An Update On ISIS Activities

October 17, 2016

October 17, 2016

ninewa-map

Today’s Major Developments

Mosul liberation campaign is launched east and south of the city. [..]

Internal revolt hits Daesh in Mosul. [..]

Multiple reports say Daesh fighters are escaping Mosul for Syria; some don’t make it. [..]

Resistance fighters in Mosul start attacks on Daesh personnel. [..]

Some worried Daesh members, supporters already trying to switch sides. [..]

Peshmerga, Iraqi troops capture several villages in Nineveh Plain, Makhmur. [..]

Suicide terrorists take deadly toll in Baghdad attacks. [..]

Combined Iraqi forces launch air, mortar attacks on Daesh in Hawija. [..]

Turkey police alerted to Daesh plot against civilian aviation. [..]

Apocalypse town of Dabiq, Syria is taken from Daesh by opposition groups. [..]

Italian newspaper reports Daesh trades treasured Libyan artifacts for weapons from the Mafia. [..]

 

REPORTS FROM IRAQ

 

NATIONAL NEWS

Iraq finally launched its Mosul liberation campaign. This is covered in the Ninewa section below.

 

Thousands of people demonstrated in front of the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad protesting the Turkish military presence in Bashiqa. Moqtada Al-Sadr had called on his followers to demonstrate. [Sumaria]

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the Turkish delegation that arrived in Baghdad and was headed by the Turkish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs submitted suggestions that were not accepted by the Iraqi government regarding the Turkish military presence in Iraq. It says Iraq is depending on its own military forces to liberate Ninewa and doesn’t any need any outside forces on the ground. [Sumaria]

 

The KRG President Masoud Barzani says there is an agreement between Baghdad and Erbil regarding the future of the liberated areas. He also says terrorism cannot survive as long as there is cooperation between Baghdad and Erbil. [Sumaria]

 

The Coalition says it conducted 11 airstrikes on Daesh targets in Iraq, nine in Ninewa, in or near Mosul (4), Qayara (1), Tal Afar (2), Kasik (1), and Sinjar (1); and two in Rawa, northwest Anbar. [InherentResolve]

 

BAGHDAD

Security-related incidents reported

Center (Rusafa, Karkh, etc.)

On Sunday, a suicide terrorist blew himself up in a Shia religious gathering in Jadriya, killing two people and wounding four. [AYN] Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack. [A3maq]

A security source says 12 people were killed and 25 wounded when a gas pipe exploded accidently in Salhiya. [IraqPress]

 

Northeast (Adhamiya, etc.)

On Saturday, a suicide terrorist detonated himself at a tribal funeral in Shaab, killing twenty-seven people and wounding thirty-eight. [Mada] Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack. [A3maq]

 

East (Sadr City, New Baghdad, etc.)

A security source says one person was killed and five wounded when an IED exploded near a busy market in the Amin Thaniya area. [Ghad]

 

South (Dora, Yusufiyah, Mahmudiya, etc.)

A security source says a suicide terrorist attacked a checkpoint in Latifiya with an explosives vest, killing or wounding several people. [Mada] A police source says the attack was conducted by a vehicle bomb. [Sumaria]

 

Daesh says one of its Iraqi suicide terrorists attacked a joint Army and police checkpoint in Dora with a vehicle bomb, killing twelve service members and wounding more than thirty. [DawaAlhaq]

 

A security source says the Intelligence Service captured 2 more Daesh suicide terrorists (17 and 19 years old) in South Baghdad. The source says the 3 suicide terrorists were coordinating their actions. [Mada]

 

Iraqi Army 25th brigade found a weapons cache in Khtaimiya. Iraqi Army 25th brigade found 3 IEDs in the Quwam area. [BOC Facebook Page]

 

Total Baghdad incidents reported:   8      (Includes only incidents reported)

 

ANBAR

Rutba/Western Anbar

A Haditha PMF commander says the IAA targeted a Daesh convoy in Al-Qa’im, killing 12 terrorists, including foreign commanders. [Maalomah]

 

A military source says an Iraqi Army unit rocketed a Daesh guesthouse in Rawa, killing 12 terrorists. [Sumaria]

DaeshDaily comment. This is the first we have heard about army ground units operating in Rawa.

 

Daesh publishes photos of a purported attack on Iraqi forces east of Rutba. The photos don’t show any battles or casualties. [DawaAlhaq]

 

Daesh published photos of destroying an Iraqi Army pickup vehicle with an IED east of Rutba. [DawaAlhaq]

 

Daesh publishes photos of “normal life” in Anah city. [DawaAlhaq]

DaeshDaily comment. This typical propaganda is a definite clue that life is no longer normal in Anah.

 

SALAHUDDIN

Shirqat

The Mayor of Shirqat District says the IAA targeted Daesh locations in areas east of the river in the District, destroying 5 headquarters and killing or wounding large numbers of terrorists. [Sumaria]

 

On Saturday, Daesh said it conducted 3 suicide attacks on Iraqi forces in the Tilul Al-Baj area, killing thirty soldiers and wounding others and destroying 2 tanks and 9 vehicles. It also says it killed four more soldiers in an attack in the same area. [A3maq]

 

A security source a Daesh sniper killed one Iraqi soldier and wounded four soldiers and PMF fighters in Shirqat. [Mada]

 

Daesh publishes photos of Iraqi suicide terrorists they say conducted attacks on Iraqi forces with vehicle bombs in the Tilul Al-Baj area. [DawaAlhaq]

Daesh publishes photos of 2 suicide attacks with vehicle bombs on Iraqi forces “on the outskirts” of Shirqat city. [DawaAlhaq]

 

Daesh says it stopped a PMF attack on Misahaq village. [A3maq]

 

Daesh publishes photos of burning down an Iraqi Army tent in the Tilul Al-Baj area. [DawaAlhaq]

DaeshDaily comment. Daesh media strategists seem to be getting desperate for material.

 

Baiji

Daesh says it conducted an attack on Iraqi forces near the Oils Factory, northeast of Baiji. [A3maq]

 

Southern Salahuddin

Daesh says 2 of its suicide terrorists attacked a Tribal PMF gathering in the Ishaqi area, killing seventeen fighters and wounding nineteen. [A3maq]

However, the real story, according to a member of the Security Committee in the Salahuddin Provincial Council, is that Daesh terrorists broke into the house of a Tribal PMF commander and killed his wife and three children and mutilated their bodies. [Ghad]

 

A Samarra Operations Command source says the IAF destroyed 4 Daesh vehicles, killing several terrorists, in the Mtaibija area. [Mada]

 

DIYALA

Baquba/southeast Diyala

The Diyala Police chief says a man and a woman were arrested on terrorism charges in Diyala. [Buratha]

 

Northern Diyala (Kifri, Khanaqin, etc.)

A PMF commander says a joint security force captured a former Saddam army colonel in the Safra area. He says the man had joined Daesh and participated in many terrorist attacks in Diyala.  [Sumaria]

 

A PMF commander says Daesh blew up five irrigation water pumps in the Al-Hawi area. He says Daesh is trying to prevent displaced families, who live from agriculture, from returning. [Sumaria]

 

A PMF commander says Iraqi forces found a secret Daesh training camp east of Himrin Hills. [Harbi]

 

KIRKUK

Hawija

A PMF commander says Iraqi Army units, Peshmerga, and PMFs targeted Daesh locations in Hawija with mortars. He also says warplanes destroyed several Daesh headquarters in Hawija. He says the plans to liberate Hawija have been completed and a ground attack is upcoming. [Maalomah]

 

Daesh publishes photos of the motorcycles market in Hawija. [DawaAlhaq]

DaeshDaily comment. These are just to show everyone that life is still normal in Hawija (as the bombs and mortar rounds fall).

 

A local source says 6 Daesh terrorists were killed in Hawija when they tried to remove a booby-trapped Iraqi flag planted by young people from the city. [Mada]

 

A security source says the IAF destroyed a Daesh vehicle bomb factory in Hawija, killing 23 terrorists. [Mada]

 

Daesh issues a video of a mosque in Hawija that was destroyed by an Iraqi airstrike. [A3maq]

 

Southwest

A PMF faction says a Daesh fighter surrendered in Bashir after the PMFs issued a warning to Daesh members to surrender before the liberation of Hawija. [Mada]

 

NINEWA

Prime Minister Abadi announced the start of Mosul liberation campaign early Monday. Most of the official military action was east and south of the city, but a lot of resistance broke out within the city. [Sumaria]

 

Mosul

Military developments in Mosul

Daesh policemen mounted a “coup” against Daesh’s “caliph” Awwad Baghdadi on Monday, taking to the streets of Mosul in their vehicles and announcing on loudspeakers that Baghdadi had fled Mosul for Raqqa, and that his rule in Mosul had ended, according to a local source in Ninewa, local source said.

This coup attempt was reportedly led by the commander of the police, known as “Abu Othman,” said to be originally from Mosul. The police also announced that Baghdadi’s wife had been arrested, a local source said.

Baghdadi supporters in return called for the rebelling police to hand themselves in immediately. Daesh’s elite “Usra Army,” reportedly responding to a call by Baghdadi himself, seized eight major Daesh police stations after heavy fighting that lasted around two hours, the source added. Bodies were seen lying around the sites of the combat. Baghdadi also reportedly issued orders to kill seven police commanders in the wake of the coup attempt, a local source said. [Sumaria] [Sumaria]

DaeshDaily comment. It’s impossible to evaluate these “local source” reports without confirmation and further information. One possible explanation is that the Islamic police reported to be rebelling are local Daesh members who are trying to save themselves by making a dramatic show of switching sides. There will be more of that, but the defectors won’t necessarily be newly converted government supporters.

 

Fighting erupted between the Daesh police and Usra Army near the Daesh “Bayt Al-Mal” or treasury in central Mosul, after around 20 police arrived in five vehicles and attempted to storm the building, which was under guard by Usra Army members, a local source said. The Islamic Police have reportedly not received their salaries in three months. The source said they were attempting to seize money from the treasury and flee the city. The clashes are still ongoing and Usra Army fighters are deploying in the city, the source added. [Sumaria]

 

The JTRN [Army of the Naqshbandi Order] issued two statements on Sunday threatening any PMFs who enter Mosul, and talking about operations it conducted against Daesh in Ninewa. [Ana Al-Muslim]

DaeshDaily comment. Shamelessness has no limits with some people. This is the same Baathist organization that helped Daesh to take over Mosul, Tikrit, and other places; and to kill Iraqi soldiers and civilians; and it issued statements welcoming the foreign terrorists. Now it is suddenly talking about “resisting” Daesh. This is another story about Daesh supporters switching sides. It did not take long for these stories to start showing up. We are left to ponder why these traitors are talking from Erbil.

 

Fighting has erupted in multiple areas on both sides of Mosul between resistance fighters and Daesh members, local sources report. [Mawsleya]

Despite Daesh’s calls for support over its loudspeakers, Mosul residents have not responded to help Daesh, local sources said. [Mawsleya]

 

A Ninewa Governorate Council member said that Daesh had fled “en masse” from Mosul toward Syria through the Baaj District. [Maalomah]

Daesh fighters fled Mosul heading toward Syria but were not targeted by Coalition airpower, according to Riad Kildani the commander of the Babylon Brigade, a Christian PMF. [Mada]

However, an airstrike targeted a column of black armored vehicles in the Al-Ghabat area, a local source said. Such vehicles are known to be a common mode of transport for high-ranking Daesh members. A local source said that a commander in the Usra Army and a number of his associates were killed in that strike. Daesh vehicles carried the wounded away to hospitals while other Daesh members fired their weapons randomly in the air. [Sumaria] [Sumaria]

Another local source says warplanes destroyed a Daesh convoy of 30 vehicles that was trying to escape to Raqqa. [Sumaria]

 

Daesh families are fleeing Mosul for the Shabak village of Nawaran near Bashiqa amid heavy shelling on Daesh sites that destroyed over 43 targets in the city including residences, barracks, and storehouses, a Ninewa security source said. Daesh members in the city have begun to shave their beards and shed their “Afghani” dress styles the source added. [Sumaria]

DaeshDaily comment. This last story suggests that although the terrorists fled west, their families fled east into enemy territory. The resolution of this apparent contradiction will have to come later.

 

A local source says Daesh moved large amounts of money from banks and other places in Mosul to unknown locations using “refrigerator trucks”.  [Karemlash]

 

Kata’eb Al-Mosul says resistance fighters captured a Daesh weapons storehouse in the Nabi Sheeth area after killing 5 guards. It says the fighters distributed the weapons to people. [KM Facebook Page]

 

Unidentified gunmen shot two Daesh commanders dead in central Mosul on Monday, a local source said. [Maalomah]

 

Unknown individuals burned three Daesh offices in Mosul west of the Tigris Monday morning, hours after Daesh vacated the offices, a local source said. [Sumaria]

 

Residents of Mosul are monitoring Daesh movements in the street and reporting them to the Iraqi security authorities, unidentified sources said. [Mawsleya]

 

Daesh members have withdrawn from Mosul’s streets and have launched surveillance aircraft (drones) over the city to monitor activity, local sources say. [Mawsleya]

 

Mosul military campaign

Coalition planes targeted a boat-borne bomb near the Hurriya [“Freedom”] Bridge, causing an explosion that damaged the bridge, according to sources in the city. [Mawsleya]

Daesh issues 2 videos of Hurriya Bridge after it was allegedly destroyed by “American” airplanes. [A3maq] [A3maq]

 

The Deputy Governor of Ninewa says US troops conducted an airdrop operation on the Mishraq Sulphur Factory in order to prevent Daesh from destroying the factory and burning up the chemical materials there. [BasNews]

 

Photo shows a captured Daesh “State of Ninewa Raiding Brigade” vehicle captured by advancing Iraqi troops after the Daesh fighters fled and abandoned them. [Sumaria (photo)]

 

Daesh’s security official for the south Mosul sector, Ahmad Khitab Omar, was killed in the fighting, according to a statement issued by PMF media. [Mada]

 

Conditions in Mosul

Daesh’s wireless communication network stopped functioning after 11am Monday after airstrikes targeted network infrastructure near the Al-Ghazlani base east of Mosul, a local source said. [Sumaria]

Daesh has completely cut Internet access to all of Mosul as of Sunday night, cutting Moslawis off from the outside world, according to Ninewa Police Commander Col. Wathiq Al-Hamdani. [IPA]

 

Daesh executed four civilians in the Bab Al-Tob neighborhood of Mosul on allegations of providing information to the Iraqi security services. [Mawsleya]

Daesh issues a video of executing ten men in Mosul after accusing them of being spies.

[DawaAlhaq]

Daesh publishes photos of executing three men after accusing them of spying. [DawaAlhaq]

 

Daesh has deployed its fighters around the Great Mosque in central Mosul to look for a young man from Mosul who is said to have raised the Iraqi flag over the mosque earlier, according to a local source. This is the same mosque where Daesh “caliph” Awwad Baghdadi announced the Daesh “caliphate” two years ago. [Sumaria] [Sumaria]

Daesh has turned Mosul’s mosques into military operations centers and forbidden prayers in them, a source in Mosul said. [Sumaria]

DaeshDaily comment. This is an old trick in Iraq. Daesh knows that a mosque is unlikely to be bombed, making it safer to operate there. Even if it gets bombed, the enemy gets the blame for desecrating the mosque.

 

Daesh issues a video of interviews with people from Mosul talking about “normal life” in the city. [A3maq]

DaeshDaily comment. That’s three such videos in one day! Life must really be peaceful and happy in the caliphate.

 

100 families from Mosul fleeing from the fighting arrived in Syria. [Dorar]

 

Shura/Hammam Alil

See IFP story below

 

Daesh says it damaged an Iraqi Army Abrams tank with an SPG9 rocket in the Qayara intersection, south of Mosul. [A3maq]

 

Qayara/Makhmur

Daesh defenses are “deteriorating” south of Mosul according to the Iraqi Federal Police (IFP) Commander Ra’ed Shakir Jawdat. Daesh members were fleeing the advance of joint troops, he said. His troops raided three villages (Al-Hawd, Naif, Hamidat) on the southern front, he said. Fighting was still ongoing in these Daesh-held villages, he said. His units also killed three suicide bombers and destroyed five vehicle bombs, he announced. In a separate report the commander reportedly said his troops had advanced 6 km (3.7 miles) and had killed five Daesh members. Grad rocket units are participating on this front and have destroyed several Daesh targets, he said. [Mada] [BasNews] [Harbi] [Maalomah]

A video of IFP troops in Naif village [YouTube]

 

Residents of the village of Lazaga, next to Al-Hawd, rose up in arms against Daesh on Monday, killing many of them and forcing others to flee, a local source said. [Maalomah]

An audio recording of a wireless call between people from Lazaga village and the Iraqi Army. The people are asking military help after killing several Daesh terrorists. [YouTube]

 

Daesh says it destroyed an Iraqi Army bulldozer and damaged another south of Al-Hawd village. [A3maq]

Here Daesh says it destroyed an Iraqi tank, bulldozer, and armored vehicle near Al-Hawd. [A3maq]

Daesh issues a video of targeting an Abrams tank with a missile near Qayara. [A3maq]

 

Commander Jawdat also said that commandos and rapid-response units had stormed the village of Al-Najma in the oilfield area and were besieging Daesh positions in the Shura subdistrict farther north. His artillery and rocket units were attacking Daesh positions in the village. A PMF media source said that “security forces” destroyed two Daesh vehicle bombs in the village. [Harbi] [Harbi]

Daesh says it stopped an Iraqi forces attack on two villages west of Qayara. Daesh says 3 of its suicide terrorists attacked Iraqi forces with vehicle bombs, killing or wounding “tens” of soldiers, and destroying a tank and several vehicles. Daesh also says it damaged an Abrams tank and destroyed a Humvee and a bulldozer in battles north and west of Qayara. [DawaAlhaq]

 

The Iraqi Ninth Armored Division commander said his troops in neighboring Gwer subdistrict in Makhmur are 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the border of Hamdaniya District after reportedly advancing 5 km (3 miles) on Monday. Daesh has placed IEDs, earthen berms and trenches to impede the advance, the commander said. [Mada] [IPA]

The villages of Ibrahim Al-Khalil and Kani Harami were captured, and three others surrounded by Ninth Armored Division troops (35th Mechanized and 36th Armored Brigades), according to a Ministry of Defense statement. Another report says that the Iraqi troops captured seven villages in the area. [Mada] [Harbi]

 

Daesh says Iraqi forces and Peshmerga attacked 4 villages in the Gwer subdistrict in Makhmur but it stopped the attack, killing or wounding “tens” of soldiers and fighters. Daesh says the joint forces captured only 3 villages (Adla 17 miles from Qayara, Ibrahim Al-Khalil in Gwer, and the Shabak village of Bazkartan), from the southeastern side, while the attacks from the south failed completely. [A3maq]

 

Nineveh Plain

Iraqi Joint Operations announced in a statement that six villages east of Mosul were liberated Monday. The statement said that Iraqi troops were advancing toward Balawat village in Hamdaniya, just south of Qaraqosh (Bakhdida) and location of an important Assyrian historical site, and that military engineering units were clearing the Gwer-Mosul road of Daesh IEDs. [Mada]

Daesh says one of its suicide terrorists attacked the Iraqi Army with a vehicle bomb in Balawat village. [A3maq]

 

Bashiqa

Daesh reportedly sent 1,000 fighters to Mosul’s eastern front in Bashiqa and Hamdaniya to meet the advancing joint forces, according to sources in Mosul. [Mawsleya]

 

However, Iraqi troops have breached Daesh’s “third defensive line” after most Daesh defenders fled their posts on the line east of Mosul, a local source said. The defenders were mostly conscripted by Daesh to man the line. Daesh units shot dead some of those who fled into the streets of Mosul, a source said. [Sumaria]

 

Daesh members were reported fleeing from the village of Fadhiliya as the joint forces advanced, a Ninewa security source said. [Mada]

 

Local sources say 200 Turkish soldiers accompanied by 8 tanks and many armored vehicles arrived in Bashiqa. [Hawar]

 

A report in the pro-PYD Hawar cites a “well documented source” who claims that Turkish troops have participated in the operations wearing the uniforms of KDP Peshmerga fighters. [Hawar]

DaeshDaily comment. Given the media source, this report would need to be confirmed.

 

Tel Keif

A source in the “Ninewa Guard” (NG, formerly known as the NMF) organized by former governor Atheel Al-Nujaifi, has said that the NG is participating in operations alongside Peshmerga fighters in the Wanke subdistrict and near Mosul Dam. The NG is in “ongoing clashes” with Daesh northeast of Mosul the source said. [BasNews]

DaeshDaily comment. Some version of this self-serving story was predictable. As NMF spokesmen have been known to make it up in the past, it would need to be confirmed.

 

Hamdaniya

Joint Forces have captured nine villages on the Khazer front including the historic city of Nimrud southwest of Mosul and are heading for Hamdaniya city according to an Iraqi MP from the National Coalition. [Rudaw]

Peshmerga fighters captured three predominantly Shabak villages on the Khazer front. A separate report says Peshmerga captured seven villages in the area, according to a Ninewa security source. Peshmerga fighters are advancing toward the city of Hamdaniya, “Kurdish sources” say. [Mada] [Mada] [IPA]

A video of Peshmerga fighters destroying a Daesh vehicle bomb in Al-Khazer [YouTube]

 

Peshmerga fighters reportedly destroyed a Daesh vehicle bomb on the Khazer front, according to a military source. Peshmerga fighters were also reported to have destroyed an explosives-rigged tank targeting their positions near Bartella in Hamdaniya. It is unclear from the reporting if these two reports refer to the same or different Daesh attacks. [Harbi] [Harbi]

 

Daesh says it conducted two suicide attacks on the Peshmerga near Daesh-controlled Basakhra village in Hamdaniya. [A3maq] Daesh also says it destroyed a Peshmerga Humvee, damaged another, and destroyed 2 bulldozers there. [A3maq]

Daesh says the Peshmerga tried to attack its fighters from the rear in Basakhra and 4 other nearby villages. Contrary to other reports, Daesh says the Peshmerga couldn’t capture any village east of Mosul. [A3maq] [A3maq]

 

Daesh says Iraqi Army, PMFs, and Peshmerga, supported by Coalition planes, attacked several areas east of Mosul. Daesh says it conducted 9 suicide attacks on the attacking forces and targeted them with mortars and artillery, killing or wounding “tens” of them and destroying 6 vehicles. Daesh says the attacks are still ongoing. [DawaAlhaq]

In another account, Daesh says it conducted 6 suicide attacks on the Peshmerga in this area. [A3maq] [A3maq]

 

Five Peshmerga fighters were killed and seven others injured on the Khazer front Monday, a Peshmerga security source said. The injured include the son of prominent PUK official Kosrat Rasul Ali, the source added. [Sumaria]

 

Daesh says it destroyed a Peshmerga Humvee and a PMF Humvee in Kaberli village in Hamdaniya. [A3maq]

 

Najem Jubouri, the Ninewa Operations Commander, announced that Iraqi troops had recaptured “all oil wells” in Ninewa. He added that the burning wells that Daesh had ignited would not hinder operations. A security source said earlier that Daesh had ignited an unspecified number of oil facilities in Hamdaniya southeast of Mosul. Jubouri said that the number of wells ignited was only three, which Daesh had set ablaze before Iraqi troops could capture them. [Maalomah] [Maalomah]

 

REPORTS FROM TURKEY

 

[Late-breaking story]

 

The General Directorate of Police in Turkey sent a message to all 81 provincial police directorates in the country, dated October 12th, warning of potential Daesh attacks. The message is based on information received from the national intelligence service and warns that Daesh is planning attacks on civil aviation in Turkey, involving smuggling knives and other sharp objects or explosives hidden in electronic appliances onto commercial planes. Istanbul, Gaziantep, Ankara, Antalya and Izmir have been identified as the provinces where the risk of attack is greatest. [Cumhuriyet]

We thank our friend in Turkey for sending this story

 

REPORTS FROM SYRIA

 

The Coalition says it conducted 6 airstrikes on Daesh targets in Syria, on or near Manbij (1), Mare’ (1), Raqqa (1), Deir Ez-Zor (2), and Albu Kamal (1). [InherentResolve]

 

Northeast (Hasaka, Raqqa)

Hasaka

Daesh publishes two photos of targeting “PKK” positions east of Mount Abdul Aziz, 22 miles from Hasaka, with heavy artillery. [DawaAlhaq]

 

Raqqa

On Sunday, Daesh says eleven people were killed and three wounded in an “American” airstrike on Jarniya village, northwest of Raqqa. [A3maq]

 

Daesh issued a video of the results of an “American” airstrike on Daham village, north of Raqqa, which allegedly killed 20 people on Friday. [A3maq]

 

Daesh issues a video of an elementary school in Raqqa. [A3maq]

 

Northwest (Aleppo, Idlib)

Aleppo city

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday that Russian and Syrian forces will pause attacks on Aleppo for eight hours on Thursday to allow civilians and rebels to leave the city. [Reuters]

 

Al-Bab

Local sources say three civilians including a child were killed and another civilian wounded by a land mine in Mazra’at Shahin village, west of Al-Ra’i. [Hawar]

 

Daesh publishes photos of the results of Turkish Army artillery shelling on Habin village south of Al-Ra’i. [DawaAlhaq]

 

Daesh publishes 2 photos of the spoils it got from an attack on opposition groups in 3 villages south of Al-Ra’i. [DawaAlhaq]

 

Daesh says American planes conducted extensive airstrikes on Al-Ghawz village, east of Mare’. Daesh also says Turkish artillery launched more than 60 shells on the village. [A3maq]

 

Azaz

The small but much-publicized town of Dabiq, six miles from the Turkish border, was captured Sunday by Turkey-backed opposition forces. It is just another town on the map, but Daesh had elevated it to worldwide attention by adopting and promoting the seventh century Islamic prophecy that Dabiq would be the site of the final apocalyptic battle between Islam and the Christian West—under Daesh leadership of course. It even named its most important magazine Dabiq. The outcome Sunday was much less than Daesh had in mind. Its remaining fighters in the town ran off. (For Daesh’s official statement, see the Social Media section below.) [BBC]

 

Daesh shelled Um Al-Qura and Um Hawsh villages, without causing casualties. [Hawar]

 

Daesh says the “PKK,” supported by Russian warplanes (??), conducted a failed attack on Wahshiyah and Tal Qarah villages. [A3maq]

 

Daesh publishes photos of targeting Ghailaniya village with mortars. [DawaAlhaq]

 

Afrin

Two children and another civilian were killed and a woman wounded by a land mine in Maranaz village. [Hawar]

 

Manbij

Daesh publishes photos of targeting Um Al-Qura village with heavy machine guns. [DawaAlhaq]

 

Daesh publishes photos of targeting Maqta Hajar Kabir village, south of Manbij, with mortars. [DawaAlhaq]

 

Daesh publishes photos of targeting a Syrian Army position in Kafr Saghir village, near the industrial area, with heavy machine guns. [DawaAlhaq]

 

Other Northwest Syria

Thirty-two people were killed and sixty wounded in Russian airstrikes on Uwaijil village, west of Aleppo. [Dorar]

 

Daesh publishes photos of targeting Syrian Army positions in Rasm Al-Abd village, near the Kowaires airport, with locally made rockets. [DawaAlhaq]

 

Central and West (Homs, Hama, etc.)

Daesh published photos of battles east of Homs. [DawaAlhaq] [DawaAlhaq]

 

East (Deir Ez-Zor)

Ferries, some owned by Daesh, are being used to transport people and vehicles in Deir Ez-Zor after all the bridges in the city were destroyed. [EnabBaladi]

 

Daesh publishes photos of its terrorists near the Jufra area in Deir Ez-Zor. [DawaAlhaq]

 

South (Rif Damashq, Suwayda, Daraa, etc.)

Daesh says it killed 2 Nusra fighters in an ambush in the Ajram area in West Qalamoun. [A3maq]

 

Opposition groups captured the Daesh security official of south Syria near Ibta’ town in Daraa. [Dorar]

 

OTHER MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA REPORTS

 

Neighboring countries

Kuwait

The Associated Press has reported that the ruling emir, Sheikh Sabah Ahmed Al-Sabah, has dissolved parliament. Daesh-related security concerns and the huge drop in oil prices were cited as factors contributing to his decision. [AP]

 

North Africa

Egypt

Security source says security units stopped an attack on the Sheikh Zuweid police station. Security killed 2 suicide terrorists who attacked the station with a vehicle bomb and destroyed their vehicle, and killed 8 more terrorists preparing to launch another attack from nearby houses. [ElWatan]

 

A security source says a 5-year-old boy was wounded by unknown armed men near his house in Sheikh Zuweid. [VetoGate]

 

Security forces killed 5 ABM terrorists in battles in Joura village, south of Sheikh Zuweid. One soldier was wounded. [VetoGate] [VetoGate]

 

ABM terrorists killed five civilians in the Abu Zari’ area, south of Sheikh Zuweid, after accusing them of cooperating with security forces. The terrorists then set the civilians’ vehicle on fire and burned their bodies. [VetoGate]

 

A security source says one soldier was killed and another wounded when an IED exploded on their military vehicle south of Rafah. [ElWatan]

 

A security source says takfiri terrorists shot and killed a policeman near his house in Arish. [VetoGate]

 

Daesh publishes 3 photos of its attack on an Egyptian Army barrier in the Bir Al-Abd area, west of Arish, which we reported Friday. Twelve soldiers were killed in the attack. [DawaAlhaq]

 

Libya

Italian newspaper La Stampa says the Italian mafia is selling rifles and other forms of weapons to Daesh leaders in Libya It says the Italian mafia is trading weapons in return for looted archaeological treasures and artifacts.

La Stampa says “After getting them from Libya, the suspected gangsters sell the valuable artifacts on to Russian and Asian collectors.”

La Stampa also indicated that the Calabria network, which dominates Europe’s drug trade, works with the Camorra in Naples to buy Kalashnikov rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers smuggled out of Ukraine and Moldova by the Russian mafia. “The arms are then traded in return for ancient Roman and Greek statues that IS fighters have dug up illegally in Libya.” [LibyanExpress]

 

Northeast

A medical source says a child was killed and six other civilians wounded by a shelling on residential areas in Benghazi. Local activists say the shelling came from the Qanfouda area. [Wasat] [AfriGate]

 

Central coast

A GNA Military source says their troops captured Hay Al-Manara in Sirte. [Wasat]

 

A GNA Military source says they captured a Daesh Egyptian commander who was wounded in the battles in the Giza area in Sirte. Another GNA source says they destroyed 2 Daesh vehicle bombs before the vehicles reached their targets near Giza. [Wasat] [Wasat]

 

AFRICOM says it conducted 36 airstrikes on Daesh in Sirte during the last 3 days, raising the total number of airstrikes to 324. [Wasat]

 

A medical source says one GNA soldier was killed and seventeen wounded in the battles in Sirte on Sunday. [Wasat]

Daesh said on Sunday it killed or wounded 23 GNA soldiers in battles in Sirte. [A3maq]

 

A military source says 8 Eritrean women surrendered to the Government of National Accord (GNA) troops in Sirte. The source says the women said they were slaves for Daesh leaders. They also said they surrendered after reading brochures dropped by GNA. Planes dropped brochures on Sirte asking the widows of Daesh terrorists in Sirte to leave the city and promised them and their children safety. [Wasat] [Wasat]

 

Other countries

Nigeria

Daesh’s says it (Boko Haram) attacked a joint Niger and Nigerian military position in Borno, killing twenty soldiers and wounding “tens” and capturing an armored vehicle, 2 Russian tanks, in addition to weapons and ammunition. Daesh says its terrorists returned safely. [DawaAlhaq]

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

 

Iraq

A video of IAF planes destroying a Daesh convoy in Rawa [MoD]

 

While Iraqis from all sects are celebrating the Mosul liberation battles, Twitter is filled, of course, with people from nearby countries claiming to be fearing for the lives of the people of Mosul because of the Iraqi forces. They created a “Mosul is being annihilated” hashtag in Arabic. Saudi clerics especially were on fire. The same people were pretty silent when Daesh was beheading people, throwing young men from the roofs of buildings or raping women. [Twitter] [Twitter] [Twitter] [Twitter] [Twitter]

 

An Iraqi activist says ten Daesh buses arrived in Raqqa from Mosul. [Facebook]

 

A photo of a Daesh suicide terrorist dressed as an IFP member and killed by Iraqi forces before he conducted his attack near Mosul. [Facebook]

 

A video of a Coalition airstrike destroying a Daesh vehicle bomb facility in Mosul. [CJTF]

 

A video from inside Mosul taken by Counter Terrorism Service sources [YouTube]

 

A video of a Daesh suicide terrorist blowing himself up after being trapped [YouTube]

 

Syria

After losing Dabiq, Daesh says the “small” Dabiq battle is over, and the “big” Dabiq battle is coming. These terms have never been mentioned by Daesh before! [Twitter]

 

DAESH MEDIA

 

Daesh audio newsletter for today [Bayan]

 

Daesh publishes infographics about the US support for opposition groups in Syria. [DawaAlhaq]

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