghdad. [Mada]
A sticky bomb attached to the car of an employee of the Ministry of Education, went off and killed him while he passed through Bakriya. [Maalomah]
A man was shot dead by unknown attackers near his house in the 4-street area in Yarmouk. [Baghdadia]
One person was killed and five wounded in an IED explosion in a commercial area in Ghazaliya. [Mada]
Total Baghdad incidents reported: 9 (Not an overall total)
Coalition warplanes initiated 20 attacks on Daesh targets in Iraq and Syria. Targets in Iraq were media installations, two internet cafes, and a command center, while attacks in Syria targeted weapons storehouses and three command centers. [AIN]
ANBAR
Falluja
Army troops liberated the train station in Falahat west of Falluja, and raised the Iraqi flag, a security source said. [Ain] An Anbar Provincial Council member said earlier that Iraqi forces surrounded the station preparing to clear it. He says Iraqi forces are closing on Falluja and closing Daesh escape routes, especially from the west. [Mada]
A Joint Operations Command (JOC) source says the IAF bombed a Daesh hideout in Falluja city, killing Daesh’s wali of the city, Abu Khattab Al-Nimrawi, and his Syrian driver. [Harbi]
A local source says Daesh is re-investigating former security members who “repented” after Daesh captured the city, fearing they might cooperate with Iraqi forces. [Harbi]
Iraqi forces killed 7 Daesh terrorists in the Bustan Al-Tikriti area south of Falluja. [IWMC Report]
A local PMF commander says Iraqi forces liberated the Albu Taiha and Abadi areas in Qarma Subdistrict, killing 28 Daesh terrorists including 3 snipers. He also says Iraqi forces destroyed 3 Daesh vehicle bombs and a vehicle with machine gun in Kubaishat in Qarma. [Mada]
The IWMC says Baghdad Operations Command troops killed 13 Daesh terrorists in Kubaishat and destroyed 3 vehicles and 4 hideouts. [IWMC Report]
A member of Ameriyat Al-Falluja subdistrict council says 3 civilians were wounded severely because of Daesh shelling on residential areas in the subdistrict. [Maalomah]
PMFs shot down a Daesh reconnaissance drone in Saqlawiya, near Falluja, a security source said. [AIN]
DaeshDaily comment. Daesh got many of its weapons in Iraq when Iraqi troops deserted their units. However, the drones could not be coming from the same compounds. It is a fair question to ask where Daesh gets its drones.
Ramadi
Major General Ismail Al-Mahalawi, Commander of Anbar Operations (AOC), says the operation to liberate Hamdhiya, east of Ramadi and adjacent to the international expressway, has started. The 10th armored division backed by tribesmen, army helicopters, IAF, and international coalition are participating in the operation. [Sumaria]
The Al-Basateen area of Hamdhiya has been captured according to General Al-Mahalawi. [Maalomah] The JOC says the Iraqi flag was raised over the Hamdhiya Bridge after several large areas were captured. [Ghad]
A member of Anbar PC says East Hsaiba was reopened for the citizens after the IEDs and the booby-trapped houses in the area were defused. The displaced families will return to the area in the next few days. [Maalomah]
The Anbar Governor says specifying a timeline for the return of displaced families to Ramadi is not possible now because of the amount of the destruction. He estimated that more than 3,000 buildings were destroyed in the city. An advisor to PM Abadi estimated that 2 billion dollars are needed to rehabilitate the infrastructure of Ramadi. [Mada]
The Chairman of the Khaldiya subdistrict council says security forces found a mass grave of more than 50 civilians, including women and children, killed by Daesh in Sufiya in east Ramadi. [Maalomah]
An Iraqi CH4 drone destroyed an ammunition cache and a Daesh vehicle in north Anbar, while the 10th division killed 3 terrorists in Albu Dhiab northwest of Ramadi, MoD said. [AIN]
A video of Iraqi soldiers surrounding then killing a Daesh group trapped in a house in Ramadi. [Facebook]
Hit/Haditha
The Mayor of Hit District says young men from the city formed an anti-Daesh cell called the “Martyrs’ Revenge” and implemented their first operation by killing a Daesh member. He also says the cell wrote on the city walls supporting Iraqi forces. [Sumaria]
Intelligence sources say the body of a Daesh terrorist was found in a garbage dump near Hit hospital. Daesh arrested several citizens in the area. However, citizens in Hit raised Iraqi flags and removed Daesh flags in several areas in Hit District. Daesh also arrested several people after that. [IWMC Report]
Iraqi Army’s 7th Division artillery killed 6 Daesh terrorists in Jawana; and destroyed 2 boats, killing the terrorists inside them, while they were trying to sneak to Baghdadi. [IWMC Report]
Western Anbar
Daesh says 9 people were killed in Coalition airstrikes on Al-Qa’im on Monday evening. [A3maq]
SALAHUDDIN
Shirqat
A JOC source says the IAF bombed Daesh’s main weapons storehouse in Shirqat, killing a local commander and 8 of his associates. [Harbi]
Baiji
A PMF commander says his troops ambushed and killed Daesh’s IED official and 2 of his associates in an ambush in Makhoul Mountains. [Sumaria]
Iraqi troops destroyed a Daesh vehicle in the Makhoul Mountains, killing the terrorists inside. [IWMC Report]
The IFP commander says the IFP’s 2nd Artillery Brigade shelled Daesh locations in Al-Fatha north of Baiji, killing 15 terrorists. [Ghad]
A Salahuddin Operations Command source says Iraqi Army units rocketed Daesh locations in Salman village in Himrin Hills, killing 10 terrorists and destroying a vehicle. [Ghad]
Daesh says its terrorists shot down an Iranian made drone west of Siniya on Sunday. [A3maq]
Tikrit
Six workers doing maintenance on the Samarra power network were wounded when an IED exploded in Albu Khadu between Samarra and Daur Districts, a security source said. [Baghdadia]
Iraqi forces found 3 Daesh hideouts and destroyed 17 IEDs in Yathrib subdistrict south of Tikrit. [IWMC Report]
The Salahuddin Governor received 9 Babylonian antiques found by local PMFs in one of Daesh’s hideouts in Al-Alam, according to a statement from the Salahuddin Provincial Council. [Harbi]
Tooz
A Salahuddin Police source says 20 Daesh members were arrested in Tooz as they were trying to join the local police. He says the local police announced open positions and these men submitted applications, but they were arrested based on intelligence information. [Ghad]
DIYALA
Baquba
Diyala Police command said a terrorism suspect was arrested in Qatoun, west of Baquba. [Sumaria]
An IED placed in a trash dump in east Baquba killed one civilian and wounded two, a security source in the city said. [Maalomah]
Northern Diyala
Daesh says four Iraqi soldiers were killed when their convoy was hit by 2 IEDs in Udhaim. [A3maq]
50 displaced families have returned to Shanshanal village in Qara Tapa, according to the Diyala Provincial Council. [Non14]
KIRKUK
Armed men shot dead a doctor who worked in a government clinic, as he left his house in east Kirkuk city, a Kirkuk Police source said. [Maalomah]
A civilian was shot dead by unknown attackers in Banja Ali neighborhood in east Kirkuk, a police source said. [Sumaria]
Local source says Daesh executed 3 young men from Hawija after they were caught trying to escape towards Tikrit. [Maalomah]
NINEWA
Mosul
Jabbar Yawer, the KRG Peshmerga secretary-general, said the Peshmerga is preparing for a “major” operation to liberate Mosul alongside the Iraqi Army, which is preparing as well. He added that the Syrian and Iraqi governments are securing the borders so as to ensure Daesh supply lines are cut off. [Mawazin]
DaeshDaily comment. The gentleman did not explain how the Syrian government would be able in its current situation to secure the borders.
A PMF commander says the PMFs will be an essential part of the military forces that participate in Mosul’s liberation. He says the PMF units in Shirqat District and Qayara have moved towards Makhmur to support the troops there and prepare to liberate the city. He says Washington’s warnings against PMFs participation is not an obstacle. He also says the main PMF units will be Kata’eb Hezbollah, the AHH and Badr. [Buratha]
DaeshDaily comment. Instead of the usual bombast and anti-US propaganda, the gentleman should talk to the Prime Minister, who has so far not suggested a major role for the PMFs in Ninewa.
Coalition warplanes destroyed a car bomb and IED workshop in Karama neighborhood on Mosul’s east side, killing all Daesh terrorists inside them, according to Gayath Sourachi, of the PUK. He added that another raid on a Daesh command center in Al-Sukkar neighborhood on the east side killed 15 Daesh terrorists. [AIN]
Sourachi also reported that Coalition warplanes bombed a Daesh headquarters in Albu Saif village in Hammam Al-Alil, killing 3 terrorists and wounding 10 and destroying 3 vehicles. Coalition warplanes also destroyed a Daesh commander’s vehicle in Hay Al-Shifa’ in west Mosul, killing him and 3 of his associates. [PUKMedia]
An informed source says Daesh beheaded a 14 year old boy in Nabi Yunus in east Mosul, accusing him of having “indecent” photos and songs on his mobile phone. The boy was captured from his father’s shop 20 days ago. [Mada]
A Ninewa police source says Daesh executed 2 employees of the Mosul municipality and a pharmacist, accusing them of not cooperating.
A police source said on Monday that Daesh published lists of names of people it executed in Mosul, which included military and police personnel in addition to civilians, some of them “missing” since 2014. [BasNews]
Kata’eb Al-Mosul says its fighters shot and killed 2 Daesh members in a civilian car in Mosul’s Karama area. [KM Facebook Page]
Makhmur
Around 1000 Iraqi soldiers of the 15th Army division, including the division commander, have arrived in Makhmur District to join the Iraqi force arrived there a few days ago in preparation for the liberation of Mosul, a military source said. [Shafaq]
7 Daesh terrorists were killed and 3 tribal PMFs wounded in a failed Daesh attack on Gwer from Duwaizat and Safina villages, which was repelled by tribal PMFs, a security source said. [Baghdadia]
A tribal PMF commander says his troops stopped the attack with Peshmerga support. [BasNews]
A PUK official says Peshmerga fighters stopped a Daesh attack on Rawala village in Makhmur District. He says the Peshmerga didn’t suffer any casualties. [PUKMedia]
Other Governorates
KURDISTAN
Armed men attacked the crew of a TV station, beat them up, and stole their equipment, a police source in Erbil said. The crew was shooting a live broadcast in a school in Erbil when the attackers, claiming to be security personnel, attacked them. A security source denied sending any team to attack the journalists. [Sumaria]
The KRG issued a statement, responding to PM Abadi’s statement last week, saying it is ready to give its oil to Baghdad if Baghdad agrees to pay the salaries of the KRG employees (890 billion ID a month, including 336 billion for the Peshmerga). [Sumaria]
The KRG will announce its oil revenue numbers monthly. [Rudaw]
Photos of Syrian refugees in Qushtapa camp in Erbil [Rudaw]
SOUTHERN IRAQ
Wasit. An army helicopter crashed after takeoff from Kut airbase, causing deaths and injuries among the pilot, his assistant, and seven soldiers onboard (no further specifics reported). The crash, in Um Hlayel village northeast of Kut, was caused by a “technical failure” according to a security source. [Mada]
Muthanna. A joint National Security Agency force from Qadessiya and Muthanna arrested a man wanted on terrorism charges, in Al-Mamlaha in Muthanna, 20 km (12 miles) southwest of Samawa, the capital. [Ghad ]
REPORTS FROM TURKEY
Political developments
The Turkish Defense Minister accused Russia and the Assad government of Syria of using the crisis in Syria as “a weapon” against Turkey and against Europe, warning of a new wave of refugees streaming toward Europe if the opposition factions lose control of Aleppo. The DM was speaking before the Turkish parliament on Tuesday. [Anadolu]
Security developments
As was widely reported over the weekend, Turkish artillery fired into Syrian territory over the last several days targeting areas near Azaz under YPG control. As reported last week the YPG gained ground near Azaz with Russian and Syrian support. Shelling into Syria continued into Tuesday (see below). [Reuters (English)] [Cihan]
Turkish and Saudi aircraft have begun exercises in Turkish airspace, according to a statement issued by the Turkish Armed Forces Chief of Staff. Six Saudi jets are reportedly taking part in the exercises in the central Turkish province of Konya. [Arabi21]
REPORTS FROM SYRIA
Northeast (Hasaka, Raqqa)
Coalition planes targeted Daesh positions on the front lines between Daesh and the Syria Democratic Forces south of Al-Hawl city and near the village of Al-Khmayel in southeast Hasaka, a resident said. Both Coalition and Russian planes also targeted Daesh positions around Shaddadi city in Hasaka governorate. Daesh’s media reported that Russian airstrikes in Hasaka city killed several civilians and destroyed the city’s main bakery, [ARA] [ARA]
DaeshDaily comment. It is impossible to evaluate the Daesh statement. For their own propaganda reasons, they often claim that bombs (Coalition or Russian) miss their targets and kill civilians. (Also see next story) However, there have been numerous reports indicating that Russian bombs have killed innocent civilians.
Daesh says Coalition warplanes destroyed a bakery in Shaddadi in Hasaka southern countryside and killed 15 people (video). [A3maq] [A3maq]
Daesh says Coalition warplanes destroyed the post office building in Shaddadi. [A3maq]
Daesh says Syrian troops, supported by Russian warplanes, are trying to advance to the Raqqa-Athariya road, but its troops are fighting them (video). [A3maq]
Northwest (Aleppo, Idlib)
The organization of the cross-cutting Syrian opposition factions gets more and more confused.
Sunni opposition factions operating north of Aleppo declared on Tuesday that they will fight under a unified command, in a bid to present a united front against Daesh, the Syria Democratic Forces (primarily the YPG), and the Syrian military, according to a statement. [ARA]
DaeshDaily comment. “Sunni opposition factions” is weak label for the Islamic and other opposition groups including Al-Nusra and Ahrar Al-Sham who have been opposing the Syrian regime for a long time. They were making gains until Daesh arrived to compete with them, then the Russians arrived to help Assad. Now they are in trouble.
Despite the term “Syria Democratic Forces,” the major component of the SDF is the YPG. Increasing evidence is that the YPG has essentially switched sides on Assad. This is one reason why the PYD party and YPG are now supported by the Russians and explains why, as we reported a few days ago, the PYD has opened an office in Moscow. The other reason is of course that supporting them is a good way for the Russians to spite the Turks.
Part of the reason for the confusion and the shifting of sides is that the Sunni opposition factions are losing ground, as is Daesh in that area, to the Syrian Army and the Russians. Many people in Aleppo city are already leaving the city.
Opposition factions clashed with each other on Monday north of Aleppo after some of them broke ranks and joined the Syria Democratic Forces/YPG in defending the Kurdish city of Sheikh Maqsoud, clashing directly with Al-Nusra Front and Ahrar Al-Sham fighters, a local activist reported. Battles are still ongoing around the city, the activist said. [BasNews]
The Syria Democratic Forces announced that they had seized control of the city of Tal Rifaat from Al-Nusra Front and Ahrar Al-Sham on Monday. [Welati]
Photos from Tal Rifaat. [Hawar]
Syria Democratic Forces advanced towards the city of Mare` north of Aleppo with Russian air support, seizing villages from the opposition factions. [ARA]
The “Army of Revolutionaries” faction of the Syria Democratic Forces has declared Aleppo city and the countryside north of it a closed “military area,” according to a statement issued Tuesday. The statement excoriates the Syrian military and the Free Syrian Army. [ARA]
DaeshDaily comment. The Free Syrian Army seems to have almost faded from the scene and seldom appears in our news sources. This is likely a multi-group coalition, and included a US-backed group at one time that seems to have failed.
Daesh says several Syrian armed groups members surrendered with their families to its terrorists in Aleppo’s northern countryside. [A3maq]
DaeshDaily comment. Syrian armed groups in Aleppo are trapped between Syria Democratic Forces and Daesh. While many fighters preferred to join the SDF, we can expect many others to join Daesh, especially the ones with Salafi takfiri agendas.
The Turkish Army fired shells across the border into Syria on Tuesday, which landed around Tal Abyad near Afrin, according to Welati. There were no reports of casualties. [Welati]
Aleppo East
Syrian Army troops and allied militias seized control of the “Al-Harara” Thermal Plant east of Aleppo on Tuesday after heavy fighting in which Daesh was forced to withdraw from the site under heavy Russian airstrikes and Syrian artillery shelling, an activist reported. Russian planes targeted Daesh fighters inside the plant, resulting in fires erupting and heavy damage to the equipment inside, the source added. Daesh fighters withdrew to the areas of Shaykh Ahmed and Deir Hafer, the activist said. [ARA]
Daesh says Russian warplanes launched 35 airstrikes on the Thermal Station and its surroundings in Aleppo’s eastern countryside (video). [A3maq] [A3maq]
Ten people, including children, were killed and more than 50 were injured in Russian airstrikes on Al-Bab. The attack included the use of cluster munitions, according to Qasioun’s correspondent. [Qasioun]
Daesh used explosives to destroy what remained of the Qara Quzaq Bridge over the Euphrates River south of Kobane on Tuesday morning, according to a YPG fighter. Other unnamed sources said that Daesh planted the bridge with explosives on Monday. [ARA]
Photos of the destroyed bridge. [Hawar]
The YPG says it brought down a Daesh surveillance drone south of Kobane. [Hawar]
Central and West (Homs, Hama, etc.)
The Syrian Army captured territory from Daesh in Hama on the border with Raqqa province in fighting over the weekend, and has indicted that it plans to advance into Raqqa province, according to a military source who said the Army would focus first on the area of Tabaqa airbase, which is reportedly within 25 miles of Syrian troop positions. [Reuters (English)]
Fighting erupted in Homs on Tuesday between Daesh and Syrian Army troops supported by foreign Shia militias in the hills of Qaryatayn city east of Homs. Fifteen Syrian soldiers and five Daesh militants perished in the fighting, and 25 Syrian soldiers were wounded. Russian warplanes and Syrian artillery struck areas at the front lines, including targeting residential areas. Fighting is still ongoing around Qaryatayn. [Qasioun]
Daesh says Syrian troops supported by Russian warplanes attacked Hazm Mahin hills southeast of Homs for the third time in a week. Daesh says its terrorists stopped the attack, killing 11 soldiers and destroying 2 tanks and a personnel carrier. Daesh also says a Syrian helicopter mistakenly bombed Syrian troops during the battle. [A3maq]
East (Deir Ez-Zor)
Daesh fought heavy clashes with Syrian Army troops and allied militias in the Al-Haweiqa area of Deir Ez-Zor and in areas around Deir Ez-Zor military airport, amid Russian airstrikes and Syrian artillery shelling in and around the city. Russian planes also struck the village of Al-Hisan, west of Deir Ez-Zor. [Qasioun]
Coalition planes struck Daesh sites in Bukamal east of Deir Ez-Zor as well as positions near the Iraqi frontier. Coalition planes also dropped leaflets over Daesh-held areas in the Deir Ez-Zor countryside, warning citizens to stay away from Daesh sites, which the leaflets said would come under airstrikes. [ARA] [Qasioun]
South
A Daesh “sleeper cell” battled an alliance of Islamic and opposition factions in the Al-Ahdaf area of Al-Tal city in Rif Damashq. Three Daesh fighters died in the fighting as did two members of Al-Nusra Front. The opposition factions and Al-Nusra fighters have reportedly surrounded the small Daesh cell. The fighting erupted after the allied factions imposed a curfew in Al-Tal after reports of a Daesh cell active in the city. [Qasioun]
OTHER MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA REPORTS
North Africa
Egypt
Cairo
The Egyptian foreign minister has stated that any planned Saudi and Emirati intervention in Syria is part of those countries sovereign policies and not part of the actions of the Saudi-led so-called Islamic Coalition against Terrorism, speaking in a press conference in Cairo on Tuesday. [Anadolu]
North Sinai
Egyptian military helicopters fired missiles in an overnight strike Monday night, targeting Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis in the Duwar Rafiea area outside Rafah near the Gaza border, killing at least six Ansar militants, security sources said. The sources said the group had been planning attacks on security checkpoints in Rafah. [ElWatan]
Egyptian security personnel arrested 32 members of “takfiri” groups in North Sinai in a raid and arrest campaign on Monday and Tuesday. [ElWatan]
According to one report, 25 militants of the Daesh-affiliated Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis were killed in operations on Tuesday throughout North Sinai governorate, and 35 were injured. [VetoGate]
DaeshDaily comment: Those numbers seem quite high and haven’t been reported elsewhere. It will be advisable to look for further confirmation.
Two Egyptian Army personnel, a soldier and an officer, were killed, and a petty officer injured, when a roadside IED that technicians were attempting to dismantle exploded on Saturday in the Karm Al-Qawadis area south of Sheikh Zuweid, the Egyptian Army announced in a statement. [EgyArmySpoxFB]
Four policemen were injured in an IED attack in the Karm al-Qawadis area Tuesday. [VetoGate]
Egyptian troops surrounded a militant cell on Monday in an agricultural area south of Arish, killing at least two of them, a security source said. [ElWatan]
An Egyptian security officer was reported injured on Tuesday during a raid in the Al-Kharouba area of Sheikh Zuweid. [VetoGate]
Two IEDs were neutralized south of Sheikh Zuweid. [VetoGate]
Libya
Daesh militants raided the National Safety Authority in the desert city of Harawa near Sirte and stole two fire engines, a security source said, according to a report on Tuesday. On Monday Daesh seized control of four homes in the city, alleging that the owners failed to declare their weapons. [Wasat] [Wasat]
A Daesh column of more than 20 armed vehicles traveled from the Al-Dhahir area west of Sirte to the entrance of Sirte city on Tuesday, an eyewitness reported. [Wasat]
Unknown warplanes bombed Daesh positions in the eastern outskirts of Sirte on Monday, killing and wounding an unspecified number of Daesh members, security sources said. One raid reportedly targeted the agricultural Al-Sawawa area where Daesh fighters were encamped and another raid targeted Daesh sites near the Sirte seaport. [Wasat]
A Palestinian national known as Muflih Abu Adhira, originally from Rafah in the Gaza Strip was killed in Tripoli on Monday while fighting in the Daesh ranks, according to media reports. [AfriGate]
Wednesday will be a national holiday in Libya to commemorate the revolution of 2011, the interim government has announced. [AfriGate]
Heavy fighting erupted Monday evening in the “400” neighborhood of Derna between Libyan Armed Forces troops and allied local militiamen supported by Libyan air power on the one side, and Daesh fighters on the other, according to a Libyan military source. Fighting is still ongoing the source said, explaining that there are reports of the death of a Daesh commander in the area. Daesh announced that one of its fighters “Nasir Al-Shaeri” was killed, and another fighter “Yousif Al-Shaeri” was announced injured the source added. Two Libyan soldiers were wounded in the fighting as well, the source said. Daesh was pushed out of some of the areas it controlled in the neighborhood under the airstrikes. [Lana]
Daesh says its terrorists attacked a Shoura Council of Mujahedeen in Derna military position and damaged 2 tanks on Tuesday. Daesh says the SCMD started it by attacking Daesh positions in Derna on Monday, and after heavy clashes 3 SCDM members were killed and 10 wounded and one of their tanks damaged. [A3maq]
Algeria. Algeria’s Army Chief of Staff has announced a state of alert along the country’s border with Libya, citing the threat of Daesh infiltration and attacks. Algiers is also preparing for a possible wave of Libyan refugees entering Algeria in the event of international operations against Daesh in Libya, the government announced. [Arabi21]
SOCIAL MEDIA SOURCES
Facebook Page of the Day
Aleppo Today news page
Daesh Twitter Accounts of the Day
https://twitter.com/Muslim_khilafa
https://twitter.com/SinSanSo070nf
https://twitter.com/alansari8USU8
