March 18, 2016
Today’s Major Developments
Al-Sadr’s sit-in roils Baghdad and political leadership.
Coalition spokesman says Daesh has lost 40% of its territory in Iraq.
Iraqi forces advance on Hit and Kubaisa, as bombs on Daesh continue.
McGurk talks Ninewa liberation with Barzani, but also avoidance of post-Daesh issues over territory.
Syrian Army and Russian airpower continue advance on Tadmur in Homs Governorate.
Alleged Paris massacre leader arrested in Belgium.
REPORTS FROM IRAQ
BAGHDAD
Political developments
President Masoum calls for a meeting of political leaders on Saturday to solve the current crisis. [Sumaria]
In a meeting between Prime Minister Abadi and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, deputy chairman of the PMF commission, the latter said that we made a promise that there will be no Daesh in Iraq by the end of this year, and the PMFs are keen to keep that promise. [Maalomah]
Security developments
Sadrist protestors forced their way past security barriers to the gates of the Green Zone by force from Jumhuriya Bridge and the Alawi area, while BOC ordered security forces to prevent any gathering in the Green Zone. The pressure from thousands of protesters forced security forces to open the Jumhuriya and Sinak bridges as thousands headed toward the Green Zone. Security forces cut off Al-Qanat Street, and closed the areas of Shalchia, Utaifiya, Khadimiya, Benook, Shaab, and Hurriya. As the Sadrists were planning a mass prayer in front of the Green Zone, news reports said that the Presidential Brigade based in Jadriya rejected any involvement, either by banning or protecting the demonstrators. [Ghad] [Ghad] [Ghad] [Ghad]
Lt. General Abdul Amir Al-Shammari, the commander of Baghdad operations (BOC) was said to have been dismissed from office for allowing protestors to reach the Green Zone, and responsibility for Baghdad security was transferred to the Joint Operations Command (JOC). [Ghad] In his capacity as the Commander in Chief, Prime Minster Al-Abadi authorized the JOC to take charge of security in Baghdad, granting it all necessary powers. [Sumaria] Reports are that Lt. General Talib Shaghati, the commander of the JOC, will be Al-Shammari’s replacement. [IraqPress] In a further explanation, the IWMC said that the Commander in Chief ordered that BOC would be under the command of the JOC from now on. [Shafaq]
The Minister of Interior says MOI rejected a request for demonstrations and sit-ins in front of the Green Zone. [Sumaria]
However, a Sadrist CoR member says the Sadrists don’t need approval from anyone. [Sumaria]
A video and photos of demonstrates breaking the barriers and crossing to the Green Zone gates. [Sumaria] [Sumaria]
The state of full alert of army and security forces in Baghdad has been lifted, according to a military source. [Sumaria] All roads and access points in Baghdad are now open for traffic. [Ghad]
Moqtada Al-Sadr issued a statement describing the cooperation of security forces with demonstrators as “beyond expectations.” The PMF Commission called on the government to confine arms to security organizations and ensure the withdrawal of all militia presence from the cities. [Sumaria]
The Ministry of Defense denied a statement spread by social media that Minister Khalid Al-Obeidi is being dismissed from office, calling such news an “attempt by the fifth column” to spread doubts about the security situation. [Shafaq]
Col. Steve Warren, the Coalition spokesman, said that Daesh is now in a “defensive crouch” position after losing 40% of the area they were controlling in Iraq. [Sumaria]
Jawad Al-Tlebawi, spokesman of the AAH, said that the PMFs are resting now and that there are no serious developments in their fields of operation. He added that the PMFs are currently gathering intelligence on areas to be liberated in the coming days. [Mawazin]
The following security incidents were reported. Today’s incidents were concentrated heavily in South Baghdad.
North Baghdad
The MoD said security forces found a weapons cache in Meshahda in Tarmiya, in northern Baghdad Governorate, containing two containers of C4, several detonators, batteries, and an Austrian shell. The MoD also said Iraqi forces arrested 5 men wanted on terrorism charges. [SamaBaghdad]
Daesh says its terrorists killed an Iraqi soldier in his house in Tarmiya. [AKI]
East Baghdad
A large fire broke out in Souq Mraidi, in Sadr city. The reason is not yet known. [AIN]
Southeast Baghdad
An attack by a hand grenade on a wedding in Jisr Diyala area killed 2 and wounded 32 civilians. [AIN]
South Baghdad
A roadside IED placed in Arab Jabour area killed a minibus driver and another passenger, while wounding five civilians in the bus. [Mada]
Security forces defused an IED in Arab Jabour in south Baghdad. [MoD Website]
Daesh says it attacked a PMF fighter’s house in Alimaiya in Arab Jabour with a C5K rocket, burning the house and wounding the people inside. [AKI]
Daesh says its terrorists blew up a PMF fighter’s house in Mudhariya in Arab Jabour. After PMF fighters arrived in the area, Daesh terrorists shot at them wounding several of them. [AKI]
Daesh says one of its snipers killed a PMF commander in Sayafiya in Arab Jabour. [AKI]
Daesh says its terrorists killed a PMF fighter with an IED in Arab Jabour. [AKI]
Daesh says one of its snipers shot at a group of PMF fighters in the Manari area in Arab Jabour, killing one of them and wounding another. [AKI]
Security forces arrested a man wanted for terrorism charges in Hor Rijab in south Baghdad. [MoD Website]
Daesh says its terrorists destroyed an Iraqi Army Humvee in Rasheed District, killing the soldiers inside. [AKI]
An IED in a popular market in Yusufiyah killed one civilian and wounded eight others. [Mada]
Iraqi forces found several explosive materials and IEDs in Yusufiyah and Latifiya and arrested two men wanted for terrorism. [MoD Website]
Iraqi forces arrested 3 terrorists responsible for an IED attack that killed several soldiers in Sayyed Abdullah in Mahmudiya. [MoD Website]
The IWMC announced that 17th army division found two old weapons caches in Latifiya in south Baghdad, containing various weapons, ammunition, and explosives. [Ghad]
Total Baghdad incidents reported: 17 (Not an overall total)
A video of Iraqi forces raiding 2 Daesh guesthouses and an explosives hideout in Latifiya [MoD]
Coalition airstrikes Friday numbered 11 in Iraq and 9 in Syria, according to the Coalition command. Iraq attacks were in Falluja, Habbaniya, Hit, and Albu Hayat; Kasik, Qayara, and Sultan Abdullah. The airstrikes destroyed tactical units, vehicles, command centers, rocket launching and fighting positions, weapon storehouses, and heavy weaponry. Attacks in Syria were in Al-Hawl, Ain Essa, and Mare’, and targeted tactical units, vehicle bombs, and fighting positions. [Rudaw]
ANBAR
Falluja
Col. Mahmoud Murdhi Al-Jumaili, the commander of the 1st battalion of the Tribal Mobilization in Qarma said that battles in the Al-Ma’amel and Albu Sayeh areas near Qarma killed 40 terrorists. [Mada] Al-Jumaili also said that the 1st army division and tribal battalions are clearing the areas of Subaihat, Albu Jasim, and Al-Shihabi, towards the center of Qarma, killing 18 terrorists. [Mada]
Col. Al-Jumaili said that his forces killed 7 Daesh terrorists and wounded several others while advancing towards Subaihat. [Maalomah]
Daesh says one of its Moroccan suicide terrorists attacked Iraqi forces in the Juss Factory near Subaihat with a vehicle bomb. Daesh says its terrorists captured the factory killing or wounding the soldiers inside it. Daesh says 16 Iraqi soldiers were killed in the attack including a battalion commander. [AKI] [A3maq]
Iraqi forces destroyed a Daesh vehicle carrying a machine gun in Bustan Al-Tikriti south of Falluja. [MoD Website]
9th army division found an explosives and ammunition cache in Halabsa village 6, according to the MoD. The cache contained two explosives belts and one 20 liter container packed with C4. In Bani Zaid village 26 anti-tank rockets, 30 anti-personnel rockets, 20 rocket charges, 14 mortar shells wired as an IED, 6 SPG9 rockets, and 5 CK7 rockets. Additionally, the cache contained BKC and AK-74 barrels, two Katyusha rockets, one 155mm shell, 2 IEDs, 13 grenades, 6 rocket grenades, 8 detonators and 17.7 mm and 14.5 mm ammunition. [SamaBaghdad]
Ramadi
Anbar Operations Command (AOC) announced the arrest of “many” Daesh members who tried to escape liberated areas along with families evacuating battle areas. The command said that it has full information on persons who were fighting alongside Daesh. [Mawazin]
The MoD said an Iraqi airstrike killed 7 terrorists and destroyed a mortar unit and machine gun-mounted pickup truck in the Anbar Operations sector. [SamaBaghdad]
A video of a woman from Ramadi beating up 2 captured Daesh members [YouTube]
Hit/Kubaisa
A Coalition airstrike killed the emir of Kubaisa (a Libyan national) and 8 of his accomplices, the IWMC said. [Ghad]
Major General Ali Ibrahim Daba’oun, Commander of Jazeera Operations, said that hundreds of families are using the safe routes organized by the army to leave Hit and Kubaisa, heading towards safe areas in Al-Wafa, Al-Baghdadi, Zangoura, or Albu Tiban. [Sumaria]
An Anbar Operations Command source says Iraqi forces captured a group of Daesh terrorists trying to sneak out of Hit with the displaced families. [Mawazin]
Lt. Saadoun Al-Ubaidi, spokesman of 14th Rapid Intervention brigade in Haditha, said that army forces liberated the area of Hawdha near Hit after fierce fighting that left tens of Daesh terrorists killed. He said that Coalition warplanes provided valuable support to the operation, and that the army is advancing towards its targets. [Mada]
Hit is going to be liberated in the coming few hours after being surrounded from all areas, said Ali Dawood Al-Dulaimi, the chairman of Khaldiya subdistrict council. He said that artillery and planes are intensively attacking Daesh positions at the moment, awaiting the zero hour for entering the city. [Maalomah]
DaeshDaily comment: Ali Dawood is a wonderful news source, even on military developments far from Khaldiya. We wonder where he gets all his information.
Daesh says its terrorists executed five young men in Hit, accusing them of “spying” for the Iraqi government. [A3maq]
The attack on the large command center reported in Hit yesterday was performed by 30 Coalition warplanes which alternately shot 60 rockets on the 3-story building, destroying it completely. The Joint Operations Command said that local intelligence was provided on this building which was a new incomplete hospital, where the basement was used to shelter top commands while other stories were command rooms and weapons storehouses. The strike killed tens of foreign, Arab, and local terrorists, the JOC said. [AIN]
Major General Ismail Al-Mahalawi, commander of Anbar Operations, said that the air bombardment on Hit killed over 57 Daesh terrorists and destroyed much of their equipment. [Maalomah]
Ibrahim Al-Jassem, hisbah official of Hit, and eight of his accomplices were killed in an Army Aviation helicopter attack, according Lt. Saadoun Al-Ubaidi, spokesman of 14th Rapid Intervention brigade. He described Al-Jassem as a “very dangerous terrorist” and the mastermind of many terror operations. [Maalomah]
Coalition warplanes destroyed a Daesh vehicle bomb south of Kubaisa. They also destroyed a rocket launcher and several rockets in Dolab north of Hit. [MoD Website]
Haditha
A source in Anbar Operations said large cargo planes have transported many US-made tanks and APCs to Ain Al-Asad base in Baghdadi west of Baghdad to participate in west Anbar operations. Rockets and other weapons were onboard as well, the source said. [BasNews]
SALAHUDDIN
Shirqat
Jabbar Al-Maamouri, a PMF commander, said that Shirqat is about to revolt against Daesh, and that signs of that can be noted. He said that in March, over 10 attacks on Daesh centers and leaders were reported and that Daesh’s execution of 16 people, including children and elderly persons, just added to the tension. [Sumaria]
Baiji
Three machine guns and a Daesh command center were destroyed and 20 terrorists killed, near Baiji operations sector, the MoD said. It added that an airstrike in Harariyat area destroyed a Daesh command center and a truck carrying five terrorists. [SamaBaghdad]
Iraqi forces, supported by IAA helicopters, stopped a Daesh attack on the Siniya-Haditha Road destroying 3 vehicles carrying machine guns and killing 25 terrorists. [MoD Website]
Daesh says its snipers killed two Iraqi soldiers near Siniya. [AKI]
Iraqi forces destroyed a Daesh vehicle and a hideout and killed 2 terrorists in the Makhoul Mountains area. [MoD Website]
Tikrit
The Daesh emir of Shirqat and Hawija and 11 of his associates were killed by 5th army division units in Allas oil field east of Tikrit, the MoD said. [SamaBaghdad]
Daesh says its terrorists detonated 2 IEDs, destroying 2 Iraqi Army vehicles and killing or wounding the soldiers inside them near Ajeel oilfield. [AKI]
Iraqi forces defused 4 IEDs in the Qadisiya area in Tikrit. [MoD Website]
Samarra
Samarra Operations Command troops found an explosives factory and dozens of IEDs in Jazeera Samarra. [MoD Website]
Tooz
Unknown armed men shot and wounded a civilian in his car near Bankaja village, in Tooz District, according to a security source in Salahuddin. [Sumaria]
DIYALA
Baquba
The Diyala Chief of Police says 2 persons wanted on terrorism charges were arrested in Baquba. [Sumaria]
A special security unit rescued two persons after they were kidnapped near Baquba, a security source said. [Maalomah]
Muqdadiya/Abu Saida
Daesh says its terrorists detonated an IED on an Iraqi Army patrol in Um Al-Khanazir village in Abu Saida, wounding one soldier. [AKI]
KIRKUK
Taza
The Chairman of the CoR’s Human Rights Committee says a fourth child, a ten year old girl, died of wounds suffered in the Daesh chemical attack. [Sumaria]
Hawija
An F-16 Iraqi airstrike on Al-Juhaish village near Hawija killed 14 terrorists, many of them among those who mutilated the bodies of the three Iraqi pilots on the Cessna that went down in the area. [Sumaria]
IAF warplanes destroyed a vehicle near Hawija, killing three terrorists, a security source said. [Mada]
Daesh says Iraqi planes bombed Hawija hospital, causing massive damage. [A3maq]
A video of a house being blown up by Daesh in Hawija [YouTube]
NINEWA
Makhmur
For the second day in a row, Coalition airstrikes hit Daesh positions in several villages around Makhmur, killing tens of Daesh terrorists, according to Rashad Kalali, PUK official in Makhmur. He said that Thursday night witnessed a wave of Coalition attacks on targets near Qayara, where two Daesh leaders were killed. [PUKMedia]
Other Governorates
KURDISTAN
President Barzani met in his office with Brett McGurk, the US presidential envoy, and discussed the American support for the Peshmerga and the ongoing preparations to liberate Mosul. However, McGurk also stressed creating an agreement between Baghdad and Erbil for the after-liberation stage to avoid any disputes about managing the liberated areas. They also discussed the situation in Syria and the idea of federalism, and the problems between Turkey and the PKK. [Rudaw]
McGurk and Ambassador Jones also met with PM Nechirvan Barzani and discussed the war on Daesh. Barzani says he was ready to solve the internal issues in Kurdistan by communicating with all sides, and he has already taken made the necessary steps to make that happen. [Rudaw]
DaeshDaily comment. McGurk’s emphasis on the post-liberation arrangements is the critical and correct message. The President and McGurk deserve credit for addressing this directly, and the US will need to continue its diplomatic stance on this problem to discourage further Barzani territorial pronouncements. The most important requirement for post-Daesh Iraq is to settle the ongoing territorial and other disputes between Baghdad and Erbil.
To make that realistically possible, the warring Kurdish politicians need to negotiate their way to a more stable and less corrupt KRG. It’s good that Prime Minister Barzani has a plan, but he has had months to propose one and has so far chosen to remain part of the problem.
Jaafar Mustafa, member of the PUK politburo, warned that Daesh might use its chemical weapons to maximum effect if it feels that its collapse is near. He added that Kirkuk and Erbil are in the Daesh chemical weapons range. [IraqPress]
SOUTHERN IRAQ
Kerbala
Security forces in Kerbala repelled the attempts of demonstrators to start a sit-in. Ant-riot soldiers attacked demonstrators in front of the provincial government building with batons, press sources said. [Mada]
REPORTS FROM SYRIA
Northeast (Hasaka, Raqqa)
Hasaka
A Coalition drone strike targeted two Daesh vehicles south of Hasaka on Thursday, killing a prominent Daesh commander, Abu Dayala Al-Homsi, and a group of his associates, an activist said. The vehicles were reportedly headed from Deir Ez-Zor toward Daesh’s front lines with the Syria Democratic Forces in southern Hasaka. [ARA]
A landmine exploded in the village of Nasariya, southwest of Hasaka, on Thursday, killing a young man and wounding four other civilians, an Asayish source said. [ARA]
A video of people in south Hasaka celebrating their liberation from Daesh by Syria Democratic Forces [YouTube]
Raqqa
Planes believed to belong to the Syrian Air Force conducted eight airstrikes in central Raqqa on Friday, killing more than 17 civilians including women and children, as well as wounding an unspecified number of people. [Qasioun]
A group of defecting Syrian Army officers in Turkey announced the formation of the “Eastern Tribal Army,” claiming a mission of fighting Daesh in Raqqa, Deir Ez-Zor, and Aleppo, in order to return these areas to the control of the Syrian opposition. The new militia includes tribal fighters from these areas. The group said it would coordinate with “brotherly countries.” [Qasioun]
Daesh says warplanes launched airstrikes on Raqqa during Friday prayers without giving more details. [A3maq]
Daesh says 52 people were killed or wounded in Russian airstrikes on Raqqa (video). [A3maq] [A3maq]
A video of a Daesh terrorist, somewhere in Syria, gathering people publicly and threatening to cut them in half if their women don’t wear niqabs [YouTube]
Northwest (Aleppo, Idlib)
Aleppo
Opposition militias with Coalition air support recaptured the village of Dudyan north of Aleppo after heavy fighting with Daesh on Thursday, just after Daesh seized control of the strategic village. According to a militia fighter, the fighting claimed casualties on both sides and is still ongoing in the area where Daesh and opposition militias have been battling for control of the strategic zone on the Turkish border. [Qasioun] [ARA]
Daesh executed three women in Manbij city east of Aleppo on Thursday, on charges of communicating with their sons who are serving in the Syrian military, a source inside the city said. [Hawar]
The “Ahrar Raqqa Brigade” announced that it had joined the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF), at a press conference south of Kobane. The group announced that it was joining the SDF within the grouping of the “Euphrates Brigades,” which will themselves be announced soon, according to the group’s statement. (photo/video) [Hawar] [ARA]
FSA sources say the Sultan Murad Brigade (a Turkey-backed Syrian armed group) freed “tens” of Daesh terrorists in exchange for 6 of its fighters captured by Daesh in north Aleppo. [SotKurdistan]
Idlib
Fighting erupted in the Idlib countryside when the Ahrar Al-Sham militia attacked the Daesh-affiliated Jund Al-Aqsa militia in the city of Salqin during funeral services for the former wali of Homs, Hassan Aboud (see below), who is originally from Idlib. Ahrar Al-Sham fighters destroyed the funeral tent and the furniture inside, a resident reported. Sporadic clashes broke out in the city as Ahrar Al-Sham erected checkpoints to look for Daesh movement in the town, the source said. [ARA]
Central and West (Homs, Hama, etc.)
The Daesh “wali” of Homs, Hassan Aboud, known as “Abu Abdu Sermin” died Wednesday of injuries sustained in earlier battles with Syrian Army troops near the Khanasir area, south of Aleppo. [Arabi21]
Syrian army troops continued to advance on Daesh on Tadmur (Palmyra) east of Homs city. Syrian Army troops and their Lebanese Hezbollah militia allies are supported by Russian air power, as the Syrian Army attempts to enter the Daesh-held city. Syrian troops and Daesh also battled near Qaryatayn city east of Homs amid heavy artillery and rocket fire on the city from Syrian units. Russian planes are carrying out 20 to 25 raids per day on Tadmur, a Russian general said in Moscow on Friday, but the Syrian advance has been limited and has stalled on the outskirts of the city. [Arabi21] [Qasioun]
Daesh says its terrorists stopped a Syrian Army attack on Dowa and destroyed a tank. [A3maq]
Daesh publishes photos of shelling and rocketing Syrian troops in Dowa. [AKI]
Daesh says its terrorists destroyed a Syrian Army vehicle on the road between Homs and Tadmur, killing or wounding the soldiers inside it. [AKI]
Daesh issue a video of battles near Tadmur. [AKI]
Daesh issues photos of shelling Syrian troops with mortars near Qaryatayn. [AKI]
Daesh says its terrorists captured Al-Barda mountain east of Qaryatayn. [AKI]
South
Daesh publishes photos of its terrorists attacking Syrian troops in East Qalamoun. [AKI]
OTHER MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA REPORTS
North Africa
Egypt
A girl of secondary school age has reportedly disappeared under mysterious circumstances in Arish city in North Sinai governorate. It is feared she may have been abducted by unknown captors. [VetoGate]
Daesh says its terrorists attacked a 14-vehicle Egyptian Army convoy near Sidra south of Sheikh Zuweid and forced them to flee. [AKI]
Libya
Northeast
A “well-placed source” in Derna says Daesh fighters attempted to advance in the “400” neighborhood along with launching attacks on the Mujahidin Derna Shura Council (MDSC) and allied local fighters, from Daesh positions in overlooking the city. MDSC responded with artillery fire, forcing Daesh into retreat, the source said. Libyan planes carried out sorties over the “400” area, the source said. [Wasat]
Benghazi’s municipal council has declared that Saturday will be an official holiday in and around the city to commemorate the defeat of an attack by an armed convoy on the city during the Libyan Revolution of 2011. [Wasat]
Benghazi’s security and military agencies held a meeting of agency heads Thursday to discuss a plan for securing the city. [AfriGate]
A military source denied that armed groups had shot down a military aircraft in the Al-Hawari neighborhood of Benghazi. [AfriGate]
Daesh says its terrorists attacked a Libyan Army vehicle with light weapons in Hawari in Benghazi, killing two soldiers. [AKI] Daesh also says its terrorists attacked another Libyan Army vehicle with an IED in Hawari, killing five soldiers, and burned a third vehicle after attacking it with light weapons. [AKI]
Central Coast
Daesh executed a man in Bin Jawad on charges of espionage, after executing a man in Sirte on Thursday on the same charge. Both were killed with gunshots. [Wasat]
An unidentified foreign plane landed Thursday at Ras Lanuf airport without permission from the Libyan aviation authorities, according to Saqr Al-Jaroushi, the Chief of Staff of the Libyan Air Force, who described the landing as a violation of Libyan sovereignty and international law. Al-Jaroushi also said that Ibrahim Jadhran ordered the his Facilities Protection Guard to receive the plane and that Jadhran then met with the passengers in a residential area of Ras Lanuf. [AfriGate]
In what could be a related story, a well-placed source reported that a delegation representing the Prime Minister-Designate of the Government of National Accord, Fayez Al-Sarraj traveled by plane to Ras Lanuf and met with Ibrahim Jadhran on Thursday. The parties were reportedly discussing a proposal to make Ras Lanuf the headquarters of a national unity government but did not reach agreement, according to the source. [LANA]
Northwest
Troops of the “Special Deterrence Force” raided a house in Tripoli on suspicion of Daesh presence there, after receiving a tip from a resident, according to the media officer of the Special Deterrence Force. After interrogating the residents, all were released, the source said. [AfriGate]
Tunisia
Six young men were arrested in the city of Tataouine on suspicion of trying to travel to Libya to join Daesh. The six have been referred to the anti-terrorism court in the capital, Tunis, for prosecution. A statement by the National Guard said that eight young men were prevented from entering Libya to join with a group of 14 who were known to have crossed into Libya in recent weeks. [Tunisien]
Algeria
Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal has stated that Algeria will play no part in any international intervention in Libya, warning against the possible negative consequences of such action. [Wasat]
Other countries
Belgium
As has been widely reported, a key suspect in November’s deadly attacks in Paris that killed 130 people, which were claimed by Daesh, has been arrested in a shootout in Brussels. The Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel announced Friday that Salah Abeslam and two other suspects were captured in the Molenbeek area of the Belgian capital. [Reuters (English)]
SOCIAL MEDIA SOURCES
Facebook Page of the Day
A Daesh media page
Daesh Twitter Accounts of the Day
https://twitter.com/muhamme15504479
https://twitter.com/ataalashwasi
Other Daesh media
Daesh audio newsletter for today in Arabic [AKI]
Daesh issues a video about the inevitability of its caliphate and the conflict with the West. [AKI]
Daesh issues infographics about the types of planes its terrorists shot down. [A3maq]
