July 18, 2016
Today’s Major Developments
Al-Sadr threatens to target US troops in Iraq.
Iraqi forces take control of Dolab in northwest Hit, look west.
IFP says it stopped multi-pronged Daesh attack on Rutba; Daesh says it inflicted major casualties.
Iraqi forces, Coalition take westward offensive into eastern Al-Qa’im District.
More citizens in Mosul area are defying Daesh authority.
Daesh is still battling to hold Manbij.
Joint Chiefs Chairman says Daesh now weaker in Libya.
Daesh claims credit for Nice bombing.
REPORTS FROM IRAQ
NATIONAL NEWS
In response to a question from one of his followers about the United States’ intentions to send 560 soldiers to participate in liberating Mosul, Muqtada Al-Sadr, says “they are targets for us”. [ARA]
DaeshDaily comment. Sadr is trying to defy the Iraqi government, for his own political gain. He ordered his followers to demonstrate in Baghdad on Friday and thousands heeded his call (many because they were angry after the Karrada terrorist attack). However, the Iraqi Joint Operations Command had issued a statement saying it would deal with any “armed appearances” in the demonstrations as a terrorist threat and act accordingly. No one carried weapons on Friday.
The Iraqi government and armed forces are stronger than 2004 and 2005 and will stand firmly against Sadr. They know that US military help is essential to defeating Daesh. They also know they want a good relationship with the US for Iraq’s future, and Sadr’s rhetoric won’t help Iraq. Iraqi activists told DaeshDaily that Sadr just wants to bring attention to himself.
Moreover, the PMFs were formed based on the defense fatwa issued by Sistani. Many Shia militias used this fatwa to legitimize themselves, including Sadr’s own Saraya Al-Salam. Sistani has never and will never call for a fight against the US, and dislikes Sadr for good reasons. So, Sadr represents a distinct minority. The vast majority of PMFs follow Sistani. The other anti-American militias (like the AAH) don’t like Sadr and have severe disputes with him.
Most American troops are at Ain Al-Asad base (in Anbar), and in the Makhmur base and Qayara in the north, while Sadr’s Saraya Al-Salam militia operates mainly in the Baghdad and Samarra areas. Ain Al-Asad has never been targeted by Shia militias. The US has no reason to worry about Sadr’s threats.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has named Iraq’s southern marshes–once decimated by Saddam Hussein–a World Heritage Site. Home to the Marsh Arabs, three archaeological sites and an array of species of birds and fish, the marshes are “unique”, UNESCO says.
The area was ordered drained in the 1990s by Saddam to stop it from being used for cover by rebels.
The marshlands have only partially revived since his overthrow in 2003. [BBC]
DaeshDaily comment. The revival of the marshes has been set back by the diversion of water from the Tigris and Euphrates by Syria and Iraq and by recent drought conditions. Most Marsh Arabs have since remained a destitute people, unable to resume their earlier livelihood based on farming and fishing. The UNESCO designation is likely motivated in part by a desire to give revival of the marshes a much-needed economic boost. Agriculture in general has declined in post-Saddam Iraq, despite its importance, for multiple reasons, both natural and man-made.
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Iraq, Ján Kubiš, congratulates the Iraqi people and Government on the UNESCO designation of the southern Al-Ahwar Marshlands for its World Heritage List. [UNIraq]
The United States Embassy in Iraq issued a statement saying it congratulates the government and the people of Iraq on the designation of the Marshlands as a World Heritage site. [Sumaria]
In the periodic statement to the Council, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Iraq, Ján Kubiš, outlined the current political, military, security, humanitarian and human rights developments in the country.
“The recent strategic victories against ISIL in Fallujah and Qayara and progress in cutting off Daesh forces in Hawija have once again proved that Iraqis are capable of defeating Daesh with the support of international community,” he said. This has put the liberation of Mosul strongly on the agenda, though he cautioned that shortcomings in the Fallujah operation should be avoided in Mosul.
Looking further ahead, he said that “Together with planning the military aspects, the government and the local actors need to accelerate political planning for ‘the day after’ the liberation, addressing the issues of governance, law and order, and political management of Mosul and the rest of Ninewa,” Mr. Kubiš said.
In the Fallujah operation, the government gave an unprecedented priority to protection of lives and dignity of civilians, he said, adding that 90,000 civilians left the city. But he said the UN received “credible reports of human rights violations and crimes, including torture and killings, disappearances and other allegations of mistreatment of those detained, committed by elements of the Popular Mobilization Forces and the Iraqi security forces operating in the Fallujah area, notably during the initial phases of the operation.” He noted that the UN has registered statements supporting claims that 95 men remain unaccounted for after they were intercepted by PMFs while leaving their homes in the Al Sajar area on 25 May, while another 643 men, including boys, remain missing since 5 June after they were intercepted by PMF-affiliated forces while leaving Saqlawiya. Mr. Kubiš called on the authorities to hold accountable any individual who may have been responsible for any violations that have been committed. “Lessons from Fallujah must be taken into account when planning the liberation of Mosul.” [UNIraq]
The UN warned of a humanitarian catastrophe that might result from the anticipated attack to liberate Mosul. It asked for urgent financial support amounting to 1.8 billion dollars. [Mada]
The Coalition says it conducted airstrikes 8 on Daesh in Iraq (near Ramadi (3), Habbaniya (1), Mosul (2), Qayara (1), and Tal Afar (1)). [InherentResolve]
BAGHDAD
Security-related incidents reported
Center (Rusafa, Karkh, Karrada, etc.)
An MoI source says unknown armed men kidnapped a man who was working on a construction site on Nidhal Street. [Mada]
Northwest (Kadhimiya)
An MoI source says security defused an IED that was planted in the garden of a citizen’s house in Kadhimiya. [Mada]
North (Tarmiya, Taji, etc.)
An MoI source says three people were killed and eight wounded when an IED exploded near a popular market in the Meshahda area in Tarmiya. [Mada]
The Baghdad Operations Command says the Intelligence Service captured 6 Daesh terrorists in an orchard in Rashidiya, including an Egyptian emir. It says the terrorists were involved in kidnapping and in detonating vehicle bombs as well as monitoring the movements of Iraqi security forces. [BasNews]
Northeast (Adhamiya, etc.)
An MoI source says the body of a young man was found strangled near the Talbiya Bridge. [Mada]
East (Sadr City, New Baghdad, etc.)
An MoI source says one person was killed and seven wounded when an IED exploded near a cafe in Sadr City. [Mada]
Southeast (Mada’in, etc.)
An MoI source says one person was killed and five wounded when an IED exploded near a sheep market in the Suwaib area in Mada’in. [Mada]
The IWMC says the Military Intelligence Service found an explosives cache on a farm in the Qusaiba area in Mada’in. [Etejah]
South (Dora, Mahmudiya)
An MoI source says an Iraqi soldier was killed and five wounded when an IED exploded on their vehicle in the Arab Jabour area. [Mada]
Iraqi Army 23rd brigade raided a house in the Tal Al-Samar area and killed a terrorist. [BOC Facebook Page]
Iraqi Army 55th brigade captured a man wanted on terrorism charges in Yusufiyah. [MoD Website]
Southwest (Rasheed)
An MoI source says two people were killed and seven wounded when an IED exploded near a market in Hay Al-Furat. [Mada]
West (Mansour, Ghazaliya, Abu Ghraib)
An MoI source says a civilian was killed and another wounded when a sticky IED exploded under their vehicle in Ameriya. [Mada]
A local police source says an MoI employee was killed when a sticky IED exploded under his vehicle near the silo area in Abu Ghraib. [Maalomah]
Total Baghdad incidents reported: 14 (Includes only incidents reported)
ANBAR
The chairman of the Anbar provincial council urges the Ministry of Migration and Displacement to put more efforts in helping the displaced people in the camps and warns from deaths among children because of the high temperatures and the lack of water and food supplies. [Sumaria]
The spokesman of the anti-Daesh tribal group in Anbar says the tribes will not allow the “clowns” who helped Daesh to get started through their 2013 demonstrations in Anbar to return to the province. He says these people supported Daesh and hosted it in order to destroy Anbar and target Iraqi forces. He also says the tribes will punish Daesh members according to Iraqi law and tribal tradition. [Mada]
DaeshDaily comment. Many people who fought Daesh in Anbar told DaeshDaily that the people who actually created Daesh are being welcomed even by some in the West, as representatives of Anbaris. They confirmed that these were the same people who actually started Daesh. Unlike the foreign fighters who could escape the area, most local Daesh members and supporters have no place to hide.
Falluja
Iraqi forces defused 15 booby-trapped houses and 39 IEDs, and found a rocket factory and large quantities of explosives in different areas in Falluja. [BOC Facebook Page]
The manager of Qarma subdistrict says government municipal offices there have reopened. [Sumaria]
The Iraqi Army 17th division says its troops captured a Daesh communications officer and a car-rigging official from Shirqat, near the Bzaibiz Bridge [Mawazin]
Ramadi
The Anbar Operations Commander says the IAA destroyed a Daesh hideout in the Albu Ali Al-Jassem area, killing 11 terrorists, and destroying 2 vehicle bombs. [Maalomah]
Hit/Haditha
The IWMC says Iraqi forces captured Dolab subdistrict in northwest Hit, killing 69 terrorists, capturing 2, and destroying 3 vehicle bombs and a rocket launcher. They also defused 543 IEDs and 7 explosives vests in addition to large quantities of explosives before raising the Iraqi flag over its buildings. It also says Iraqi forces secured the southern bank of the Euphrates River from Haditha back to Ramadi. [Mada]
Daesh’s version said on Sunday that it stopped an Iraqi Army attack on the Dolab area, killing and wounding many soldiers, and destroying several vehicles, in addition to a T72 tank, a minesweeper, and 2 Humvees. Daesh also says one of its suicide terrorists attacked an Iraqi Army convoy in the area, killing “tens” of soldiers, and destroying several vehicles. [WebArchive]
DaeshDaily comment. This will seem like a positive report to Daesh’s fanboys, but noticeably missing from Daesh’s account is any statement that refutes the government’s claim that it ultimately captured Dolab. In its own media accounts, Daesh is always victorious (even when it’s not).
Rutba
The manager of Rutba District says IFP troops, supported by Anbar police and tribal fighters, stopped a Daesh attack from 4 sides on Rutba city. He says Iraqi forces destroyed 2 vehicle bombs and killed several terrorists, including 2 suicide bombers, forcing the rest to flee. [Sumaria]
The Anbar Governor’s Security Adviser says three policemen were killed and five civilians were wounded in the attack. [Sumaria]
Daesh’s version says it attacked Iraqi forces in Rutba from 3 sides, killing thirty soldiers, including officers and Sahwa leaders, destroying 2 headquarters and several military vehicles. Daesh also says it detonated a parked vehicle bomb on Iraqi soldiers, killing more of them. Daesh says one of its terrorists was killed in the attack and the rest returned safely. [JustPaste] [A3maq]
Another report says 8 Iraqi soldiers and tribal fighters were killed and 14 wounded in the attack. The same report says 22 Daesh were killed and 10 vehicles destroyed. [AfriGate]
DaeshDaily comment. All of which leaves doubts and a lot of unanswered questions. We have taken note of the fact that there has been no official government or military statement.
Northwest Anbar
An Anbar Operations Command source says the IAA targeted a Daesh gathering in Rawa, killing the Daesh’s “mufti” for the city and 4 of his associates and destroying 4 vehicles. [Mada]
The IWMC says Iraqi planes dropped thousands of leaflets on Rawa, Anah, and Al-Qa’im, asking citizens to stay away from Daesh locations for their own safety. [Mada]
An Anbar Operations Command source says Iraqi forces, supported by Coalition warplanes, launched a large military campaign on Daesh at the eastern entrance of Al-Qa’im District, killing the Daesh military commander of the area and 6 of his associates. He also says the Iraqi Army, supported by local police and security, destroyed 3 Daesh guesthouses and a vehicle carrying an anti-aircraft cannon. [BasNews]
The Chairman of the Al-Qa’im District Council says Daesh is holding 20,000 families in Al-Qa’im and is preventing them from leaving in order to use them as human shields. He says Daesh killed tens of civilians who attempted to escape the District. [Mada]
SALAHUDDIN
A Salahuddin Operations Command source says an MoI investigative committee found that there are 900 “ghost policemen” in Salahuddin and their salaries are being paid to Governorate officials. [Rudaw]
DaeshDaily comment. Corruption is one of the major reasons for Daesh’s existence in Iraq.
Shirqat
The Salahuddin Governor warns of a humanitarian crisis in Shirqat and urges the government to liberate the District as soon as possible. [Sumaria]
The Salahuddin Operations Command says its troops captured a Daesh terrorist from Shirqat as he tried to leave with the displaced families. [Mawazin]
Baiji
The Ministry of Displacement and Migration says 500 families left their houses in Shirqat and Qayara and arrived in Baiji District. A Ministry official says 3,687 families have left their houses since the start of the Shirqat-Qayara military operations. [Yaqein]
The IFP Commander says his troops killed 30 Daesh terrorists and destroyed a vehicle bomb, 2 vehicles loaded with heavy weapons, and 3 mortar units in the Himrin Mountains area. [PUKMedia]
Tikrit
A security source says Iraqi forces, supported by the IAA, stopped a Daesh attack on the Allas Oilfield area, killing 7 terrorists. Three Iraqi policemen and four PMF fighters were killed in the attack. [Mada]
Daesh says it destroyed 4 vehicles and several military positions in an attack on the Ajeel Oilfield. [A3maq]
Here Daesh says it attacked Iraqi Army positions in the Ajeel Oilfield, killing or wounding several soldiers and destroying 4 military positions and 4 vehicles, and capturing several weapons. [JustPaste]
Daesh issues a video of its attack on Ajeel Oilfield. [A3maq]
Daesh says it detonated 2 IEDs on 2 police vehicles near Al-Daur, destroying one of them, damaging the other, and killing or wounding four policemen. [JustPaste]
Here Daesh says two Iraqi soldiers were killed and two others wounded in the attack. [A3maq]
DIYALA
Baquba
A security source says armed men shot and killed a governmental medical center employee near his house in Kanaan. [Sumaria]
The Diyala Police Spokesman says its security captured a suicide terrorist wearing an explosives vest who tried to detonate himself in Al-Salam subdistrict, 20 km (12.5 miles) north of Baquba. He says the terrorist came from Baghdad and stated his intention to blow himself up on civilians. The Diyala Police have captured several suicide terrorists recently, including a teen-ager recruited by Daesh to detonate himself in Kadhimiya in northwest Baghdad. [Mada]
Muqdadiya/Abu Saida
A security source says a National Security Unit captured a man wanted on terrorism charges near Mukhaisa village. [Sumaria]
A security source says two civilians were wounded when 5 shells fell on a residential area in Nahr Al-Imam village north of Muqdadiya. [Sumaria]
The manager of Abu Saida subdistrict says Iraqi Army 20th brigade killed an important Daesh commander in an orchard in Mukhaisa village. He says the terrorist was once an important aide to Zarqawi and was involved in countless terrorist attacks that killed hundreds of civilians. [Sumaria]
KIRKUK
Hawija
The IWMC says Iraqi planes dropped thousands of leaflets on the Hawija and Riyadh subdistricts, asking citizens to stay away from Daesh locations. [Mada]
Reinforcing that announcement, a security source says Coalition and Iraqi warplanes destroyed a Daesh “Sharia court” and hisbah office in Hawija, killing 10 Daesh terrorists. [Sumaria]
NINEWA
A Ninewa Operations officer says Daesh imposed compulsive military service on men age 14-60 in several areas in Ninewa Governorate. The officer says Daesh gave a three-day period for people to join its ranks, threatening severe punishments for non-compliance. [BasNews]
Mosul
Local activists say Daesh started a media campaign through the mosques asking people to join its ranks and defend the city, warning that the city will be like Falluja. Daesh says Falluja was lost because its people didn’t defend it, while Daesh will fight to the death in Falluja. Local activists also say the Daesh hisbah office held a meeting with mosque imams in the city, and one of Daesh’s leaders said “even if we lost the battle and withdrew, we would return to establish a caliphate.” According to activists, the prices of goods in Mosul have rapidly increased. [Karemlash]
A Ninewa police source says Daesh arrested twenty women in a market in Mosul, including a 15-year-old girl, accusing them of leaving their houses without a man. [BasNews]
Local sources say Daesh has lost its grip on Mosul city, and people have started to publicly break Daesh’s laws. They say most of the Daesh hisbah officials were reassigned to the front lines. [Karemlash]
DaeshDaily comment. Many social media sources say that people in Mosul have started to defy Daesh’s orders. These reports suggest indirectly that an attack on the city might not face much public resistance, as was true in Falluja. This may be exactly what Daesh fears, as indicated in the previous story.
A local source says people of the Bab Al-Jadid neighborhood in Mosul revolted against Daesh, forcing Daesh terrorists out of the neighborhood, killing 2 terrorists, and destroying 2 of their cars.
The source also says people in Hammam Al-Alil subdistrict south of Mosul city killed 3 Daesh terrorists. He says people are trying to capture the subdistrict completely and have raised the Iraqi flag over several buildings. [Harbi]
A Ninewa Operations Command source says Daesh arrested 65 former policemen after accusing them of communicating with Iraqi forces. [Sumaria]
A PUK official says Daesh arrested 51 women in Mosul. He says the women’s husbands were former members of the Iraqi army and police. [PUKMedia]
A local source says Daesh publicly beheaded two young men in east Mosul city after accusing them of cooperating with Iraqi security forces. [Karemlash]
Daesh executed 5 of its own local terrorists on the west side of Mosul after accusing them of selling weapons and ammunition. [Karemlash]
Qayara /Makhmur
A member of the Ninewa Provincial Council reports that Iraqi forces have started to rehabilitate the Qayara Airfield, working to clear the surrounding areas. He says the Ninewa Operations Command headquarters is being moved from Makhmur to Qayara. [Mawazin]
Daesh says it targeted the residential compound near the Qayara Airfield with more than 100 mortars. [JustPaste]
Daesh says it destroyed an Iraqi Army tank near the residential compound of the Qayara Airfield. [A3maq]
Daesh says it destroyed an Iraqi Army T72 tank in Arkabah just south of Qayara. [A3maq]
Daesh says it targeted an Iraqi temporary office with a rocket, killing or wounding the soldiers inside in Arkabah. [JustPaste]
Daesh publicly executed four young men in Qayara after accusing them of attempting to leave towards “the infidels’ land”. [Karemlash]
A Peshmerga official says the bodies of a woman and her two children were found west of Makhmur. He says the family died of thirst while trying to escape Daesh controlled areas. [Sumaria]
The Ninewa Operations Commander says Iraqi forces broke into Awsaja village east of Qayara, after opening a secure route for families to leave. He says several Daesh terrorists were killed, including 2 suicide bombers. [BasNews]
A PUK official says Iraqi forces liberated Awsaja village, across the Tigris from Qayara, killing 20 terrorists and destroying 3 vehicle bombs. [PUKMedia]
Daesh says it conducted 2 suicide attacks on Iraqi forces near Awsaja village. [A3maq]
Here Daesh says 2 of its suicide terrorists, an Iraqi and a Tajik, attacked Iraqi forces on the outskirts of Awsaja village with 2 vehicle bombs, killing or wounding many soldiers and destroying their vehicles. Daesh also says it destroyed an Iraqi Army military position south of Qayara with a rocket, killing the soldiers inside. [JustPaste]
The Ninewa Operations Commander says Iraqi forces killed 14 Daesh terrorists who were trying to flee through tunnels in Jada’a village. He also says Iraqi Army 15th division artillery destroyed a Daesh convoy in the area. Coalition warplanes destroyed Daesh boat bombs approaching the floating bridge that was established by Iraqi forces in the area. [BasNews]
Daesh says it destroyed 5 Iraqi Army Humvees with guided missiles on the outskirts of Haj Ali village. [A3maq]
Daesh says it targeted Iraqi forces in Haj Ali and Ihjala villages with 38 rockets. [JustPaste]
Daesh says it destroyed an Iraqi Army vehicle near Haj Ali village with a mortar shell. [JustPaste]
Daesh says it destroyed an Iraqi Army Cougar armored vehicle with a guided missile near Haj Ali village. [A3maq]
Northwest (Tal Afar, Sinjar)
Daesh says it shot down a Coalition drone in the Ayadhiya area north of Tal Afar. [JustPaste]
KURDISTAN
Christian leaders met with the KRG President Masoud Barzani in Erbil on Sunday to discuss the rights of Christians in Ninewa after Daesh. The Chairman of the Armenian block in the KRG parliament says Barzani asked the Christian leaders participating in the meeting to prepare a proposal of their plans stressing the rights of Christians in Ninewa. [ARA]
SOUTHERN IRAQ
Babel
The Babel Governor says security captured 14 displaced people wanted on terrorism charges in different areas in the Governorate. [Mada]
The Chairman of the Babel Provincial Council refutes media reports about giving an ultimatum to displaced families to leave the governorate within a month. He says Babel is hosting 14,000 displaced families in spite of the shortage in its financial resources. [Mada]
Wasit
The Wasit Police Chief says his officers captured a man wanted on terrorism charges. [Mada]
Basra
The Chairman of the Security Committee in Basra Provincial Council says security personnel defused an IED that was planted near the house of a judge in Basra city. [Mada]
REPORTS FROM SYRIA
Zaman Al-Wasl publishes 2 leaked Syrian Intelligence Service documents showing that Syrian intelligence was aware of the movement of Harith Al-Dhari, the former Chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars, in Syria in 2006, and his meetings with people who instigated violence in Iraq. The other document clearly shows that the Syrian Government was aware of the Syrian terrorists who were leaving to fight in Iraq. [ZamanAlWasl]
DaeshDaily comment. It is clear that Assad supported terrorism in Iraq for a long time before the same groups he supported went back to fight him.
The Coalition says it conducted 9 airstrikes on Daesh in Syria (near Manbij (7), Raqqa (1), and Albu Kamal (1)). [InherentResolve]
Northeast (Hasaka, Raqqa)
Syrian Democratic Forces stopped a Daesh attack on villages east of the Tishrin Dam, killing more than 35 terrorists, and destroying 2 armored-vehicle bombs before they reached their targets. Syrian Democratic Forces then stopped their operation to search the villages and confiscated weapons and ammunition. [Hawar] A Daesh emir was also killed in the attack. [Hawar]
A military field source says Syrian Democratic forces stopped a Daesh attack on Suwaidan village west of Ain Eissa. The source also says SDF fighters beheaded 4 Daesh terrorists who were captured in the attack. [ZamanAlWasl]
Daesh said on Sunday it conducted several attacks on the YPG east of the Tishrin Dam, including 2 suicide attacks, killing 199 fighters. [WebArchive]
Daesh says it killed four YPG fighters in Taykul village east of the Tishrin Dam. [A3maq]
A report on the 10 churches that Daesh has destroyed in the western and southwestern areas of Tal Tamr, northwest of Hasaka [Hawar]
Northwest (Aleppo, Idlib)
Al-Bab. An Arab tribal leader says Daesh is holding meetings with Arab tribes in the Al-Bab area, asking them to fight against the Kurds. He says Daesh has failed in its religious propaganda and is now using ethnic propaganda. [Hawar]
DaeshDaily comment. This is a huge conflict for Daesh’s media. Daesh is an enemy of the Kurds, who are mainly Sunni Muslims, and at the same time it claims to represent and defend Sunni Muslims. As in Iraq, Daesh is targeting the Kurds based on a Baathist/Pan Arab nationalist agenda rather than a religious agenda. That’s one reason only a few Kurds joined Daesh.
Daesh conducted an arrest campaign against Kurdish people in the Al-Bab area, and captured “tens” of people from Numan and Shadoud villages. Daesh has kidnapped 1,650 civilians so far from Al-Bab areas, while 35,000 other civilians escaped towards the Syrian Democratic Forces in the Shaba’ areas. [Hawar]
DaeshDaily comment. 1,650 is a large number of civilians. These arrests should be taken seriously.
Manbij campaign. Daesh launched attacks with heavy weapons on Sajur River north of Manbij and Um Adsa village 6 miles south of Manbij, in addition to several villages south of the city. Manbij Military Council troops, supported by Coalition warplanes, responded to the attacks and the battles are still ongoing. 80 Daesh terrorists were killed and a mortar unit and an armored vehicle were destroyed in the attacks. [Hawar]
Later on, the YPG-backed Hawar news agency reported that 111 Daesh terrorists were killed and several Daesh heavy weapons and armored vehicles were destroyed. MMC fighters also captured a Daesh BMP armored vehicle. The attack was the most violent counter-attack since the start of the Manbij campaign. [Hawar]
Daesh says it captured 2 mountains and a village south of Manbij, in addition to another village north of Manbij. Daesh launched an attack from different sides on Manbij, in an attempt to isolate the YPG and break the siege on Manbij city. Daesh says it killed thirty-four YPG fighters, and wounded forty-five. [A3maq]
However, Manbij Military Council troops are reported to be only 1 km away from Manbij City Center from the west after capturing an important street on Saturday. [ARA]
Daesh says it killed three YPG fighters and wounded others with IEDs southwest of Manbij. [A3maq]
Daesh issues a video of battles near Manbij city. [A3maq]
Daesh publishes photos of battles north of Manbij. [JustPaste]
Local activists say fifteen civilians were killed and tens were wounded in a Coalition airstrike on residential areas in Manbij city. [Dorar] A local activist says the airstrike was on Hay Al-Hazawana, one of the biggest neighborhoods in Manbij. Manbij Military Council troops have captured 80% of the neighborhood but Daesh still controls 20%. [EnabBaladi]
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least twenty-one civilians were killed in Coalition airstrikes on the Manbij area during the last few hours, raising the total number of casualties of Coalition airstrikes to 104 civilians since May 31st. It also says two children and a man were killed by a Daesh land mine near Manbij city, raising the number of civilians killed by Daesh to 137 since late May. [SyriaHR]
Daesh says Coalition warplanes launched airstrikes on Himyar Labda village south of Manbij, killing or wounding several people and destroying residential buildings. [A3maq]
Daesh issues a video of the “results” of the American bombing on Himyar Labda. [A3maq]
Other reports from northwest Syria. Here Daesh says opposition groups equipped with American tanks, armored vehicles, and heavy machine guns, supported by American warplanes, attacked Dudyan village north of Aleppo. Daesh says its terrorists stopped the attack, then ambushed the opposition groups with a land mine, killing twelve fighters and capturing a machine gun-mounted SUV. [JustPaste]
A local activist says three Jaish Al-Sunna fighters were wounded in a suicide attack with a vehicle bomb on their headquarters on the eastern outskirts of Idlib city. Jaish Al-Sunna is an opposition Islamic group and Daesh has attacked opposition groups in the Idlib area several times prior. [ZamanAlWasl]
The YPG says it killed three Turkey-backed opposition group fighters and destroyed 2 vehicles in clashes near Sheikh Maqsoud. [ARA]
The Syrian Army killed 8 Daesh terrorists and destroyed a cannon and 2 cars near the Air Defense College east of Aleppo. [SyriaNow]
Central and West (Homs, Hama, etc.)
Daesh said on Sunday one of its Syrian suicide terrorists attacked Syrian Army positions in East Fikir village east of Silmiya city with a vehicle bomb, killing or wounding several soldiers. Daesh says its terrorists attacked the area and captured 7 barricades. [JustPaste]
Sources close to the Syrian government says several Syrian soldiers were killed in Daesh suicide attacks in the area. The Syrian official news agency, SANA, confirmed that several people were killed or wounded in the village after a Daesh rocket attack on Syrian houses. [EnabBaladi]
Syrian troops stopped a Daesh attack on Tal Al-Tout and Fikir village, east of Hama. [SyriaNow]
Daesh publishes 2 photos of targeting Syrian troops with heavy artillery in the Barda area east of Qaryatayn city. [JustPaste]
East (Deir Ez-Zor)
Heavy battles continued between Daesh and Syrian troops south of Deir Ez-Zor Military Airport. Syrian warplanes launched airstrikes on Daesh in Tharda Mountain and other villages near the airport. [Qasioun]
Heavy battles erupted between Daesh and Syrian troops in Sina’a neighborhood in Deir Ez-Zor city. Syrian troops rocketed Daesh locations in the area. [Qasioun]
Syrian warplanes bombed dual airstrikes on Salahiya and Hatla east of Deir Ez-Zor. [Qasioun]
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says a man was killed and others wounded when warplanes bombed Hatla village on Sunday. [SyriaHR]
Daesh attacked residential areas in Hay Al-Joura with mortars. [Qasioun]
A local activist says Daesh is preventing people from leaving areas it controls in Deir Ez-Zor and confiscated 15 houses belonging to civilians who had left the city. [ARA]
Water supplies have now been cut off in Syrian Government controlled areas in Deir Ez-Zor for 10 days due to lack of fuel supplies to operate water stations. [ARA]
South (Rif Damashq, Suwayda, Daraa, etc.)
Daesh issues a video of a Syrian soldier who surrendered to its terrorists in the Bir Qasab area southeast of Damascus. [A3maq]
Daesh says 8 Al-Qaeda terrorists surrendered to Daesh in the Yarmouk Camp. [A3maq]
OTHER MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA REPORTS
Neighboring countries
Jordan
The Takfiri Jihadi “cleric” Abu Mohammad Al-Maqdisi hints that it’s fine if Nusra front broke its ties to Al-Qaeda. [Dorar]
DaeshDaily comment. One of the major hurdles for Al-Nusra in getting open support from Turkey and Saudi Arabia is that it is still affiliated with Al-Qaeda. There has been talk for a long time now about breaking the ties with Al-Qaeda in order to “legitimize” Nusra as an opposition group and thus overcome its designation as a terrorist organization.
North Africa
Egypt
Security forces stopped an Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis attack on the Sheikh Zuweid police station near the Tarabin area, forcing the terrorists to flee. This is the 5th time that Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis has tried to attack the police station. [ElWatan]
A security source says security personnel captured an Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis cell of 6 terrorists who were monitoring the movement of Counter Terrorism troops in Sheikh Zuweid city. [ElWatan]
A security source says the security destroyed 8 IEDs that were planted in different areas in Sheikh Zuweid. One of them was planted near a school. [VetoGate]
Egyptian Counter Terrorism forces captured 2 Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis operatives who were giving information about security movement in south Sheikh Zuweid. [ElWatan]
A security source says a policeman was wounded by a sniper near Joura village south of Sheikh Zuweid. [VetoGate]
Local sources say a 63-year-old women was severely wounded when unknown armed men shot at her at her house in Shallaq village south of Sheikh Zuweid. [ElWatan]
Security sources say Egyptian Counter Terrorism troops stopped a terrorist attack on a security barrier in the Sidot area in Rafah, killing 4 terrorists and wounding 4, and forcing the rest to flee. [ElWatan]
A 4-year-old girl was accidentally wounded when security clashed with takfiri terrorists near a checkpoint in the Sidra area of Rafah. [VetoGate]
A policeman was killed when an IED exploded on his patrol in Masoura village south of Rafah. [ElWatan]
A security source says a police captain was severely wounded when an IED exploded on his armored vehicle on the road to Masoura village. [ElWatan]
Libya
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today he is encouraged by developments against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Libya, a branch of the main Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant ISIL). “The trend line for [Daesh] Libya is positive from my perspective,” Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford said during a joint press conference with Marine Corps Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, after Waldhauser assumed command of the U.S. Africa Command.
Dunford said terrorists suffered “significant casualties” in and around Benghazi, and assessments indicate their numbers have been reduced to just a few hundred inside Sirte. “I don’t think that there’s any doubt that [Daesh] in Libya is weaker than it was some months ago; there’s no question about it,” he said.
Dunford said whatever actions the United States conducts in Libya, “less those specifically against the threat against the homeland or our interests,” are done in conjunction with the interim government there, known as the Government of National Accord. [DoD]
Libyan Scholars League, a group of Libyan religious leaders, issued a statement condemning the call of a Saudi cleric for violence in Libya. Rabee Al-Madkhali, a Saudi cleric who is also a teacher in the Islamic University of Medina issued a statement asking the Salafis in Libya to fight the Muslim Brothers. [Wasat]
DaeshDaily comment. This guy is part of the Saudi religious establishment, so he has to be taken seriously. His statement only opens a new avenue for violence.
Northeast
Daesh says it targeted Libyan troops in the Qawarsha area with locally made rockets. [JustPaste]
A Libyan Red Crescent Official says Libyan troops found a mass grave of thirteen victims south of Ajdabiya. [Libya24]
Central coast
A military source says National Accord Government warplanes targeted Daesh locations in the Ouagadougou compound, residential buildings at Sirte University, and areas near the city port. [Wasat]
A military source says Libyan troops stopped Daesh attacks near the residential compound and the port in Sirte, killing large numbers of terrorists and destroying a vehicle bomb. The source says two Libyan soldiers were killed and nine wounded in the attack. [Wasat]
The National Accord Government Military says its troops captured Daesh’s radio station headquarters in Sirte. It says Daesh tried to avoid seizure of its documents by setting the building on fire. [Wasat]
Other countries
France
Daesh said that the terrorist who conducted the attack in Nice is one of its “soldiers” and he conducted the attack in response to Daesh’s calls to target the citizens of the Coalition countries. [A3maq]
DaeshDaily comment. Daesh hasn’t provided any evidence for this yet. In the attack on the Russian airplane in Egypt, Daesh waited for some time before providing such evidence. A3maq is using the same language it used when it claimed the Orlando terrorist attack– “A source told A3maq . . .”
DAESH MEDIA
Daesh audio newsletter for today [JustPaste]
Daesh published infographics about its attack on Bosso in east Niger on the Nigeria border. Daesh says the attack started on June 3rd, and its terrorists captured the city before withdrawing on June 7th, capturing 40 vehicles and 30 machine guns, in addition to large quantities of weapons and explosives. [A3maq]
