January 19, 2018
Turkish Forces near Afrin
MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS
Iraq
UNICEF official estimates 2.6 Iraqi IDPs, half of them children. [..]
Crisis continues over Daesh pockets in northern Diyala. [..]
Syria
Turkish invasion of YPG-held Syrian northwest border area begins. [..]
Coalition unleashes 59 airstrikes in Albu Kamal in one week. [..]
Daesh continues attack on SDF positions in Albu Kamal. [..]
Afghanistan
Russia’s Lavrov warns that Daesh fleeing Iraq, Syria are gathering in Central Asia. [..]
REPORTS FROM IRAQ
NATIONAL NEWS
Anti-Daesh Campaign
According to a statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu is set to visit Baghdad on Sunday to meet with his Iraqi counterpart, Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi, and CoR Speaker Salim Al-Jubouri. He will also meet with Turkmen party leaders. [Rudaw]
The Guardian published an article about Al-Qaeda’s effort to attract and enlist Daesh fighters following the latter’s territorial losses in Syria and Iraq. According to the Guardian, Al-Qaeda began the first campaign in August 2017 in Algeria, followed by a second campaign in Syria in September 2017. According to experts and security officials in Europe, Al-Qaeda seeks to mobilize its expanded network to carry out more attacks on the West, thereby maintaining a leading role among extremist groups. [RT] [Guardian]
Between January 12 and 18 the Coalition conducted 4 strikes in Iraq, near Rutba (2), Mosul (1), and in Tooz (1). [Defense]
Reconstruction
Friday, UNICEF announced that children make up about half of the 2.6 million IDPs in Iraq displaced due to the 3-year war on Daesh, and the ongoing violence is impeding efforts to reduce their suffering. UNICEF’s chief officer in Iraq Peter Hawkins said “We believe that as a result of the conflict, a lack of investment over the years, and the poverty . . . that there are 4 million children now in need across Iraq.” [Xendan] [RT]
French President Emmanuel Macron said that Daesh has been almost completely defeated in Iraq and Syria, and the military defeat will happen in the coming weeks, after which priority can be given to reconstruction. Macron added that France wants active participation in the stabilization and rebuilding of Iraq, with other partners. [Xendan]
BAGHDAD
Security-related incidents reported
North (Tarmiya, Taji, etc.)
Friday, a police source reported that one person was killed and two others wounded in an IED explosion near the industrial neighborhood in Taji in northern Baghdad Governorate. [Sumaria]
ANBAR
Falluja
According to the MoD, a search operation for Daesh remnants, in cooperation with the PMF, found an explosives and IED depot in the Dawaya area of Qarma subdistrict. It contained five 20-liter containers and 68 various IEDs. [MoD Website]
Ramadi
A security source in Anbar Province said on Friday that security forces have launched a large-scale search operation in the city of Albu Dhiab northwest of Ramadi. [Sumaria]
Unknown gunmen attacked a police officer’s home in Albu Dhiab, killing three members of his family and wounding four others. [Sumaria]
A DaeshDaily source says one of the terrorists who participated in the attack is a Daesh terrorist from the same tribe as the police officer.
Hit/Haditha
Friday, a security source in Anbar reported that 4 children were wounded, 1 with critical injuries, in an IED explosion from Daesh’s remnants in Tal Aswad in Jazeera Hit as they were herding sheep. [Sumaria] [Dijlah]
SALAHUDDIN
Eastern Salahuddin (Al-Daur, Tooz)
Friday, a security source reported the arrest of 2 Daesh members from Hawija who tried to infiltrate into the Amerli area in Tooz. The two terrorists had hand grenades, a laptop, and a tablet. [Etejah]
DIYALA
Friday, leader of the Diyala PC, Ali Al-Dayni, threatened to stop cooperating with the UN within Diyala, saying that the purpose of the presence of UN organizations in Diyala is to support affected areas, impoverished people, and IDPs, but “the activities of certain organizations and their local partners has been raising lots of question marks.” [Sumaria]
Baquba/Southeast Diyala
Friday, the PC’s Security Committee revealed that PMF units carried out an operation deep in the Himrin Mountains from the Udhaim side north of Baquba and seized 4 Daesh guesthouses in the Himrin Mountains that contained explosive materials, ammunition, and uniforms, as well as food commodities. [Etejah]
Central Diyala (Muqdadiya/Abu Saida)
Friday, a local source in Diyala reported that a government employee in the Health Department was killed in an IED explosion on a farm in the Shirween area. [Sumaria]
Friday, a Security Committee member in the Diyala PC, Abdulkhaleq Al-Azzawi, said that two PMF fighters fell into a Daesh trap in the Himrin Mountains on Thursday. The two then fought Daesh for over an hour before their ammunition ran out, killing one Daesh member. The two PMF fighters were killed and taken to a Daesh guesthouse in the Himrin Mountains. PMF units then tracked the blood drops of the two fighters and destroyed the guesthouse. The Security Committee in the Diyala PC announced that the “most important Daesh guesthouse” in Diyala was found. The Committee also stressed the need for “radical change” in the operations to hunt down Daesh assailants in order to eliminate them. [Sumaria]
KIRKUK
Kirkuk/Dibis
Friday, a security source in Kirkuk reported that a civilian was killed and his brother wounded in southeast Kirkuk by an armed group believed to be affiliated with Daesh. The armed group stole the money from their house in the town of Mullah Abdullah in Multaqa subdistrict west of Kirkuk city. [Sumaria]
A DaeshDaily source says CTS units arrested 2 mosque imams in Kirkuk city who were urging people to kill security members.
Hawija (Riyadh, Al-Zab, etc.)
A DaeshDaily source says Daesh killed a PMF fighter and captured a pickup vehicle in an attack on Naqara village.
NINEWA
Ninewa Ops Commander Najm Al-Jubouri confirmed that the coordination between the Joint Operations Command and the Coalition in eliminating the Daesh remnants in the Ninewa governorate is ongoing. Al-Jubouri told Radio Sawa that the security forces are continuing the search operations in the desert areas of Ninewa, and that the operation has led to the deaths of 17 Daesh fighters. [Xendan]
Southern Ninewa
Hammam Al-Alil/Shura
Friday, a security source in Ninewa reported that a farmer was attacked and killed in his house by Daesh assailants in the town of Albu Saif south of Mosul. As the security units collected the body, they were targeted with gunshots by Daesh members in the town, leading to a clash that resulted in the death of the leader of the Daesh group, which then fled the area. [Sumaria] [Shafaaq]
Western Ninewa
Tal Afar
According to the MoD, the Military Intelligence Services found and destroyed a rigged vehicle workshop in the Al-Shaqaq area in Tal Afar on Friday. [Etejah]
Ninewa CoR representative Abdulrahman Al-Luwaizi spoke about the suffering of the families of detainees held by Daesh following its takeover of Ninewa, especially Mosul, whose fate remains unknown. Al-Luwaizi said that “there are thousands of victims of various segments of society, including members of the security services, election nominees, members of local councils, IHEC employees, civil activists, lawyers, and many others.” He said that because these people do not know what happened to their family members, they have become subject to exploitation and extortion, not to mention their psychological struggles. Al-Luwaizi added that recently, it was discovered that Daesh criminals turned a large well in Sada village near Tal Afar, with a diameter of 50 meters, into a mass grave, and bombed the eastern part of the well in order to cover the bodies. Al-Luwaizi called on official and unofficial entities of local and international organizations to visit the location to help document the crime and examine and identify the bodies. [SotIraq]
REPORTS FROM SYRIA
NATIONAL NEWS
Friday, the US responded to the Turkish threats to begin a military operation in Afrin, warning that it could lead to destabilization. However, the YPG said that Turkish forces began shelling Afrin at midnight. [Sumaria]
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had expressed concern over civilian life in the anticipated Turkish military operation in Afrin. [Rudaw]
(See detailed stories under Afrin subsection below.)
Turkey sent a message of reassurance to the Kurds of Syria before the start of its military operations against the YPG in Afrin, saying “the steps that Turkey will take in Afrin, Manbij, and Tripoli, or elsewhere, to protect its national security, are not a process directed against the Kurds of Syria at all” according to a Turkish presidential spokesman. [Dorar]
Northeast (Hasaka, Raqqa) (No reports)
Northwest
Aleppo/Idlib
SOHR reports clashes between Daesh and Syrian opposition factions. At least 4 Daesh members were arrested by Syrian opposition militiamen. [SyriaHR]
A DaeshDaily source says Daesh captured 2 villages west of Tell Al-Daman, in Jabal Samaan (Mount Simeon) subdistrict after an attack on the Nour Al-Din Al-Zenki militia. The source says Daesh killed or wounded several Al-Zenki fighters in the attack.
Daesh publishes photos of beheading three Syrian soldiers in the Idlib area. [ICDNJan19]
Daesh publishes photos of setting cigarette boxes on fire in the Idlib area. [ICDNJan19]
Afrin/Azaz
Turkish Defense Minister Noureddine Ganikli announced the launch of the “Afrin Operation” in northern Syria while the YPG confirmed that the Turkish Army is attacking positions in the region. [Dorar]
The YPG announced that Turkish forces began bombing Afrin at midnight on Friday. [Qasioun]
Turkish newspaper Yeni Shafak reported on Friday that Turkey appointed Ismail Matin Tamal, who had a prominent role during Operation Euphrates Shield, as commander of the Turkish military operation in Afrin. Yeni Shafak quoted military sources indicating that it will be a “siege” operation backed by air cover, unlike Operation Euphrates Shield. Turkish troops are planning to surround Afrin. [EnabBaladi]
Hawar reports that trained armed groups from Turkey have entered Syria in a caravan of about 20 buses using the Onji Pinari crossing near Azaz. Turkish Defense Minister Noureddine Ganikli says “the Afrin operation has begun.” [Hawar]
According to a military source, Hawar News reported on Friday that two Turkish soldiers were killed, and 12 others wounded during clashes in Al-Shahba’a. Meanwhile, the Turkish forces shelled Aska’ village in Shirawa subdistrict and Yazibag village in Azaz, without any reports of casualties. [Hawar]
Friday, Qasioun reported that Russian troops began withdrawing from Afrin. [Qasioun]
However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday that Russia is focusing on reducing tension in Idlib, denying reports that Russian troops are withdrawing from the Afrin region. [Rudaw]
A DaeshDaily source says opposition group fighters captured several Daesh terrorists near Sajo village, near Mare’ in Azaz. The source says two of the terrorists blew themselves up before being captured, killing themselves without hurting anyone else.
Al-Bab/ Manbij/Jarabulus
Friday, Anadolu reported that “Free Syrian Army” militia units, operating in Al-Bab and Juban Bay cities within the scope of the Euphrates Shield operation, arrived at Turkey’s southern Hatay province under strict security measures to become part of the above-noted military convoy of 20 buses. [Anadolu]
Central and West (Homs, Hama, etc.)
Hama
A DaeshDaily source says Tahrir Al-Sham captured 12 Daesh terrorists near Suruj in eastern rural Hama.
Homs
A DaeshDaily source says Daesh launched a major attack on government forces near Hamima on Saturday.
East (Deir Ez-Zor)
Albu Kamal
Between January 12 and 18 the Coalition conducted 59 airstrikes in Syria near Albu Kamal. [Defense]
Hawar reports the SDF thwarted a Daesh attack on a village near Hajin, killing 51 Daesh fighters, destroying their vehicles, and seizing their weapons. [Hawar]
Hawar reports that five members of the SDF were killed by a Daesh homemade missile in Al-Bahra village near Hajin. This coincided with Daesh seizing control of 4 SDF sites in Gharanij west of Albu Kamal. [Qasioun]
Daesh issues a video of an attack on SDF positions in Gharanij. [A3maq]
Daesh says it attacked SDF units in Gharanij town and East and West Bahra villages, killing or wounding 20 fighters and capturing several military positions. [ICDNJan19]
DaeshDaily comment. Daesh named the attack “revenge of honorable women”, apparently claiming that the SDF violated women in the Albu Kamal area. This is a major Daesh media theme (pretending to be protecting women). But it is Daesh who violated women in every area it captured.
Daesh publishes photos and a video of an attack on SDF units in Al-Bahra village. [ICDNJan19] [A3maq]
Daesh says it attacked SDF units north of the Al-Baghouz village, killing 12 fighters, destroying 2 military positions, and capturing weapons and ammunition. [ICDNJan19]
Daesh publishes photos of parading with the dead bodies of two SDF fighters killed in the attack. [ICDNJan19]
Daesh says it attacked SDF units northeast of the town of Al-Sha’afa, near the Iraq border killing 11 fighters and capturing weapons and ammunition. [ICDNJan19]
Daesh issues a video of the dead bodies of SDF fighters killed near the Iraqi border. [A3maq]
A German rap singer, called Denis Cuspert, who joined Daesh and became known as “Abi Talha Al-Almai” has been killed in Gharanij. According to SITE monitoring group, the rapper was killed in one of the airstrikes on Wednesday. The report says that the rapper seduced and married a US government translator, Danielle Greene, who went to Syria in June 2014 to marry him and was arrested after her return to the US and sentenced to two years in prison. [BasNews]
South
Daraa/Quneitra
Daesh issues a video of targeting opposition groups in Al-Muqaziza village, in Quneitra, with a rocket. [A3maq]
OTHER MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA REPORTS
Neighboring countries
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s Chief of State Security said on Friday that Saudi Arabia has arrested 289 suspects on terrorism charges in the last 120 days. Those arrested are from 13 different nationalities: 185 Saudis, 47 Yemenis, 14 Syrians, 12 Pakistanis, 6 Indians, 4 Russians, and others including Americans, Bahrainis, Ethiopians, and Turks. [Sumaria]
Lebanon
Friday, Lebanon’s Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Nihad Al-Mashnouq, announced that there are Daesh commanders present in Lebanon, and he warned that studies on Daesh and its new techniques show that the commanders are capable of mobilization and carrying out terrorist attacks. Al-Mashnouq added that in July 2017, a Daesh commander called Abu Jaafar Al-Iraqi was arrested and “enlisted” by the Lebanese security to uncover terrorist plans during the holiday seasons. [Sumaria]
North Africa
Egypt
Daesh issues a video of the dead body of a pro-government militiaman and a vehicle Daesh says it captured south of Rafah on Thursday. [A3maq]
Daesh says it damaged an Egyptian Army vehicle with an IED west of Sheikh Zuweid on Thursday. [A3maq]
Libya/Tunisia
Through coordination between the Tunisia National Guard and counter-terrorism units in Kasserine and Sidi Bouzid, 14 terrorist cell members were arrested. [Tunisien]
The National Unit for Research on Terrorist Crimes of the Tunisia National Guard has identified a number of terrorist supporters and terrorist cells residing in Mount Salloum in Kasserine State and Sidi Ali Ben Aoun in Sidi Bouzid State. [Fagr]
REPORTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
U.S./EUROPE
Great Britain
Friday, an Iraqi national, Ahmed Hassan, denied involvement in an attempt to bomb the London Underground in September 2017, which left 30 people wounded. The court trial will begin on March 5, after another hearing on February 23. [Xendan]
AFRICA
Nigeria
Gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram in Nigeria have attacked the military base in Toumour village in Niger, in the southeastern part of Diffa Province, military sources in Niger have revealed.
Ahmed Salkida, a Nigerian Journalist with access to information on the terrorists group tweeted on Thursday. Diffa province is near the Nigeria border and has come under attack by the militia including suspected members of the Daesh.
According to Salkida, military sources in Niger said the attack left several soldiers dead. “The attackers also have carted away tons of arms and ammunition, including military trucks.” According to Salkida, “Military sources in Niger Republic said, “the military base was hit hard, killing scores and wounding several soldiers. After the night’s long attack, the insurgents fled into the Nigerian side of the border in the early hours of today.”
“The success in Niger Republic, where the insurgents carted away heavy armaments and weapons, including military vehicles will embolden the insurgents to carry out further attacks in Nigeria and elsewhere, said military sources,” Salkida added. [DailyPost]
Daesh says a group of its terrorists attacked “Niger Army” positions in Toumour killing at least 25 soldiers and capturing 5 machine gun mounted vehicles, 2 personnel carriers, 2 ambulances, and large quantities of weapons and ammunition, before returning safely. [ICDNJan19]
ASIA
Afghanistan
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that northern Afghanistan could turn into a “base for terrorism” from terrorist groups fleeing Syria and Iraq and stressed the importance of “building a regional partnership in Afghanistan and Central Asia as a model of the link between security and development.” Lavrov added “the remaining jihadists who flee Syria and Iraq are moving to Central Asia, which is becoming a major base of international terrorism.” [Anadolu]
Thailand
Friday, the Thai Police arrested a Pakistani national who forged passports believed to be then sold to Daesh members, allowing them to travel into Europe, according to Commander of the Immigration Bureau, Lieutenant-General Suttipong Vongpint. [Ghad]
SOCIAL MEDIA
Iraq
Iraqi security captures a Ukrainian national who worked with Daesh in Mosul. She worked within Daesh’s foreign recruitment network and had infiltrated into the Mosul IDP camps with other groups, according to local sources. [@Althugur]
Syria
Snapshots of the operation that led to the arrest of 10 Daesh members by the SDF near Kobane who were trying to escape to Turkey. [@Althughur]
