November 2, 2017
Al-Qa’im
TODAY’S MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS
Iraq
KRG-Iraq conflict over troop deployments in disputed areas continues. [..]
Iraqi troops move closer to city of Al-Qa’im. [..]
Ninewa Governor in armed standoff with Ninewa PC members who fired him. [..]
Turkey
Clashes near Iraqi Kurdistan Border deadly for Turkey soldiers & PKK fighters. [..]
Syria
UN, Syrian opposition skeptical about Russia’s Sochi conference. [..]
Syrian Army, Lebanese Hezbollah attack Tahrir Al-Sham in southern Aleppo. [..]
Israel confirms its air attack in Homs targeted a Hezbollah weapons site. [..]
Russian air attack hits Daesh locations in Albu Kamal. [..]
Iran
Russia’s deputy foreign minister declares solidarity with Iran on Syria. [..]
REPORTS FROM IRAQ
NATIONAL NEWS
United Nations
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said in a report on Thursday that Iraq was incapable of conducting trials to adjudicate the atrocities committed by Daesh during the battle of Mosul and so it must find other ways to achieve justice, such as resorting to the International Criminal Court.
The report said at least 2,521 civilians were killed during the 9-month long battle, including 741 executed. Most of the dead were killed by Daesh attacks. The report stated that “Iraqi courts and tribunals do not have the jurisdiction to consider international crimes (genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes). Prosecutors, police investigators, and judges lack the capacity to investigate, indict, and prosecute people for such crimes.” [Alaan]
The report calls on international bodies, including the UN Security Council, to hold Daesh accountable for its crimes against humanity. It also calls on Iraqi authorities to investigate the Iraqi security forces’ human rights violations in Mosul. [UN] [Sumaria] [Xendan] [ROJ]
This week, the UNHCR began its winter assessment program for internally displaced Iraqis and Syrians. 100,000 families will benefit from this aid in the next four months. [PUKMedia]
The US sponsored a meeting between a delegation from the Ministry of the Peshmerga and an Iraqi military delegation in Mosul to negotiate deployment of Iraqi forces in disputed areas. [BasNews]
Deployment of federal troops
Thursday, PM Haider Al-Abadi emphasized that the federal government does not want to fight with the KRG. He said the federal government demands to deploy federal forces across all regions, to have exclusive authority, and to have federal authority exercised on the Kurdistan Region’s borders. [IraqPress]
The UN reported on Thursday that more than 180,000 people, mostly Kurds, have been displaced by the military actions of the PMF and Iraqi security forces on Kurdish areas outside the Kurdistan Region. [BasNews]
The US Embassy in Iraq put out a statement saying that Ambassador Douglas Silliman met with KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and his deputy Qubad Talabani, and during their meeting Silliman stressed that the Kurdistan Region is a strong part of Iraq’s framework and necessary to a stable federal union and to Daesh’s defeat. [Sumaria]
Thursday, the KRG presented a proposal for a joint Kurdish-Iraqi deployment on the Ibrahim Al-Khalil border crossing with Turkey, to be supervised by the Coalition. [Sumaria]
Thursday, Ministry of Peshmerga, via General Halgurd Hikmet, said Baghdad’s demands are unconstitutional and impossible. [SotIraq]
Wednesday, the KRG’s Zeravani organization (military police) issued orders to mobilize forces in Al-Khazer (Hamdaniya), Gwer (Makhmur), and the outskirts of Makhmur. [Buratha]
Thursday, the KRG warned that pushing the current situation into combat will lead to a catastrophe for the Iraqi people. The KRG says it signed no agreement with Baghdad, despite Al-Abadi’s claim that Erbil backed away from an agreement between the Iraqi military delegation and the Peshmerga Ministry. The KRG again called for an open, constructive dialogue to build a secure future for all Iraqis. [Sumaria]
Thursday, the Federal Court issued a clarification saying it cannot give its opinion on the constitutionality of the Kurdistan referendum while there are ongoing lawsuits and before notifying the KRG. [Buratha]
Council of Representatives
Thursday, the COR’s State of Law Coalition announced that Masoud Barzani’s stepping down from the presidency and distribution of his powers by the parliament will not excuse him from legal accountability for his actions against Iraqis, especially the Kurds. State of Law Coalition member Ali Al-Maliki said “Barzani’s hostile policies against the federal government, his theft of petroleum proceeds, and depriving the Kurdish employees of their salaries are grounds to sue him.” [IraqPress]
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) CoR Representative Rankin Abdullah said that a KRG delegation will visit Baghdad on Friday to discuss financial issues and the Kurdistan Region’s share of the budget. [ROJ]
CoR Speaker Salim Al-Jubouri said on Thursday that the post-terrorism era will require the tribes to play an active role in community reconciliation among all segments of society. [Ghad]
Other news
The Iraqi Air Force Command announced that 3 F–16s would reach Iraq Thursday afternoon, to be added to the IAF fleet. [Sumaria]
The Coalition says it conducted 6 airstrikes on Daesh targets in Iraq (3 near Rawa, 1 near Al-Qa’im, and 2 near Qayara.) [InherentResolve]
BAGHDAD
Security-related incidents reported
Center (Rusafa, Karkh, etc.)
Thursday, the US Embassy in Iraq published the following warning: “U.S. Mission Iraq has received credible threat information that the Baghdad Mall may be the target of a terrorist attack. U.S. citizens are advised to avoid the Baghdad Mall.” [Sumaria] [USembassy]
North (Tarmiya, Taji, etc.)
Thursday, a security source reported an IED exploded near a shopping area in Rashidiya, killing one civilian and wounding five others. [Baghdadia]
Thursday, a security source reported that Daesh members forced a citizen to get out of his car before shooting him and setting his car on fire in Tarmiya. The source added that the Daesh members ran away, and once security units arrived at the scene, an IED placed near the car by Daesh exploded. [Ghad]
South (Dora, Yusufiyah, Mahmudiya, etc.)
Thursday, a security source reported that a former police officer was killed by an IED attached to the bottom of his car in Latifiya. [Sumaria]
Total Baghdad incidents reported: 4 (Includes only incidents reported)
Total IED incidents reported: 3
ANBAR
Falluja
Thursday, the Joint Operations Command issued a clarification regarding the story about hundreds of troops missing in Saqlawiya, warning that legal action will be taken against whoever shares false stories. The story emerged during the Falluja Liberation Operations in 2016, where some media outlets reported the discovery of a mass grave containing the bodies of over 400 fallen soldiers. [Sumaria]
Al-Qa’im
Thursday, an intelligence source in Anbar reported that an IAF airstrike killed a group of Daesh members escaping to Syria, including the so-called wali of Al-Qa’im, Abu Ahmad Al-Iraqi. Also destroyed in the attack were 10 vehicles carrying medium and light weapons. [Sumaria]
A security source says Daesh is executing Daesh escapees from Al-Qa’im, saying Daesh has executed 2 leaders for trying to escape the battle. [Ghad]
Thursday, Sumaria shared photos taken in Ubaidi subdistrict’s neighborhoods and streets two days after its liberation from Daesh. The pictures show the high morale of the security forces and tribal members who seized the area. The photos also show residents lining up for security background checks to be allowed to return to their homes. Also shown in the photos are the infrastructure and houses, which were not harmed in the liberation operation. [Sumaria]
Thursday, the PMF reported that its units completed the “first phase” of its military operations after reaching the Al-Qa’im city area. PMF 17th brigade (Saraya Al-Jihad) Commander, Haj Abu Kadhim Al-Mayahi, said the 17th brigade is 6 km (3.7 miles) away from the city. [Ghad]
Thursday, the IWMC reported that Iraqi forces, now on the 8th day of the west Anbar liberation campaign, are at the Al-Qa’im District border, after liberating 70 km2 on its southern side with backing from Iraqi Army Air (IAA) over the past week. [IraqPress]
Thursday, the Human Rights Watch reported that Iraqi security officials are preventing internally displaced families from returning to liberated areas in Anbar, due to their “perception” that those families have links with Daesh. The report also says that the Iraqi authorities are forcing other families to return to their homes, despite those families having fears that their homes are unsafe or destroyed. The concern about the IDPs in Anbar is heightened due to the current operations to liberate Al-Qa’im and Rawa. [BasNews] [HRW]
Rutba
Daesh says it destroyed an Iraqi Army tank and a bulldozer with 2 rockets north of Akashat. [A3maq]
Here Daesh added it shot down an Iraqi forces’ drone in the same area. [DENNov2]
SALAHUDDIN
Baiji
Daesh says it conducted 2 suicide attacks on Iraqi forces near the Makhazen Bridge, north of Baiji. [A3maq]
Eastern Salahuddin (Al-Daur, Tooz)
Thursday, CoR Deputy Speaker, Aram Sheikh Mohammed addressed Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi, demanding that he take charge of the security file in Tuz Khurmatu, where the federal forces have entered. He cited the large percentage of Tuz Khurmatu residents who fled due to “some irresponsible reactions and retaliations which led to losses of life and property.” [Rudaw]
Thursday, Deputy head of the PUK office in Tuz Khurmatu, Hassan Baram, announced that the PMF released four Peshmerga “prisoners” on Wednesday evening. The four were arrested in mid-October during the federal operation in Tuz Khurmatu. [Buratha]
DIYALA
The Diyala Police Command announced on Thursday the arrest of 10 wanted suspects on criminal and terrorist charges in different parts of Diyala. [Sumaria]
Muqdadiya
Daesh says it shot and killed six Shia people and wounded five in the Parwana Saghira area in Muqdadiya city. [A3maq]
Here Daesh says the victims were Iraqi soldiers. [DENNov2]
Northern Diyala (Kifri, Khanaqin, Khalis north)
Thursday, a security source reported the destruction of a Daesh military base and 6 guesthouses in a security operation at the Nafut Khana intersection in Khanaqin District, northeast Diyala. [Baghdadia]
Thursday, the PMF announced that it launched an operation to track Daesh sleeper cells in the Himrin Mountains who are planning attacks on the Arba’in processions. According to intelligence data, sleeper cells in Al-Sallab village are planning to attack the visitors in the Arba’in processions. [Etejah]
KIRKUK
Hawija (Riyadh, Al-Zab, etc.)
A security source said 2 Daesh members were arrested near Hawija as they were trying to escape the province heading toward Mosul. [Youm7]
A local source says around 925 Daesh members surrendered themselves to the Peshmerga during the liberation of Hawija [BaghdadToday]
NINEWA
Thursday, a government source reported that the dismissed Ninewa Governor, Nofal Al-Akoub, ordered dozens of tribal PMFs to deploy around the governorate building in the Al-Falah neighborhood in east Mosul. According to the source, Al-Akoub told his assailants to detain any member of the Governorate Council who voted for his dismissal on grounds of corruption in the special session held on Wednesday. The source said that Al-Akoub is now present in the building with dozens of armed men, carrying out illegal actions against the employees, such as confiscating their phones and swearing at them. [Karemlash]
Mosul
Ninewa Police Chief Gen. Wathiq Al-Hamadani said the police have received reports that 500 oil pipes were stolen by Daesh and are hidden among the houses in the neighborhood of Al-Wuzara’ in Mosul. [Ghad]
Western Ninewa
Tal Afar
Wednesday, a military source reported that the federal forces were attacked with mortar shells in Zummar and Rabi’a in northern Tal Afar, from Peshmerga locations in the Zummar and Rabi’a periphery. Earlier on Wednesday, the Zeravani forces of the Peshmerga had issued a mobilization order for these areas. [Buratha]
SOUTHERN IRAQ
Babel
Thursday, the Babel Police announced that a joint unit from the west Hamza Police and the EOD carried out a pre-emptive operation in the Al-Imam neighborhood in southern Babel. The operation led to the discovery of hand grenades hidden behind a driver seat. [Baghdadia]
Wasit
Thursday, the Military Intelligence Services announced the arrest of two wanted terrorists in Wasit in a pre-emptive operation to prevent attacks on the Arba’in processions. [Etejah]
KURDISTAN NEWS
Thursday, a PUK leadership source said that the PUK will see radical changes in its leadership, intended to bring the PUK back to its leading status in the political process. The PUK is set to have a meeting this Saturday to look into forming an interim leadership until the PUK’s 4th conference in February. [Buratha]
Thursday, Kurdish Islamic Group spokesman Shwan Rabar said the head of the KRG asked them not to form a national salvation government, in a meeting with the group’s leader Ali Bapir. The KIG emphasized the need to remove corrupt officials from authority and to recover money smuggled abroad. [Sumaria]
Thursday, Secretary General of the Reform and Development party, Mohammed Bazyani, said that the Kurdistan Region is close to overcoming the current phase with attempts to reinforce its internal lines and remove tensions among its political factions. Bazyani noted the reinforcement of the front Peshmerga locations with “deadly weapons” in case of a PMF advance. Bazyani noted that there has been a tangible change in the policies of major countries towards Kurdistan, especially with respect to the Faysh Khabur border crossing, which is the sole crossing through which the US sends its weapons to the Kurdish People’s Protection Units in Syria. [Sumaria]
REPORTS FROM TURKEY
Thursday, the Turkish Army announced the deaths of 8 Turkish soldiers and the wounding of 2 others in clashes with PKK fighters in Hakkari, southeastern Turkey, just across the border from northern Kurdistan. Five PKK members were killed in the ongoing clashes. [BasNews]
Turkey announced the killing of 11 terrorists from the PKK Thursday evening in southeastern Turkey. [Anadolu]
DaeshDaily comment. It’s not clear whether these are two incidents or two differing reports on the same incident.
Turkish media reported that eight Turkish soldiers were killed during the battles that broke out at Wednesday’s night against the PKK in the Shamizinan area in the state of Gulmerk. [ROJ]
REPORTS FROM SYRIA
NATIONAL NEWS
Stephen Dugrick, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, told a news conference that Russia’s conference on Syria in Sochi is not a UN meeting. He says the UN is studying the matter and does not want to comment on the conference at this time. [Dorar]
In a statement released on Thursday, the Syrian opposition High Negotiations Committee officially rejected the Russian call for a conference in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, which is to be held on the 18th of this month, describing the conference as an attempt to circumvent the international desire for political transition in Syria, assuring that it will not participate in any negotiations with the Syrian government outside the Geneva venue or without UN sponsorship. [Dorar]
The Thawra military force put out a statement on Thursday refusing to participate in the conference of the “People of Syria” to be held in Sochi Russia, calling on Moscow to prove neutrality before holding conferences. [Dorar]
Wednesday the White House called on the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to renew its investigation into the Syrian government’s killing of Syrians by chemical weapons. The White House criticized Russia’s use of veto power to block the UN from continuing its own investigation, saying in a statement, “Russia’s attempts to undermine and eliminate the Joint Investigation Mechanism show a callous disregard for the suffering and loss of life caused by the use of chemical weapons and an utter lack of respect for international norms.” [Reuters] [Dorar]
Zaman Al-Wasl received an official document condemning the Bashar Al-Assad government and revealing the government’s manipulation of the case of handing over its entire chemical weapons stockpile days before the experts began steps to disarm the weapons in a Russian-American deal between the parties (UN binding resolution number 2118). The document was signed by Dr. Mohammed Khaled Nasri and addressed to the Director General of the Center for Scientific Studies and Research. [ZamanAlWasl]
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said it is too early to talk about creating a fifth tension reduction zone in Syria, referring to America’s suggestion during the Astana 7 talks for a fifth zone. [EnabBaladi]
Turkey’s UN representative Feridun Sinirlioglu accused the YPG of recruiting 15-year-old children to carry out “terrorist” attacks. During an open session of the Security Council, Sinirioglu called on the international community to take action to address the matter of children in war. [Dorar]
The Coalition says it conducted 5 airstrikes on Daesh targets in Syria (3 near Deir Ez-Zor, 1 near Albu Kamal, and 1 near Shaddadi.) [InherentResolve]
Northeast (Hasaka, Raqqa)
Hasaka
Daesh publishes photos of its air defense units in the Hasaka area. [ICDNNov2]
Northwest
Aleppo/Idlib
In a press statement, the head of the Iranian delegation at the Astana talks, Hossein Jaberi Ansari said on Wednesday that guarantor states, namely Iran, Russia and Turkey, agreed to set up 12 observation posts in Syria’s Idlib aimed at implementing the de-escalation agreement. [SyriaNow]
Zaman Al-Wasl reported that Tahrir Al-Sham repelled an attack by a group of Syrian forces on the hill and village of Um Khazim in rural southern Idlib, killing and wounding most of the group. [ZamanAlWasl]
SOHR reported violent clashes have broken out since Thursday afternoon between Tahrir Al-Sham and Syrian forces, following a Syrian forces’ attack on Tahrir Al-Sham-controlled areas in Khanasir town in the southern rural areas of Aleppo, during which the Syrian forces recaptured the villages of Jubb Awad, Hijara Kabira and Hijara Saghira in southern rural Aleppo. [SyriaHR]
The Lebanese Hezbollah, backed by the Syrian Air Force, attacked Tahrir Al-Sham on Thursday in the villages of Rashidiya , Hijara, and Al-Hawayni south of Aleppo. [Dorar]
SOHR reported clashes continue between the Syrian forces and the Islamic opposition groups in Hijara village, with reports of human losses on both sides, following a Syrian forces’ attack on the region. [SyriaHR]
Afrin/Azaz
The Turkish Army reinforced its positions on the Turkish-Syrian border in the Raju area near Afrin, increasing the number of soldiers and weapons. [Hawar]
Al-Bab/ Manbij/Jarabulus
The Manbij Military Council said the General Commander of the council, Mohammed Abu Abdel was targeted last night by an IED in his car, resulting in injuries but no deaths. [Hawar]
Central and West (Homs, Hama, etc.)
Hama
Wednesday, a military source in Tahrir Al-Sham said they repelled a Daesh attack on some of the areas Tahrir Al-Sham recently recaptured in eastern rural Hama. He says Tahrir Al-Sham has recaptured the Al-Suruj Hills, Al-Khazan, Abu Hreji and Aniq, killing 6 Daesh members and wounding others, according to Iba’a. [Dorar]
SOHR reported violent clashes resumed between Tahrir Al-Sham and Daesh in the villages of Aniq Bajra, Totah, and Jubb Al-Zarqa, located in the northeastern rural areas of Hama, following a violent attack by Tahrir Al-Sham on the area, in which Tahrir Al-Sham captured Jubb Al-Azraq village, days after it was captured by Daesh. [SyriaHR]
Homs
Israel’s Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz said “smuggling weapons to the Lebanese Hezbollah is a red line in our view.” Israeli aircraft carried out an airstrike on a factory in southern Homs on Wednesday that is believed to have been a Hezbollah weapons storage facility. [EnabBaladi]
Syrian media sources confirmed that yesterday’s Israeli Air Force attack in Homs targeted military sites in the industrial area of Hasiya in southern Homs. Some believe the sites were weapons stores belonging to the Lebanese Hezbollah militia. [Qasioun]
The official spokesman of Jaish Maghawir Al-Thawra, Mohammed Mustafa Jarrah, says that the Iranian militias and Lebanese Hezbollah have begun withdrawing from the Syrian Desert. Jarrah believes this suggests the Syrian Army’s imminent departure from the region, pointing out that the Syrian forces cannot cover the whole Syrian desert, but the Russian forces and the Coalition will cover the area. [Qasioun]
The leader of Jaish Maghawir Al-Thawra confirmed on Wednesday that Jaish Maghawir Al-Thawra will remain at Al-Tanaf base, despite the international pressure to leave and is rearranging its ranks in preparation for expected military action. [Qasioun]
East (Deir Ez-Zor)
Deir Ez-Zor
Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov responded to Coalition Special Operations Commander James Gerrard’s statement about people fleeing south from Deir Ez-Zor, saying that Mayadin has been liberated for 2 weeks now and the people heading south are not fleeing Deir Ez-Zor but are returning home. Konashenkov called Gerrard’s statement “geographical absurdity.” [Qasioun]
Syrian Army campaign
Qasioun reports the Syrian forces captured several areas in Deir Ez-Zor city and advanced in Al-Jubayla and parts of the neighborhoods of Al-Bajin, the old garage, the Sharia School, Masaken Al-Hizb, and Masaken Al-Tarbiya. [Qasioun]
Sumaria reports the Syrian forces and the Coalition-backed forces captured the last Deash-controlled areas in Deir Ez-Zor city on Thursday. [Sumaria]
SOHR reported Russian and Syrian warplanes have conducted more than 60 airstrikes on Daesh-controlled areas in Deir Ez-Zor city since Thursday’s dawn. Meanwhile, the Syrian forces have captured 95% of Deir Ez-Zor city during the ongoing battles against Daesh in the city. [SyriaHR]
Daesh says it destroyed 2 Syrian Army SUVs with 2 rockets east of the T2 Station, killing or wounding the soldiers inside. [DENNov2]
SDF campaign
SOHR reported clashes continue between the SDF and Daesh on the eastern banks of the Euphrates River in the eastern rural areas of Deir Ez-Zor, during which the SDF captured the villages of Jadid Baqara and Jadid Aqaidat from Daesh. [SyriaHR]
Hawar reports that during a search campaign in Al-Bakari village the SDF found 8 Daesh terrorist bodies and a store of weapons and ammunition. [Hawar]
Daesh says it targeted SDF units in the Al-Omar Oilfield and Harijiya village with 10 artillery shells and 3 Grad rockets. [DENNov2]
Mayadin
Qasioun reports the SDF captured Bu Khair near the banks of the Euphrates in eastern Deir Ez-Zor and proceeded south to Dahla village where there were clashes between the SDF and Daesh. [Qasioun]
Qasioun reports that the Syrian forces and Daesh have been quiet in terms of military operations in Mayadin over the past 7 days. [Qasioun]
Daesh says it damaged a Syrian Army cannon with artillery shells southwest of Mayadin. [A3maq]
Here Daesh says it targeted Al-Rahba Castle, west of Mayadin, with 25 heavy artillery shells, damaging a cannon. [DENNov2]
Albu Kamal
Thursday, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that 6 Russian warplanes, which took off from Russia, struck Daesh locations in Deir Ez-Zor, destroying Daesh weapon depots, hideouts, and administrative positions in Albu Kamal. [Sumaria]
Thursday, a security source reported that Daesh executed two high-level commanders in Albu Kamal, who had escaped the battles in Al-Ubaidi, by setting them on fire. [Ghad]
Qasioun reports the Syrian forces captured new military positions east of the T2 station. The Syrian forces are 45 km (28 miles) from Albu Kamal. [Qasioun]
SOHR reported violent clashes continue between the Syrian forces and Daesh in the southwestern desert of Albu Kamal. [SyriaHR]
In a statement published on its official website, the international coalition said 9 Daesh leaders were killed in Coalition airstrikes in Albu Kamal and Mayadin, in addition to two others in Iraq in a drone attack, during October. [Dorar]
Local sources say Daesh executed two people in Albu Kamal on Thursday. Meanwhile Albu Kamal is seeing waves of displacement as people flee towards Sayal town because of the heavy shelling Albu Kamal is being exposed to. [Qasioun]
South
Damascus/Rif Damashq
Syria HR reported clashes continue between the Syrian forces and Tahrir Al-Sham in the southwestern rural areas of Damascus, as part of the Syrian forces’ ongoing operations to control the area and eliminate the Syrian anti-government opposition groups completely from the Syrian-Lebanese border. [SyriaHR]
SOHR reported 4 civilians, including a girl and a woman, were killed, and more than 20 others were injured in three airstrikes on locations in Douma city, in Eastern Ghouta, Jaish Al-Islam militia’s stronghold. SOHR also reported the vicinity of Jobar neighborhood was targeted by more than 10 missiles, while the warplanes targeted the Jobar-Ain Tarma area, in and just outside of Damascus, with 6 missiles. [SyriaHR]
Daesh says its snipers killed two opposition fighters in Hay Al-Tadhamun. [A3maq]
Daraa
Daesh publishes photos of “education activities” of its affiliate Jaish Khaled. [ICDNNov2]
OTHER MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA REPORTS
Neighboring countries
Iran
Wednesday, Sergei Rybakov, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, slammed the US sanctions against the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as “illegal,” stating that “there are no differences between Russia and Iran on the Syrian issue,” according to “Russia Today.” [Dorar]
Jordan/Lebanon
Thursday, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said a war between Lebanon and Israel is unlikely, but in case of a war, Lebanon will win. Aoun added “yes, we are a small country, but we have reestablished our national unity, and part of that is the united opposition to anyone who attacks our country.” Aoun told Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai. “All the Lebanese are prepared to fight against Israel,” he added, after Israel struck a Hezbollah weapons depot in Syria. Aoun opined about the political situation in Syria saying “global powers want a partition, but lately, what happened in Iraq removed such speculations. And we hope there will not be a partition because it would weaken Arab countries’ power and unity.” [Buratha]
North Africa
Egypt
The Egyptian Army says it foiled an attempted attack on a security patrol in Sinai. The terrorists escaped but the Air Force launched an airstrike that killed 5 of the terrorists and wounded 6 others. [Hawar]
Libya
In a report published on its website Wednesday, the UN support mission in Libya said in various conflict zones in Libya last October, 23 civilians, including 11 men, 3 women and 9 children, were killed, and 15 others were injured, mainly by airstrikes. [Anadolu]
Tunisia
Interior Ministry Spokesman Yasser Mesbah said a Tunisian police officer died on Thursday after being stabbed in front of the People’s Assembly (Parliament) on Wednesday when two police officers were stabbed in Tunis, Tunisia. The attacker was arrested and confessed to adopting takfiri ideology 3 years ago. [Anadolu]
Thursday, a land mine explosion injured a shepherd near Mount Chambi in Kasserine, Tunisia. [Tunisien]
Wednesday, the National Guard Research and Inspection Division arrested a 26-year-old man on charges of terrorism in Bizerte. [Tunisien]
REPORTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
Afghanistan
Daesh says it killed a pro-government militia commander and wounded three of his associates with an IED in Pachir district in Nangarhar on Wednesday. [A3maq]
U.S.
Congressmen Adriano Espaillat and Daniel Donovan introduced a bill in October that “would provide funding to cities for the installation of critical safety bollards to protect pedestrians in high traffic areas like New York’s Times Square,” Sumaria reported, in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on pedestrians in New York on Tuesday, which killed 8 people. [Sumaria] [House]
