November 1, 2018
Daesh Ammunition Cache Found near Samarra (DD Oct 31)
MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS
Iraq
Non-expert Culture Minister nominee is an issue in the CoR. [..]
Basra tribe leaders send Abd Ul-Madhi an ultimatum on cabinet choices. [..]
Joint forces raid in Thirthar Valley area kills 11 Daesh. [..]
Coalition airstrike kills 19 Daesh in Makhmur. [..]
Turkey
Turks’ bombardments of Kobane, Tal Abyad irk SDF, US. [..]
Syria
Coalition announces beginning of joint patrols with Turks in Manbij. [..]
Tahrir Al-Sham attacks Syrian Army positions in Idlib. [..]
Daesh in Al-Susah reportedly killing civilians who try to leave. [..]
Other countries
United States: Bolton indicates more flexible stance toward allies who need to import Iranian oil. [..]
Pakistan: Khalilzad brokers release of two Afghan Taliban prisoners by Pakistan. [..]
REPORTS FROM IRAQ
NATIONAL NEWS
New government
Last Thursday, Prime Minister Abd Ul-Mahdi suggested appointing Hasan Al-Ruba’i (a candidate from AAH which is part of Sadiqoun) as the Minister of Culture. Basnews reports that “dissenting voices” (including the Iraqi Artists Union and the Iraqi Literary Union) have increased against the nomination of Al-Raba’i since he has “little relation to culture.” The spokesman for the Sadiqoun parliamentary bloc stated that it intended to keep the position of the Minister of Culture, since it was important. [Basnews]
DaeshDaily comment. The new Prime Minister promised a technocratic cabinet. For the most part he delivered on that, and 14 of his nominees were approved; the other 8 are held up, some by political considerations. The complaint that the Culture nominee is less than a culture maven is essentially an accusation that the promise was broken for that ministry and a political compromise was made instead.
Tribal leaders in Basra demanded at least 1 or 2 ministers from Basra, as representation for their province. This was backed up by the veiled threat that if Basra were “marginalized” in the new government, the tribal leaders would be “resorting to various means, both peaceful and armed,” announcing another “popular referendum,” and “declaring Basra an independent province.” [Basnews]
DaeshDaily comment. Based on much recent history, If Iraq is committed to a cabinet of technocrats, tribal chiefs in Basra are not a promising recruitment source.
Anti-Daesh campaign
Hakim Al-Zamili, a Sadrist leader, said on Thursday that there is intelligence that indicates that Daesh will return to Iraq through areas it took over from the SDF in Syria. “It is important” he said in a statement, “to appoint a special committee of commanders, officers and security specialists to address the presence of Daesh in the area of Albu Kamal near the Iraqi border. [Sumaria]
However, the Center for Security Information announced that the Iraq-Syria border is “fully secured” and that Daesh is 5 kilometers (3 miles) away from it inside Syria. [Basnews]
Foreign policy
On Thursday, PM Adel Abd Ul-Mahdi and Egypt’s Ambassador to Iraq, Alaa Moussa, discussed terrorism, trade, economy, and energy. [Sumaria]
The Russian President and Prime Minister have congratulated Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abd Ul-Mahdi on forming the new Iraqi government. [Basnews]
BAGHDAD
Southeast (Mada’in, etc.)
A police source reported that the 3rd IFP battalion arrested a man wanted on terror charges in Mada’in District. [Sumaria]
Baghdad Ops Command said it arrested a man wanted on terror charges in Zafaraniya in addition to 9 others for other criminal charges in various parts of Baghdad. [Sumaria]
ANBAR
Ramadi
The Directorate of Military Intelligence reported that the 10th army division arrested 2 men wanted on terror charges in Albu Dhiab. [Ghad]
The Center for Security Information announced that 2 Daesh members were arrested in Albu Nimr on Thursday. [Rudaw]
Hit/Haditha
A PMF commander in Salahuddin, Safa Al-Sa’idi, said the 51st, 31st, and 6th PMF brigades, with support of army units and helicopters, killed 11 Daesh fighters in Thirthar Valley area, destroyed a depot, and seized weapons, ammunition, and explosives. [Sumaria]
A DaeshDaily source said on Thursday that 3,000 PMF members started a campaign to clear areas on the largely desert road between Haditha and Baiji. The source said the PMFs captured 4 Daesh terrorists near Haditha Lake.
Anah (including Rawa)
The Center for Security Information announced on Wednesday the destruction of 2 Daesh hideouts and 2 Daesh tunnels in Rawa. [Sumaria]
Al-Qa’im
Jazeera Ops Command reported that military reinforcements arrived at the Iraq-Syria border to close any gaps that could be used by Daesh to cross the border. [Basnews]
Rutba
Military Intelligence said the 1st army division and Rutba police arrested 3 Daesh leaders (Rutba recruitment, reconnaissance, and rations officers) in Rutba. [Ghad]
SALAHUDDIN
Shirqat
A DaeshDaily source said on Thursday that Shammar tribe PMF fighters ambushed and killed 2 Daesh terrorists near Ain Sadid village. The source said the terrorists were in a pickup vehicle and were trying to plant IEDs near the house of tribal PMF members. The source sent us photos of the 2 men.
Samarra
IFP command announced that the 6th IFP division found 4 IEDs and completely destroyed 3 Daesh command centers in Sayed Gharib and Farahatiya in Samarra. [Sumaria]
A DaeshDaily source said on Wednesday that Saraya Al-Salam PMFs found a large weapons and ammunition cache hidden in a tunnel in Albu Jarub village, in Jazeera Samarra.
Eastern Salahuddin (Al-Daur, Tooz)
Daesh said on Wednesday it wounded a tribal PMF officer and another fighter and destroyed their vehicle with an IED near Jardaghli village, in the Amerli area. [ICDNOct31]
Daesh also said it blew up an electricity tower cutting off power on Iraqi Army and PMF military positions in 3 villages in Amerli. [ICDNOct31]
DIYALA
Baquba/Southeast Diyala
Daesh said it wounded two Iraqi soldiers and damaged their personnel carrier with light weapons in a village south of Buhriz, on Wednesday. [ICDNNov1]
In what sounds like another version of the same incident, Daesh said it wounded four Iraqi soldiers and damaged an SUV and a personnel carrier after targeting them with light and mid-sized weapons in an ambush south of Buhriz, on the road between Baghdad and Diyala. [A3maq] [ICDNNov1]
Central Diyala (Muqdadiya/Abu Saida)
Ziyad Al-Tamimi, the commander of the 24th PMF brigade, said his troops killed a Daesh leader nicknamed “The GPS” north of Muqdadiya. [Sumaria]
KIRKUK
Hawija (Riyadh, Al-Zab, etc.)
A security source in Kirkuk reported on Thursday that 2 electricity towers were destroyed by Daesh IEDs in Hawija. [Sumaria]
Daesh said on Thursday it damaged an IFP vehicle with an IED near Barima village. [A3maq]
Southwest (Daquq, Rashad, Taza, etc.)
The PMF and IFP have searched “successfully” for Daesh cells in Daquq according to PMF media. [PressIraq]
NINEWA
Makhmur
The IFP announced on Thursday that 19 Daesh members were killed in a Coalition airstrike in Makhmur. [Sumaria] [Basnews]
Mosul District
South (Hammam Al-Alil/Shura/Qayara)
IFP announced on Thursday that it removed 10 IEDs in Mosul District. [Sumaria]
The PMF searched at least 5 villages south of Mosul city, and found stacks of explosive devices and shells left by Daesh. [PressIraq]
Western Ninewa
Tal Afar
On Thursday PMFs searched seven villages in Tal Afar for wanted people. [PressIraq]
A DaeshDaily source said on Thursday that PMF units killed 4 Daesh terrorists, including a commander, who were hiding in a tunnel in the Abu Mariya Hills area. The source said one PMF member was killed and another wounded in the clashes.
Southern Ninewa
Hatra
PMF forces killed 5 Daesh fighters in coordination with the Salahuddin Ops Command and found Daesh depots in Al-Hadar. [SotIraq]
Baaj
A military source says an IED targeted an army patrol in Baaj killing 1 soldier and wounding 7 others. [Basnews]
KURDISTAN NEWS
ERBIL
A Turkish military source said on Thursday, that Turkish airstrikes struck PKK shelters and killed 5 PKK fighters in Zab and Gare. [Basnews]
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READER COMMENTS
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REPORTS FROM TURKEY
Political developments
A spokesman for the SDF said that the Turkish attacks on Kobane contribute to the survival of Daesh. It said “The world” is required to take a moral position on Turkey’s attacks on the areas of Kobane and Tal Abyad.” [Rudaw] We reported yesterday that the Turks shelled both cities.
Also see below under Syria, National News
Military & security developments
The Turkish Defense Ministry stated that Turkey must continue its operations against the PKK in Iraq because neither the Iraqi government nor the Kurdistan government were exerting enough effort to counter Kurdish terrorism.[BasNews]
REPORTS FROM SYRIA
NATIONAL NEWS
Foreign policy
United States
Alluding to the Kobane story above, the State Department described the Turkish bombardment of Kurdish areas in Syria as “worrisome, given the possibility of the presence of US citizens in these locations” and called on Turkey to coordinate with the US. It said that the US warned both Turkey and the SDF against escalating the situation. [ElDorar]
According to a statement from the US Justice Department, Mohamed Younis Jiyaab, a 25 year old Syrian refugee in the US, pled guilty to terrorism-related charges. He had traveled to Syria to fight with Ansar Al-Islam in 2013 and provided “material support” to terrorists. [Hawar] [France24]
Northwest
Manbij
Thursday morning, the Coalition and Turkish military combined joint patrols in Manbij, in order, it was said, to complement the local security structure, to protect civilians and defeat Daesh. [CJTF]
Northeast
Raqqa
North Raqqa (Ayn Eissa, Tal Abyad, etc.)
On Thursday, the Coalition announced that it attempted to decrease tensions between the SDF and Turkey after the bombing against the YPG in Tal Abyad (in Raqqa) and Kobane (in Ayn Al-Arab). [Qasioun]
Ayn Al-Arab
SOHR reported that the SDF has sent reinforcements to border areas under Turkish bombardment. The SDF said that Turkey and its affiliated militias are preparing a military operation against the Kurds. [SyriaHR]
Central and West
Idlib
SOHR says Tahrir Al-Sham initiated an attack on Syrian Army positions in Idlib, resulting in casualties on both sides, before withdrawing. At least 1 Tahrir Al-Sham fighter was killed. [SyriaHR]
On Thursday, Tahrir Al-Sham announced that it killed 10 Syrian Army soldiers, wounded others, and destroyed a car in Idlib. [Qasioun]
East (Deir Ez-Zor)
Deir Ez-Zor District
SOHR said 100 special forces troops arrived in Deir Ez-Zor from Kobane, making the total mobilized by the SDF 1,100 special forces soldiers in addition to thousands of tribesmen, and backed by the Coalition in preparation for a new offensive against Daesh. [SyriaHR]
Mayadin District
SDF reported that it killed 3 Daesh fighters while blocking a Daesh attack against itself in Suwaidan. [Qasioun]
Daesh said on Thursday it killed an SDF member and wounded two others in an attack in Suwaidan village, in Dhiban subdistrict. [A3maq]
Albu Kamal District
A DaeshDaily source said on Thursday that Coalition planes killed 6 Daesh terrorists and destroyed a pickup vehicle in an airstrike near Al-Susah. The source said one of the killed was the deputy military commander of the Al-Susah area, an Iraqi terrorist called Ghazi Al-Mohammedi. The source said the group was responsible for preventing civilians from leaving the town, and had killed many people who tried to leave.
DaeshDaily comment. The last sentence is confirmation that Daesh is using a human shields strategy to discourage bombing on its positions (by forcing civilians to remain at those locations).
SOHR reported continued shelling by the SDF and the Coalition against Daesh in Hajin. Coalition airstrikes on Al-Azraq field took less than an hour. The SDF temporarily stopped operations in protest of Turkish bombardment on Kurdish areas north of Syria. [SyriaHR]
South
Suwayda
Daesh said on Thursday it killed or wounded 20 Syrian soldiers in an attack in the Al-Safa Hills area. [A3maq]
OTHER MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA REPORTS
Neighboring countries
Jordan/Lebanon
The National Interest published an article suggesting Daesh may soon take root in Jordan, reasoning that terrorist incidents have increased there since 2015 and that Jordan is the 3rd largest exporter of foreign fighters to Syria. The author also said Jordan’s Syrian refugees are potential terror recruits. [Sumaria] [National]
Saudi Arabia/Yemen
The Yemeni government, support by the Arab Coalition, welcomed international calls to start efforts to build trust. On Wednesday, the US called on Yemeni parties to engage in peace talks within 30 days. [Hawar]
The Arab Coalition in Yemen led by Saudi Arabia mobilized thousands of soldiers near Hodeida to force the Houthis to engage in negotiations. [Hawar]
North Africa
Egypt
The Egyptian Army announced on Thursday that 1 officer and 18 militants were killed in north Sinai—8 in the Delta and 10 in Arish. [Anadolu]
The Egyptian Army destroyed 25 vehicles, killed at least 8 armed extremists, and seized 2 rifles, 2 shotguns, and “many” explosives in the Sinai. [AhlMisr]
Libya/Tunisia
On Thursday, a military company detonated 12 tons of war debris that it had found when Sirte and other cities were liberated from Daesh. [Wasat]
REPORTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
UNITED STATES
John Bolton said the US does not want to adversely affect its allies who are dependent on Iranian oil, now that the new sanctions are in place against Iran. Bolton said the US is studying possible methods for dealing with the fact that some of its allies cannot immediately stop importing Iranian oil. [BasNews]
AFRICA
Somalia
Daesh said on Thursday it shot and killed a Somali customs employee on Street 30, in Bosaso city. [A3maq]
ASIA
Pakistan
Pakistan released 2 leaders of the Afghan Taliban, following a meeting between US Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, Pakistani leaders, and Taliban officials in Doha. [Anadolu]
DAESH MEDIA
Daesh published the 154th issue of its Naba’ magazine on Thursday. This issue includes an infographic about its operations in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, Egypt, west Africa, and Yemen. It said it said it conducted 85 attacks, killing or wounding more than 435 people and destroying 53 vehicles. Also in this issue, Daesh said that one of its terrorists, who claimed to be an Afghan soldier, conducted the October 22 attack against Coalition soldiers in Shindand “commando base” in Herat. Daesh claimed that the terrorist had been planning the attack for a long time. It said that three Coalition soldiers were killed and others, including Americans, were wounded in the attack. Daesh published 2 photos of the terrorist, one in Afghan military uniform and one in the coffin. Daesh also claimed it killed or wounded more than 285 SDF members, captured 21, destroyed 27 vehicles, and captured 16 in the ongoing battles in the Albu Kamal area. [ICDNNov1]
An Afghan soldier had opened fire on a Czech military vehicle on Monday, October 22, killing one and injuring two members of the Czech military mission in Afghanistan. The shooting took place at a military facility in western Afghanistan and seems to have been carried out by a lone gunman serving in the Afghan security forces.
Czech defense minister, Lubomír Metnar, revealed further details at a press conference held on Tuesday morning. “Yesterday, around mid-day, an attack on one of our units took place at the Shindand base, during which Corporal Tomáš Procházka was mortally wounded and two of his comrades injured. The wounded were given medical attention and transferred to the military hospital in Bagram.”
The attack took place within the military camp, which is divided into sections of various military contingents and the troops were therefore lightly defended. The Taliban has since claimed responsibility.
However, two Afghan officials quoted by the New York Times claim that an argument within the Afghan contingent took place just before the shooting and that the attacker may have been influenced by social media propaganda relating to last week’s assassination of Afghan police general Abdul Raziq, a revered figure among the country’s security forces.
The attacker opened fire with an M14 assault rifle from a distance of around 80–100 meters on a Czech vehicle returning from a routine mission, collecting building materials for the base. Chief of the General Staff, Aleš Opata, said “This was an insider attack which did not specifically target Czech soldiers, but coalition forces. The attacker was not a member of one of the units that our own soldiers are mentoring. It should also be noted that Afghan forces immediately subdued the attacker.” [Radio.CZ]
The Taliban had also claimed responsibility for the attack, a spokesman for the insurgents said in an emailed statement. [Reuters]
