March 11, 2016
Today’s Major Developments
Sadr-promoted demonstrations in Baghdad and southern provinces demand anti-corruption reforms.
Al-Abadi takes action on Daesh chemical weapons in Taza after two child victims die.
IFP raids Daesh outposts in Arab Jabour, south Baghdad.
Iraqi ground forces move closer to Hit, Haditha as more bombs land on Hit and Kubaisa.
Turkey gives the KRG a loan as pipeline resumes operation.
REPORTS FROM IRAQ
BAGHDAD
Political developments
Prime Minister Abadi’s office issued a statement saying that Daesh’s use of chemical weapons in its attacks on Taza is a crime against humanity and promised a swift response. Abadi also ordered specialized medical teams to the city. [Mada]
Abadi’s office also issued a statement saying the PM submitted a request to Iraqi political parties and “the different social organizations” to submit names of technocrat candidates for the cabinet. A committee will review the CVs of the candidates and submit the final names to the Prime Minister. [Mada]
Extensive security measures were taken in Baghdad today, where the areas of Salihiya, Zaytoun Street, Abu Nawas Street, Bab Al-Sharqi, Saadoun Street, Tayran Street, and Khayam Street were closed to vehicle traffic. Elite forces are on duty all over these areas and around the Green Zone, while Ahrar, Jamhuriya and Sinak bridges were closed, in anticipation of today’s demonstration. [Sumaria] Security forces also closed the road leading from Sadr city towards the Ministry of Interior, expected to be used by demonstrators coming from Sadr city to Tahrir Square, and were deployed in force along the sides of the road. [Ghad]
Saraya Al-Salam forces, the Al-Sadr militia, were deployed in Baghdad alongside security forces to ensure protection of demonstrators. [Ghad]
Moqtada Al-Sadr said in a recorded speech to thousands of his followers who demonstrated in Tahrir Square in downtown Baghdad that the reforms should include all the state’s establishments, including the judicial system, the elections commission, and financial establishments. He says corruption is not about changing a minister or two. Sadr accused the Al-Maliki government of politicizing the judicial system and of selling the country to terrorists. [Sumaria]
Sadr also says the demonstrations should continue to put pressure on the government to make substantial reforms. [Sumaria]
The Sadrists were the biggest group in today’s demonstrations in Baghdad. [Sumaria]
DaeshDaily comment. Sadr himself has an old issue with the legal system because he could still be tried for the murder of imam Abdul Aziz Al-Khoei in 2003.
Hundreds of people demonstrated in Kerbala, Babel, Qadisiya, Wasit, Dhi Qar, Maysan, Basra, and Samawa demanding a technocrat government, more reforms, and anti-corruption measures. [Sumaria] [Mada] [Mada] [Mada] This is virtually all the provinces in southern Iraq.
The Saudi delegate to the Arab League meeting in Cairo withdrew after Foreign Affairs Minister Jaafari made a speech that praised the PMFs and Hezbollah. [Mada]
DaeshDaily comment. Why would the Iraqi Foreign Affairs Minister put local armed groups in the same sentence with an armed group from another country? Iraq has had enough from meddling in other people’s issues and from other people’s interference in Iraqi issues.
Security developments
The Pentagon announced the handover of Sulaiman Dawood Al-Bakar, the Daesh chemical weapons official, to Iraqi authorities, according to Peter Cook, Pentagon spokesman. Cook said Coalition attacks have weakened Daesh chemical capabilities to a large extent, although not eliminating them completely. Al-Bakar, also known as Al-Afri, was arrested via a special US operation near Zab area last month. [Buratha]
Steve Warren, the Coalition spokesman, said that Iraqi army can liberate Mosul and Falluja at the same time. He added that the Coalition is constantly pressing Daesh which has very limited options left, as its forces, infrastructure, and moneys are being bombed in Mosul and surrounding areas. [Rassid]
The IFP conducted a clearing operation in Arab Jabour in south Baghdad. Sheikh Wael Al-Shimmari, commander of the PMFs’ “Elite Regiments”, told the IWMC that the Daesh presence in Arab Jabour was eliminated and that many Daesh terrorists were killed and captured. Command posts in Madhanik village near Arab Jabour were also destroyed. [Harbi]
DaeshDaily comment. Eliminated? Given all the recent deadly incidents in Arab Jabour, we can only hope the commander’s optimism proves justified, but we suspect this welcome initiative will need some serious follow-up. (See today’s list of security incidents in South Baghdad, below.)
Aws Al-Khafaji, general secretary of Abu Fadhil Al-Abbas faction of the PMFs, survived an assassination attempt by roadside IED in Arab Jabour in South Baghdad. [Mawazin]
The Baghdad Operations Command (BOC) said that total figures from the operations in west Baghdad is 19 terrorists killed, 4 wounded, 3 vehicles destroyed, and 58 IEDs defused. [Harbi]
The Security Committee of Baghdad Provincial Council said the administrative borders of Baghdad are well secured, and that the BOC and supporting PMF units are in control for over 20 km from the city perimeter. Mohammed Al-Rubaie, member of the committee said, that Baghdad’s security situation is good, except for some minor incidents here and there. [AIN]
DaeshDaily comment. We highly disagree with this statement. The esteemed gentleman is obviously not reading Daesh Daily, or reading the local newspapers either.
The following security incidents were reported.
Northwest Baghdad
A major trader in silenced guns was arrested in Shula. The arrest was made based on prior intelligence. 5 silenced guns were found with him. [Ghad]
North Baghdad
An IED killed one civilian and wounded eight others in Hamamiyat, in Taji District north of the city. [Mada]
Southeast Baghdad
An IED placed in a commercial area in Wardiya, in Mada’in District, killed one civilian and wounded five others. [Mada]
11th army division found a weapons cache in Mada’in, containing 40 mortar shells. The information was received from local residents. [Maalomah]
South Baghdad
Arab Jabour. 23rd army brigade found and destroyed 9 booby-trapped houses in Al-Baijiya area of Arab Jabour. [Ghad]
An IED targeting a PMF patrol in Arab Jabour killed two and wounded six. [Mada]
Daesh says its terrorists killed four PMF fighters in Arab Jabour. [A3maq]
Hor Rijab. A roadside IED killed two Sahwa members and wounded another while their patrol was passing through Hor Rijab, in Dora. [Mada]
An attack by hand grenade on a Sahwa checkpoint in Hor Rijab killed one of them and wounded another three. [Maalomah] (might be the same story)
Mahmudiya. Daesh says its terrorists killed two Iraqi officers and two soldiers and wounded seven soldiers with an IED in Mahmudiya in south Baghdad. [A3maq]
A roadside IED wounded three soldiers patrolling Sayed Abdullah village in Mahmudiya. [Baghdadia]
An IED placed near a soccer field in Al-Wihda neighborhood killed 2 civilians and wounded other seven. [Mada]
8 persons wanted on terrorism charges were arrested in Yusufiyah and Bazayez Al-Yusufiyah by temporary checkpoints installed by the 17th army division. [Ghad]
Southwest Baghdad
The body of a man shot to death was found in Al-Jihad neighborhood. [Mada]
Security forces arrested a man wanted on terrorism charges in Suwaib. [Ghad]
West Baghdad
A sticky bomb killed a university professor in his car in Al-Adel neighborhood. [Mada]
Total Baghdad incidents reported: 14 (Not an overall total)
The Coalition announced 13 air strikes in Iraq and one in Syria on March 10. Attacks in Iraq were near seven cities, including Ramadi, Hit, and Sinjar, and destroying five tactical units, 12 fighting positions, and various weapons and supply lines. The strike in Syria was near Mare’, destroying one tactical unit. [CJTF]
The UK said that its Tornado and Typhoon warplanes are actively operating against Daesh in Iraq during March. It said that in the past few days, several air attacks were executed in northern and western Iraq, destroying Daesh weapon stores and other targets, including a large-scale attack on a fortified village. [Shafaq]
ANBAR
Falluja
The IWMC says Iraqi forces killed 27 Daesh terrorists in different areas in Qarma. [Ghad]
Six Daesh terrorists were killed while rigging a car bomb in a workshop north of Falluja. The bomb went off, destroying the whole workshop and four vehicles packed with weapons and explosives ready to move to Qarma, Anbar Operations command (AOC) said. [Mada]
Security forces killed three Daesh terrorists while planting an IED on a main road leading to Saqlawiya, north of Falluja. [Maalomah]
Daesh shelled the residential compound in Ameriyat Al-Falluja, wounding “tens” of people including children. [WarNews]
25th army brigade killed two terrorists and destroyed their motorcycle in Bustan Al-Tikriti south of Falluja according to the BOC. Another terrorist was killed and two others wounded when the army shelled their positions with 82mm mortars. [Ghad]
Ramadi
Ali Dawood, Chair of Khaldiya subdistrict council, said that Iraqi army enforcements are still arriving to Khaldiya to liberate Jazeera Al-Khaldiya while Coalition and Iraqi war planes are bombing Daesh targets there. Full liberation is anticipated very shortly, he said. [IraqPress]
A booby-trapped shovel abandoned by Daesh in Albu Aitha area east of Ramadi exploded when Major Aziz Al-Eithawi, of Anbar tribal mobilization tried to operate it. The officer was killed immediately, according to Major General Tariq Yusuf Al-Asal, commander of Anbar tribal fighters of north Ramadi area. [Rassid]
Ghassan Al-Eithawi, commander of tribal forces in north Ramadi, says he was wounded by a mortar shell in Albu Ubaid north of Ramadi. [Mada]
The Anbar Operations Commander says his troops, supported by Coalition warplanes, killed 14 Daesh terrorists in Hamdhiya and Albu Ubaid north of Ramadi. [BasNews]
The IWMC says troops destroyed 2 Daesh motorcycles that were attacking the forces in Hamdhiya. Iraqi forces also killed 7 Daesh terrorists in the same area. [Ghad]
Daesh says its terrorists destroyed an Iraqi Army tank near the Zaidan factories northeast of Ramadi. [A3maq]
A video of Iraqi forces in battles with Daesh terrorists in Zangoura [YouTube]
A video of civilians secured by Iraqi forces in Zangoura [Sumaria]
A video of Iraqi forces saving chicken from a burning cage in Zangoura [JustPaste]
It became more apparent today that the movement of Iraqi forces through western Ramadi is linked to the pending campaign to liberate Hit. Falah Al-Qaragoli, commander of Anbar tribal forces in the western areas said that army and tribal mobilization forces liberated the important Dawar and Qutniya areas, located near the old Ramadi-Hit road. 20 Daesh terrorists were killed in the operation, which was backed by Coalition warplanes. He said that this was part of the process of clearing all areas of Anbar and destroying Daesh defenses surrounding the city of Hit. [Mada]
Hit/Kubaisa
A military source said Coalition warplanes destroyed over 45 targets in Hit and Kubaisa in the past 72 hours. The targets were fixed and movable, and described as being of strategic and important nature. Tens of Daesh terrorists were killed in these attacks. [Sumaria]
Iraqi warplanes attacked the Kubaisa cement factory, used by Daesh as a command center, killing numerous terrorists inside, IWMC said. [Harbi]
Coalition warplanes destroyed a Daesh guesthouse killing 20 terrorists in Kubaisa. [MoD Website]
Coalition warplanes destroyed 3 Daesh vehicles coming from Hit towards the Mohammadi area killing the terrorists inside them. [MoD Website]
Coalition warplanes destroyed 3 Daesh vehicles in Wadi Al-Hajiya south of Kubaisa killing the terrorists inside them. [MoD Website]
Ismail Al-Jumaili (Abu Aisha), a major Daesh leader and the mastermind of many terror operations against security forces, was killed by an Army Aviation (IAA) helicopter strike in Hit. The helicopters destroyed a house where Al-Jumaili was staying, and killed 8 of his companions as well, a security source in Anbar said. [Maalomah]
Lt. Saadoun Al-Ubaidi, spokesmen of the 14th Rapid Intervention brigade, said that IAA helicopters bombed Kubaisa and killed Rahim Al-Awadh, the wali of Kubaisa and four of his colleagues. The attack which also destroyed several weapons and vehicles was took advantage of prior intelligence. [Maalomah]
DaeshDaily comment. The most dangerous job in the world now is to be a Daesh wali in Iraq.
Iraqi forces killed 6 Daesh terrorists and destroyed a weapons storehouse and 2 rocket launchers near Jawa’na bridge in the Jazeera area east of Baghdadi. [MoD Website]
Coalition warplanes destroyed a Daesh hideout killing many terrorists in the Dolab area. [MoD Website]
Iraqi forces destroyed a Daesh vehicle carrying a machine gun in Mahboubiya in Hit district. [MoD Website]
Coalition warplanes destroyed a Daesh hideout killing “tens” of terrorists in the Nuaim area south of Baghdadi. [MoD Website]
Haditha
Army forces shelled Daesh positions in Baraziya and Jubba in northwestern Hit District toward Haditha, killing seven terrorists and destroying two vehicles, a security source in Anbar said. [Maalomah]
Coalition warplanes destroyed 6 truck bombs in Qusairat in Haditha District based on intelligence provided by the National Security Service, IWMC said. [Baghdadia]
A security source said that Iraqi Abrams tanks are now 50 km (31 miles) from Haditha after clearing all of the north Thirthar area, destroying 4 Daesh car bombs and three positions. (This is part of the military campaign that started in Jazeera Samarra.) Major General Maan Al-Saadi, commander of the 2nd special forces division, said that the next step might be an attack towards Haditha city. [Mawazin]
Iraqi troops destroyed 75 Daesh planted IEDs in Albu Hayat in Haditha. [MoD Website]
Western Anbar
IWMC said that the 1st battalion of Iraqi special forces repelled two Daesh attacks on Makr Al-Na’am border post near the Saudi border. The first attack was with one car bomb and 5 supporting vehicles, and the second with 11 vehicles. The vehicles were destroyed by mortar shells before arriving at their destinations. [Harbi]
Daesh’s version says its terrorists broke through an Iraqi Army brigade’s headquarters west of Nukhaib on the border with Saudi Arabia after 2 suicide attacks with armored vehicle bombs. Daesh says its terrorists entered the headquarters and killed more soldiers and captured weapons and vehicles. [Falh] [A3maq]
SALAHUDDIN
Shirqat
Ali Al-Jubouri is an Iraqi young man shot by Daesh while climbing a tower, where he threw down the Daesh flag and raised the Iraqi flag in its place. Al-Jubouri was part of a group in Shirqat operating against Daesh. [IraqPress]
Baiji
Iraqi forces killed 5 Daesh suicide terrorists in the Siniya-Haditha Road intersection. [MoD Website]
Tikrit
The IWMC says IFP troops shelled Daesh locations near Ajeel oilfield, killing 13 terrorists. [Ghad]
The IWMC says Iraqi forces rocketed Daesh locations in Himrin Mountains, killing 30 terrorists. [Ghad]
The IFP killed 13 terrorists and destroyed 2 mortar units when they responded with Katyusha rockets to 120mm mortar fire by Daesh in Ajeel. Another rocket attack on Daesh in Himrin killed and wounded 30 terrorists and destroyed 3 vehicles and 6 caravans, a statement by the JOC said. [Maalomah]
A video of Iraqi forces destroying a Daesh construction shovel bomb in Himrin Hills [Harbi]
Samarra
AAH units of the PMF found several “large tunnels” used by Daesh in Jazeera Samarra, according to a statement by the group. It added that large quantities of rockets were found tin these tunnels. [Mawazin]
A video of Daesh tunnels found in Jazeera Samarra by AHH fighters [Harbi]
Iraqi forces found a big Daesh vehicle bomb factory in Jazeera Samarra in addition to a vehicle bomb and tens of IEDs and explosives cans. [Ghad]
A video of Iraqi fighters destroying a charging Daesh vehicle bomb in Jazeera Samarra, with AKs and a lot of luck [YouTube]
A video of Humvees made by Daesh out of wood to deceive warplanes [YouTube]
Iraqi forces destroyed 9 IEDs in the Strategic Line area. [MoD Website]
Lt. General Ra’ed Shakir Jawdat, the commander of IFP said that his forces destroyed a vehicle bomb before it reached the IFP defensive line in the Khashm Al-Thirthar area, northwest of Siniya towards Haditha road. Jawdat also mentioned destroying another attacking car bomb in Qanater north of Baiji [Harbi] [IraqPress]
Iraqi forces destroyed 4 vehicle bombs and 4 tanker bombs in addition to 7 motorcycles and defused 4 booby-trapped houses and 12 IEDs in areas east of Thirthar Lake. [MoD Website]
Tooz
Three bodies were found decayed in an underground water tank in the Turkmen Bastamali village in Amerli subdistrict northeast of Tuz Khurmatu, a security source said. [Ghad]
Southern Salahuddin
4 persons from an armed group supposed made up of PMF members were killed while drilling a hole in a pipe extending from oil well number 2 in Balad with the objective of stealing oil. The resulting explosion killed the 4 thieves, according to a medical source in Salahuddin. [Ghad]
DIYALA
Baquba
Major General Jassem Al-Saadi, Chief of Diyala Police, said that the strategic Baghdad-Kirkuk road is fully secured, and that rumors of kidnappings along the road are not true. A recent report spoke about the kidnapping of 8 persons on that road, which Al-Saadi strongly denied. [Sumaria]
Col. Ghalib Al-Attiya, spokesman of Diyala police said that police forces shot dead a Daesh terrorist in the Kubashi area in Himrin who was trying to plant an IED on a power pole on the Mirsad power transmission line from Iran into Diyala. [Mada]
The Diyala Police Commander says the terrorist who was killed was a member of AQI and then became responsible for Daesh sleeper cells in Diyala. He was also responsible for three massacres against civilians in the Himrin area. [Sumaria]
Three mortar shells were fired by Daesh militants on Nahr Al-Imam village northeast of Baquba without causing human casualties, a security source said. The village is located in an agricultural area. [Sumaria]
Muqdadiya/Abu Saida
Tameem tribe issued a statement saying it ended its demonstrations after the government implemented some of its demands. [Mada]
KIRKUK
A 3 year old girl who was infected by the Daesh attack on Taza died of suffocation and kidney failure according to Masrour Aswad, a member of the Iraqi Human Rights Commission. He also says that four other people were transported to Baghdad because of their severe cases. [Rudaw]
The Kirkuk health directorate issued a statement advising citizens to stay away from the areas where Daesh rockets fell. [BasNews]
A local source says another baby girl died because of Daesh attack on Taza. [PUKMedia]
A security source says 4 more mortar shells filled with chemicals fell on Taza without giving details about the casualties. [BasNews]
Prime Minister Al-Abadi, ordered medical teams to go to Taza subdistrict immediately to examine the victims of the recent Daesh attacks, allegedly using chlorine, and to make use of international expertise if necessary. Calling it as a crime against humanity, he threatened a “very cruel retaliation.” The first death among the wounded victims of the shelling was announced yesterday. [Buratha]
Ahmed Al-Saadi, a spokesman of the PMF Commission, said that Bashir village liberation is useless unless Riyadh and Hawija, and several other surroundings areas are liberated as well. He said it is pointless to start a small attack to liberate Bashir while other nearby larger areas are under Daesh control. He said that once Jazeera Samarra operations are concluded, a comprehensive campaign to liberate the whole area, including Bashir, will be initiated. [Etejah]
The Turkmen mobilization forces are shelling Bashir village with artillery to prevent Daesh from shelling Taza subdistrict, according to Ridha Al-Najjar, of the 16th brigade of Turkmen PMFs. [Mada]
A PMF spokesman says Daesh launched 2 more Katyusha rockets filled with chemicals on Taza without causing any casualties. [Sumaria]
A Daesh leader was arrested by the agency in the vegetable market in Musalla in downtown Kirkuk, a security source said. Intelligence on his whereabouts was received prior to the operation. [Sumaria]
NINEWA
Mosul
Awwad Al-Baghdadi, the Daesh chief, granted absolute powers to his Arab and foreign commanders in Mosul to manage it in the next phase. Daesh divided Mosul into 10 sectors, and transferred 30 local leaders (mostly from Mosul, to the front lines in Anbar and Salahuddin to avoid any coup attempts, according to Jabbar Al-Maamouri, a PMF commander. [Sumaria]
DaeshDaily comment. We don’t know where the commander got this information.
Local sources say Daesh closed the Faisaliya area in Mosul on Thursday because of a big meeting of Daesh leaders in the area to discuss the upcoming Iraqi forces attack on Ninewa.
Daesh also executed several of its members who defected, in Ghazlani camp. [Karemlash]
A PUK official says Coalition warplanes destroyed a Daesh IED factory in the Karama area on the east side of Mosul. Coalition warplanes also bombed Daesh locations in Khorsabad, Tel Keif and Aski Mosul. The airstrikes killed 13 terrorists and wounded 18 and destroyed 5 vehicles in addition to Daesh occupied buildings. [MoD Website]
Daesh destroyed the house of the officer heading the protection unit for the Ninewa Operations Commander, in Al-Hod village in Qayara. No human casualties occurred, as the house is empty, according to a security source in Mosul. [Mada]
Local sources say Daesh imposed an additional plastic cover to the khimar used by women in Mosul forcing more women to stay in their houses. [Karemlash]
Nineveh Plain
A PUK official says Daesh terrorists destroyed 42 houses belong to army and police personnel in several areas in Nimrud. [PUKMedia]
Makhmur
Heavy artillery pieces and multiple rocket launchers are arriving to join Iraqi army forces in Makhmur, for the forthcoming Mosul operations, the IWMC said. (photos). [Harbi]
A PUK official says Coalition warplanes bombed Daesh hideouts in Qaraj in Makhmur District, killing 5 terrorists and wounding 3 and destroying a car. [PUKMedia]
Northwest Ninewa (Tal Afar, Sinjar)
Yazidi displaced people say Daesh terrorists started to burn down Yazidi houses and villages after looting them, in villages south of Sinjar still under Daesh control. [BasNews]
Daesh says one of its suicide terrorists attacked Kurdish forces with a car bomb in the Mudarrajat area west of Sinjar. [A3maq]
Other Governorates
KURDISTAN
Turkish planes destroyed two houses in Keshan border village in northern Dahuk, according to an eyewitness. Aziz Keshani said the attack left no human casualties, as the houses were empty, but destroyed the houses and caused material damage to surrounding orchards. [Sumaria]
An oil industry source says Turkey gave 200 million dollars to the KRG to help with the financial crisis. [Sumaria]
Another source says the movement of pipeline oil from the KRG to Ceyhan port in Turkey have resumed. The pipeline was damaged by an explosion in Turkish territory, stopping the flow of oil for more than 3 weeks. [Sumaria]
SOUTHERN IRAQ
Dhi Qar
The Dhi Qar governor Yahya Al-Nasiri said that security and army forces in Dhi Qar are ready for any possibilities resulting from Daesh terrorists retreating from Anbar and other liberated areas into southern Iraq. Save for criminal cases, Dhi Qar has been free from any terror activity for the past three years, the Governor said. [Shafaq]
Babel
The chairman of the security committee in Babel provincial council says security forces captured another Daesh sleeper cell in north Babel that was planning to conduct terrorist attacks. He says this is the 9th Daesh cell caught since the Al-Athar terrorist attack last week. [Sumaria]
REPORTS FROM SYRIA
Northeast (Hasaka, Raqqa)
In a sign of worsening tensions among Kurdish factions in Syria, the Asayesh of the PYD-dominated Self-Administration Area closed the local office of the pro-KDP Kurdish National Council in the village of Sayha in Qamishli, and the office of the “Yekiti Kurdish Party” in the village of Khazna. [Welati]
Northwest (Aleppo, Idlib)
Daesh says Syrian opposition groups, supported by American warplanes, captured the city of Yani Yaban in Aleppo’s northern countryside. [A3maq]
At first, Daesh says it repelled the attack, killing three Syrian opposition group fighters. [A3maq]
Syrian opposition groups, including the Turkey-backed Sultan Murad Brigade, issued a video announcing they captured Yani Yaban from Daesh. [YouTube]
DaeshDaily comment. It is almost precedent-setting for Daesh to admit losing any battle. They are great at twisting the facts to make it seem like they won.
The pro-YPG Hawar says the “Revolutionaries Army” (Jaysh Al-Thuwar) militia, which is part of the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF), killed two members of the “National Coalition” and “Kurdish National Council,” whose opposition militias are operating north of Aleppo. Hawar reports that the Revolutionary Army repelled an attack by the militias in the villages of Ayn Daqna, Menagh, and Al-Alqamiya, between Tal Rifaat and Azaz. Clashes are reportedly ongoing according to the report, which says elsewhere that “tens” of opposition militia fighters were killed by the Revolutionaries Army, which also destroyed two militia vehicles. [Hawar]
A YPG field source says Nusra and other armed groups attacked YPG locations in several areas in Azaz and Afrin. The source says 31 Nusra and its allies’ fighters were killed and 2 of their vehicles were destroyed. [BasNews]
The SDF repelled a Daesh attack west of the Tishrin Dam on Friday, destroying five vehicle bombs and killing 10 Daesh militants. [Hawar]
Daesh says two of its suicide terrorists attacked YPG forces, one with an armored vehicle bomb and the other with a car bomb, in two different areas near the Tishrin Dam (photos). [A3maq] [Falh]
Daesh publishes photos of shelling and rocketing YPG locations near the Tishrin Dam. [Falh]
YPG sources say Daesh shelled and rocketed several villages west and south of Kobane from Jarabulus. [BasNews]
The pro-YPG Hawar says that the SDF found a document in Tal Rifaat which shows that Syrian Kurdish militia of the KDP’s Syria branch (“Peshmerga Rojava”) were sent to fight alongside the Ahrar Al-Sham militia, which is allied to the Nusra Front in Aleppo, against the Syria Democratic Forces. [Hawar]
The Kurdish National Council in Syria, close to the Iraqi KDP, denied the reports and said the Rojava Peshmerga are fighting against Daesh in the Iraqi Kurdistan. [ARA]
DaeshDaily comment. If true, then this is significant news. The Peshmerga Rojava are Syrian fighters trained by the KRG in Iraqi Kurdistan to fight Daesh. The YPG refused many times to let them into Syria.
Coalition planes conducted six airstrikes on Daesh positions in support of opposition militias, who pushed Daesh back inside the city of Ghazl. [ARA]
Daesh launched mortars at the Qarqazuq Bridge Friday morning, Hawar reports. The shelling is reportedly ongoing. [Hawar]
Central and West (Homs, Hama, etc.)
Daesh says Russian warplanes bombed the road between Sukhnah and Tadmur with phosphoric bombs. [A3maq]
Daesh issues a video of the results of the bombing. [A3maq]
Daesh says its terrorists destroyed 2 Syrian Army tanks near the Hazm Mahin hills southeast of Homs. [A3maq] [A3maq]
Daesh says its terrorists destroyed a Syrian Army tank and an armored BMP vehicle in Dowa west of Tadmur (photos). [A3maq] [Falh]
Daesh publishes photos of the battles in Dowa. [Falh]
Daesh issues a video of the results of Syrian bombing on Hamadi Omar village in eastern Hama’s countryside. [A3maq]
East (Deir Ez-Zor)
In one of its most high-profile executions so far, Daesh put to death the Syrian poet Muhammad Bashir Al-Ani, and his son, some days ago, after accusing them of apostasy and atheism and arresting them two months ago, according to local activists. [Arabi21]
Daesh launched a campaign Friday to close pharmacies in the rural areas of Deir Ez-Zor under the pretext of combating the sale of forbidden medicines. [ARA]
South
Opposition militias repelled a Daesh attack in the cities of Al-Naqoub and Sakira, in the Daraa countryside, militia sources said. [Qasioun]
Daesh says its terrorists killed 10 Syrian opposition group fighters in an attack on Ain Al-Baidha village in Daraa. [A3maq]
Daesh publishes 2 photos of shelling Syrian troops with mortars in Qalamoun. [Falh]
OTHER MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA REPORTS
Neighboring countries
Lebanon
The Arab League declared Lebanon’s Hezbollah a terrorist organization, with objections from Iraq and Lebanon. [BasNews]
Lebanese authorities arrested a Syrian national on suspicion of belonging to Daesh, according to a statement issued on Friday, which also said that the suspect confessed to being in contact with Daesh leaders and helping Daesh move militants into Syria. [Aawsat]
Daesh issues a video message from its terrorists in Raqqa to the people of Lebanon. All Sunnis should join Daesh. All Christians should become Muslims or pay taxes to Daesh or they will be wiped out like the Shia and the Jews. The video also has the usual threats against the Lebanese government and Army. [Falh]
Saudi Arabia
A Saudi security source says Saudi security forces killed 4 Daesh terrorists and captured 2 in a raid on their hideout in Rabaa Al-Bakr Mountain in Ha’il. The terrorists were responsible for killing their own cousin, a Saudi corporal, four weeks ago (as we reported at the time). [Eye2Media]
North Africa
Egypt
Militants of “Ansar Bayt Al-Maqdis,” the organization now calling itself “State of Sinai,” murdered a civilian in his home in front of his family on Friday in North Sinai, a security source said. Three Ansar members stormed the victim’s home in Arish and killed the 50-year-old by smashing his head with a sharp object until he expired on the spot, the family said. The security source said the man was killed for calling for cooperation with the security forces. [ElWatan]
A young man was injured Friday when unknown gunmen fired on him in the village of Zarie Al-Khayr, east of Arish. [VetoGate]
Libya
2,750 Daesh terrorists have moved from Syria and Iraq to Libya, making their total number at 7,000 in Sirte only. Tunisia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said they were transferred from Turkey to Libya under the eyes of the whole world. [Shafaq]
Daesh’s Al-Naba newsletter published an interview with the new Daesh “emir” in Libya, a Saudi named Abd Al-Qadir Al-Najdi, who succeeds Abu Nuwayl Al-Anbari, reportedly killed in a US airstrike east of Derna last November. Al-Najdi denounced both governments of Libya (i.e. Tripoli and Tobruk) and said his fighters will conquer Rome. The Daesh state in Libya is in its infancy but will grow, he said, calling for immigrants from Africa to come to Libya to join Daesh. Al-Najdi said he is in regular contact with the Daesh leadership in Syria and Iraq. [Wasat]
Northeast
Libyan Army troops engaged Daesh in renewed fighting on the western front of Benghazi Friday evening after a day of relative calm in the city, a military source said. The fighting was concentrated near the University of Benghazi, where Libyan troops have been surrounding Daesh since last month. Fighting is ongoing, the source said. Fighting also erupted around the Cement Plant in the Hawari neighborhood and on the seafront area of Garyounis, the source said. A military spokesman said Libyan troops captured new areas in and around the sprawling cement plant complex in the fighting, which claimed the life of one soldier, felled by a Daesh sniper. [Wasat] [Wasat] [Wasat]
A Libyan engineer from the Military Engineering Corps was killed in a land mine explosion on the western front of Benghazi during the fighting with Daesh, the Corps announced. [Libya24]
Libyan MIG fighters have been upgraded with night-vision equipment, an Air Force source said. Libyan planes flew night missions over Benghazi for the first time Thursday evening. [AfriGate]
Northwest
Two people were killed and four injured in fighting with Daesh elements in the Wadi Marsayt area (60 km/37 miles south of Mizda, 400 km/250 miles southeast of Tripoli) as locals fought battles Thursday and Friday to expel Daesh from the area, a security source said. The fighting came after a Daesh contingent appeared Wednesday in the Mizda area and set up a checkpoint on a main road, detaining and releasing young men and abducting a policeman. [AfriGate] [Wasat]
Tunisia
Troops in Ben Guerdane have surrounded the house of the self-proclaimed Daesh “emir” of Ben Guerdane, “Muhammad Al-Kurdi” in the Siyah neighborhood of the city. [AkhbarLibya]
The deputy governor of Medenine governorate, who was responsible for Ben Guerdane, has been dismissed, the Tunisian authorities announced, without providing specific reasons. [IslamMemo]
SOCIAL MEDIA SOURCES
Facebook Page of the Day
An anti-Daesh page from Libya
Daesh Twitter Accounts of the Day
https://twitter.com/altw7eeed25
https://twitter.com/dawlawi238
Other Daesh media
An old video of Daesh terrorists torturing Sunni Iraqi men who refused to join Daesh [YouTube]
