December 12, 2017
West Anbar
TODAY’S MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS
Iraq
Military source says Daesh pockets in desert have not been removed. [..]
Daesh cells in rural Abu Saida, Diyala causing serious concern. [..]
British PM tells KRG it needs to reform. [..]
Syria
Iraqi military denies report of border coordination deal with SDF. [..]
Guterres takes issue with maneuverings of Iran’s General Soleimani. [..]
White House reiterates US has no plans to withdraw militarily from Syria. [..]
Daesh counter-attacks take ground from Syrian Army in Albu Kamal. [..]
REPORTS FROM IRAQ
NATIONAL NEWS
Anti-Daesh campaign
Tuesday, an unnamed security source said that Daesh is still present in remote areas of the western desert, and despite Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi’s declaration of victory over Daesh, only the cities and towns have been liberated. The source added that Daesh will begin using the “traditional fighting methods” it used against Iraqi forces before taking over Iraqi towns and cities. The source said the government is still failing to reinforce the intelligence apparatus because it is enlisting and giving sensitive tasks to unqualified units. [IKH]
At a celebration in Najaf Province on Tuesday, commander of the PMF’s 11th brigade, Ali Al-Hamadani revealed that the remaining Daesh pockets will be cleared in the upcoming days. Al-Hamadani credited the Shia religious leadership’s fatwa and the PMF for the Iraqi victory over Daesh. [Mawazin]
Baghdadia reported that according to Iraqi officials, the war on corruption will be pursued in part by opening Iraq’s real estate and officials’ offshore bank account cases, especially in Lebanon, UAE, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, UK, Greece, and Latin America, where investigations indicate that over 400 bank accounts were opened by Iraqi officials in past years.
According to Baghdadia, a minister in the Iraqi government said that Iraq will regain stability if the government succeeds in “six battles” following the liberation from Daesh. The most critical battle is reaching Daesh’s cells and pockets, a reference to the 2,000-3,000 Iraqi fighters who are not in any government database. The minister expects that in the next two years, there will be armed attacks, suicide attacks with rigged cars and suicide belts, and IED attacks and explosions, some with the goal to fuel sectarian strife.
The second battle, according to said minister, is returning the approximately 3 million IDPs to their homes, including 1 million whose cities are under PMF control. The other four battles are: reconstructing the destroyed cities; achieving a state monopoly on the use of arms, and stopping the militarization of Iraqi society; resolving the Kurdistan referendum’s aftermath, and the federal government’s imposed authority over border crossings and airports; as well as combating corruption. [Baghdadia]
Tuesday, Saraya Al-Salam official spokesman Safaa Al-Tamimi announced that the arms used by Saraya in the war on Daesh are state arms, and they will be returned to the state, based on orders from leader Muqtada Al-Sadr. [Sumaria]
International voices
Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron commended Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi in front of the heads of international delegations at the Climate Conference, calling for recognition of him as a “world leader.” [Sumaria]
DaeshDaily comment. This was more than political flattery. The years of media cynicism about government in Iraq obscures something really significant. Al-Abadi’s leadership has been outstanding and was critical to Iraq’s success against Daesh.
Tuesday, the EU congratulated the Iraqi government for achieving victory over Daesh, reiterating the EU’s continued support to the Iraqi people and government in reforms and reconciliation in order to abolish extremism and terrorism. [Sumaria]
Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Mahjoub announced that Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari is heading the Iraqi delegation participating in the meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul. This is part of Ankara’s response to Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. [Sumaria]
Reconstruction
In a meeting with Italy’s Ambassador to Iraq on Tuesday, CoR Speaker Salim Al-Jubouri emphasized that after defeating Daesh, Iraq is approaching a new phase—reconstructing areas destroyed due to military operations and returning IDPs to their home areas based on specific plans and set timelines. He urged continued international support to speed up these efforts and achieve security and stability in liberated regions. Al-Jubouri said that the Iraqi people need the international community’s humanitarian support, noting that he values Italy’s support for Iraq and its role in the Coalition. [Ghad]
Iraq-KRG issues
At an EU foreign ministers meeting held in Brussels on Monday, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, said that the EU’s policy is to normalize the relations between Baghdad and Erbil. She said the EU is “working to restore the relations and coordination between Baghdad and Erbil back to normal so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past,” adding that “the Iraqis have made great strides in defeating an extremist organization, and the policy of the European Union is to provide assistance to Iraq in the coming months so that it can overcome the sensitive stage it is going through.” [BasNews]
Tuesday, Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah, who commanded the Ninewa Liberation Campaign, commended the PMF’s role in liberating Iraq, noting that the PMF was the first to fight Daesh when Mosul fell under their control, and that the PMF has been the first and essential supporter to the Iraqi forces throughout the past 3 years. He added that “after all the efforts and sacrifices made by the PMF, we simply absolutely cannot say to them “thank you, go back”,” adding that “the PMF are the fourth and important and essential force in defending Iraq.” Yarallah commended the “historical fatwa” of the religious leadership, “without whom we would not have reached this level, while some countries thought defeating Daesh would take 10 years.” [Qurtas]
Election
Monday, the Iraqi Forces Alliance emphasized the importance of fostering a suitable environment to hold the elections on time by returning displaced people to their cities. The alliance called for the withdrawal of “unofficial forces” from the cities and handing them over to local security forces. [Sumaria]
Dawa party leader Nouri Al-Maliki warned of a plan sponsored by “takfiri regimes” to alter the political map in Iraq and strike at the society’s unity and relative political stability. [Rudaw]
Tuesday, PUK member Razzaq Al-Haideri responded to Vice President Osama Al-Nujaifi’s statement saying the Sunni component in Iraq paid the price of the Shia politicians’ alliances with the Kurds, adding that some Sunni figures and parties abandoned the “national project,” and that it was Al-Nujaifi who led this “campaign” in the previous administration. [BaghdadToday]
Tuesday, CoR member Joseph Slewa described corruption as being a “covert Daesh” prevalent among state institutions and parties, and political leaders and their families, adding that it is more dangerous than Daesh. [Sumaria]
DaeshDaily comment. We have to put in consideration that Mr. Slewa is an Erbil resident. This statement is part of the ongoing struggle between the central government and the KRG.
BAGHDAD
Security-related incidents reported
Northwest (Kadhimiya, etc.)
The BOC reported that security units arrested a suspect on charges of fraud in the Hurriya area in the Kadhimiya District. [BOC Facebook Page]
East (Sadr City, New Baghdad, etc.)
Tuesday evening, a police source reported that six people were wounded in an IED explosion near a café in the old Diyala Bridge area. [Sumaria]
Southeast (Mada’in, etc.)
South (Dora, Yusufiyah, Mahmudiya, etc.)
The BOC reported that IEDs left behind by Daesh were seized and defused in the Al-Abed area in south Baghdad. [BOC Facebook Page]
Southwest (Rasheed, etc.)
The BOC reported that IEDs left behind by Daesh were seized and defused in the Al-Shurtan area. [BOC Facebook Page]
West (Ghazaliya, Abu Ghraib, etc.)
Monday, Supreme Judicial Council spokesman, Abdulsattar Bairaqdar, announced that 4 terrorists were sentenced to death for carrying out terrorist operations in Baghdad, including a vehicle bomb in a rigged vehicle in the Yarmouk neighborhood in May 2015. [Ghad]
Tuesday, as a heads–up to citizens, the BOC announced that it will be destroying Daesh remnants in western Baghdad. [Sumaria]
Total Baghdad incidents reported: 6 (Includes only incidents reported)
Total IED incidents reported: 3
ANBAR
Falluja
Tuesday, the Baghdad Security and Intelligence Directorate announced discovery of a depot containing 13 gallons of explosive substances, 4 rocket launchers, and 25 explosive devices in the Saqlawiya area in northeast Falluja. [Ghad]
Hit/Haditha
Daesh says it detonated IEDs on 2 police vehicles in different areas of Hit on Sunday, killing five policemen and wounding three. [ICDNDec12]
SALAHUDDIN
Shirqat
Tuesday, in an operation to hunt down 4 wanted terrorists hiding in a guesthouse on a Tigris River island, the Military Intelligence Services and PMFs clashed with and killed 3 of them, while the fourth one detonated the suicide belt he was wearing on the eastern bank of Shirqat. [Baghdadia]
Tikrit
Tuesday, Diyala PC Security Council member Abdul Khaleq Al-Azzawi announced that a joint security unit from the tribal PMF foiled an attempted Daesh infiltration of Albu Eissa village on the Diyala-Salahuddin border. Al-Azzawi added that some Daesh members were hunted down, while others escaped towards Mtaibija. [Sumaria]
Daesh said it detonated a parked car bomb on the Al-Atiba’ (Doctors) Street in Tikrit city on Saturday, killing six policemen and damaging their vehicle. [ICDNDec12]
The IWMC said on Saturday that the car bomb killed a civilian guard. [Mawazin]
Tuesday, the Military Intelligence Services announced the arrest of a terrorist at the Al-Aqwas checkpoint at Tikrit’s northern entrance while hunting down sleeper cells and Daesh remnants. [Sumaria] [Ghad]
Samarra
Daesh says it destroyed a vehicle carrying “PMF members” with an IED in the Jalam Al-Daur area, northeast of Samarra. [ICDNDec12]
Eastern Salahuddin (Al-Daur, Tooz)
Tuesday, a Turkmen CoR representative, Jassem Mohammed Jaafar, revealed that 5 mortar shells were dropped on Tuz Khurmatu, one of which struck a high school. According to Jaafar, the mortar shells killed 2 people, wounded 20 others, and caused damage to civilian houses. Jaafar added that the Tuz Khurmatu residents were expected to organize a protest demanding that Prime Minister Al-Abadi send troops to secure the areas behind the mountain to prevent such incidents from recurring. [Sumaria]
A version of the story from a source in Tuz Khurmatu says the PMF declared a state of emergency in the district after being hit by 5 mortar shells fired at the PMF headquarters by a Kurdish volunteer group. The shelling resulted in the death of one member of the PMF and the wounding of four others. [ROJ]
Tuesday, a security source reported that 3 tribal PMF members were abducted by an unknown group while leaving Tuz Khurmatu towards Daquq. Security units carried out searches, freed the abductees, and arrested the assailants. [Baghdadia]
Tuesday, in receiving the leader of the Turkmen Front, Arshad Al-Salehi, President Fuad Masoum requested additional efforts to bring security and stability to Tuz Khurmatu. The two discussed security and political issues in addition to normalizing the situation in Kirkuk and Tuz Khurmatu, as well as the upcoming elections. [Rudaw]
DIYALA
Muqdadiya/Abu Saida/Central Diyala
Tuesday, Abu Saida Security Committee Chairman Awwad Al-Rabi’i announced that a woman was killed by Daesh gunshots in the farm area just outside Makhisa village. Al-Rabi’i added that there are still Daesh assailants present in the farm area surrounding Makhisa. [Sumaria]
Abu Saida subdistrict manager Mohammed Al-Tamimi revealed that an armed cell in Abu Saida has been undertaking terrorist activity similar to Daesh’s methods to destabilize the district. He explained that the cell carries out various criminal activities, most notably threatening to kill several individuals, including himself, as well as firing mortar shells. He added that the cell has targeted 7 civilian houses with hand grenades, carried out 3 attempted assassinations, in addition to other activity intended to drive out a “certain category” of citizens. He added that some members of the cell are enlisted in a security entity which backs them with arms. He called for urgent intervention by Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi and Ministry of Interior Qassem Al-Aaraji. [Ghad]
KIRKUK
Kirkuk/Dibis
A Kirkuk official in Altun Kupri, Kamal Kirkuki, revealed that as of Sunday, Iraqi forces and PMF militias have mobilized additional forces in several areas, and that they have set up 3 cameras to monitor the water tank in Altun Kupri’s town center, adding that the Peshmerga forces are ready to face all possibilities. [BasNews]
NINEWA
Western Ninewa
Tal Afar
Tuesday, a security source reported that two policemen were wounded in an IED explosion that targeted an Iraqi Federal Police (IFP) vehicle in Al-Hinka village in Zummar. [Baghdadia]
Tuesday, Commander Ahmed Al-Abidi of the Ninewa Police Command announced that the IFP in Ninewa arrested the wives of 3 prominent Daesh leaders (Ahmed Hamdoun, wali of Mosul; Finance Minister Khaled Kokjali, and “Abu Jahl,” head of assassinations). The arrests took place at a police checkpoint in Al-Ayadhiya in Tal Afar, where the women tried to pass using forged documents. The terrorists were reportedly using forged identification documents. [Etejah]
SOUTHERN IRAQ
Wasit
Tuesday, head of the Wasit Police Command press, Salah Al-Rabi’i announced the arrest of a dangerous suspect who was planning to carry out terrorist acts in the province. [Ghad]
KURDISTAN NEWS
In a phone call on Tuesday, UK Prime Minister Theresa May reiterated to the KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani the UK’s respect for Iraqi unity, calling on the KRG to undergo political, economic, and security reforms. [Sumaria]
By another account, British Prime Minister Theresa May called KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and reiterated the UK’s stance on the Kurdistan referendum and its support for Iraqi unity. May also welcomed Barzani’s respect of the Federal Court’s decision, emphasizing that the UK will continue seeking to protect the identity and the rights of the Kurdish people in accordance with the Iraqi constitution. [Rudaw]
Monday, KRG Representative to the UK, Karwan Jamal Tahir, criticized some new politicians and a number of Kurdish CoR members “who only speak up on KRG mistakes, but exercise silence when it comes to the federal government’s inhumane and unconstitutional stances and conduct, thereby legitimizing the hostile steps taking by the Iraqi-majority government vis-à-vis the Kurdistan Region and its citizens.” Tahir attributed their imbalanced criticism to their lack of understanding of the depth of the Kurdish cause with Iraq, or their intent to marginalize the cause. [SotIraq]
Tuesday, 436 German Parliament members voted in favor of extending the German Army’s training of the Peshmerga forces in the Kurdistan Region and allocating 6.9 million euros for this purpose, while 226 voted against the extension, and 10 members abstained. [Rudaw]
Head of the KRG office for Kurdish Regions Outside the KRG’s Borders, Nasreddin Sindi, said on Tuesday that “the KRG is preparing to hold a dialogue with Baghdad on all outstanding issues between the two sides.” Sindi stressed the need to address the conditions of “areas outside of the administration of the Region” covered by article 140, saying that “addressing the conditions of these areas according to the constitution will contribute to stability and prosperity.” [Sumaria]
REPORTS FROM TURKEY
The agency responsible for the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing in the French Interior Ministry announced it had identified 150–200 secret agents working out of Turkey and Lebanon to finance Daesh. Turkish newspaper Yurt revealed earlier this December that Daesh is operating in Turkey under the guise of humanitarian relief organizations. [SyriaNow]
According to Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak, the Turkish attack on Afrin in Syrian Kurdistan is nearing, as the Russian forces retreat from Syria. [BasNews]
Turkish media reported from an informed source that Turkey will hold a meeting of its military leaders with military leaders from NATO, US, and Iraq. Attending the meeting will be Commander of European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, US Central Commander Joseph Votel, Turkish Chief of Staff Hulusi Akar, and Iraqi Chief of Staff Othman Al-Ghanmi. [BasNews]
REPORTS FROM SYRIA
NATIONAL NEWS
The Iraqi military denied yesterday’s report that Iraq had developed a coordination arrangement with the SDF hours after the SDF announced such coordination within a joint center. Spokesman for Operations Commander Yahya Rasul said that there is absolutely no agreement with the SDF to establish a center for joint coordination between Iraqi forces and the SDF. [EnabBaladi]
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres criticized the movements of Commander of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who has been traveling freely between Iraq and Syria. Guterres says Soleimani has violated international law despite travel bans imposed by UN resolutions. Washington classified the Quds Force as a terrorist group in 2007 followed by the EU in 2011, and these decisions prohibits its leaders from traveling. [EnabBaladi]
According to Tasnim News Agency, 3 fighters from the Fatemiyoun brigade of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard were killed in clashes in Syria; one was buried in Mashhad and two others will be buried in Isfahan on Thursday. [Rudaw]
The Russian Defense Ministry announced the arrival of 200 Russian troops from Syria to the Russian Republic of Dagestan as part of Russia’s withdrawal from Syria. [Qasioun]
Russia’s Fontanka News reports there are about 3,000 Russian fighters contracted with the “Wagner” company who have been fighting alongside the Syrian and Russian forces in Syria since 2015. It is not clear whether the withdrawal of Russian troops will include the withdrawal of the privately contracted Russian fighters. [EnabBaladi]
UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura told the Syrian opposition delegation at the 8th Geneva talks to be “realistic,” considering that they no longer have international support and that the results of the Geneva talks are replaceable by the Sochi conference. [EnabBaladi] [Anadolu]
Tuesday, PMF deputy commander Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis confirmed that fighting against Daesh units is ongoing on the Iraq-Syria border. He reported that the Iraqi forces and joint forces will respond strongly in coordination with Damascus. According to Al-Muhandis, 60% of the border is under PMF control, and the remaining 40% is controlled by joint Iraqi forces. He added that Daesh has no military presence within Iraq, but it has military presence in Syria, and some posts near the border pose a threat to Iraq. [Youm7]
Monday, the White House announced that Washington does not intend to withdraw its troops from Syria, despite Moscow’s decision to withdraw its troops from Syria. “The US will continue to make progress … and secure all that it can to defeat Daesh on all fronts and, of course, to protect Americans’ lives,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. Sanders also stressed that the US forces will continue their operations against Daesh in order to prevent the revival of Daesh in Syria. Pentagon spokesman, Eric Pahon, announced earlier Monday that the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin to start withdrawing Russian troops from Syria will not affect the actions and priorities of Washington in Syria. [Qasioun]
In an interview with the Turkish NTV channel on Tuesday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that Russia’s decision to withdraw from Syria was “unrealistic,” explaining that “Russia already has two military bases in Syria, not to mention the deployment of its troops in many areas there.” [Dorar]
Monday, Tahrir Al-Sham released Sami Al-Aridi, the Jordanian former Al-Qaeda commander and leader of the Nusra Front. [Qasioun]
Northeast (Hasaka, Raqqa)
Raqqa
West Raqqa (Tabaqa, etc.)
According to private sources, the SDF has opened “Self-Defense Centers” for a compulsory draft in Tabaqa. The SDF claims that enrolling in these centers is a duty of the people of the city. [EnabBaladi]
Northwest
Aleppo/Idlib
Ahrar Al-Sham, operating in rural northern Aleppo, executed 4 Daesh leaders after detaining them as they entered Raqqa. [EnabBaladi]
Afrin/Azaz
Tuesday, Hawar News reported that the Turkish Army reinforced 20 trenches on the outskirts of the Bulbul area of the Rajo sub–district in rural Afrin, while continuing to build watchtowers. [Hawar]
Central and West (Homs, Hama, etc.)
Hama
Activists say that it is no coincidence that the Syrian forces’ offensive operations in Hama coincided with Daesh’s offensives in Hama, speculating that the 2 parties may be working together. Daesh and the Syrian forces both began offensive operations in eastern Hama at the same time, splitting the anti-government Syrian opposition forces. Daesh as well as the Syrian forces have reached the Idlib border, the last province in northern Syria remaining in the hands of the Syrian opposition, namely Tahrir Al-Sham. [Arabi21]
Monday, Tahrir Al-Sham said it foiled a Syrian forces’ attempt to infiltrate Hama’s northeastern village of Al- Zaferiya, killing 9 members of the Syrian forces. [Qasioun]
East (Deir Ez-Zor)
Deir Ez-Zor
Monday, Daesh’s Mu’tah news agency said that an Afghani commander in the Al-Fatemiyoun Brigade was killed, along with another Syrian forces commander, during the ongoing battles between the Syrian forces and Daesh in rural eastern Deir Ez-Zor. [Qasioun]
Daesh says it destroyed a Syrian Army tank and an SUV carrying soldiers with 2 rockets near Al-Hashma village. [ICDNDec12]
Mayadin
Clashes continue between the SDF and Daesh in Deir Ez-Zor. The SDF managed to capture Suwaidan Jazeera east of the Euphrates River. [SyriaHR]
Tuesday, Hawar News reported that the SDF captured Suwaidan town after 12 days of fighting with Daesh, killing 273 Daesh members and seizing 4 vehicles loaded with weapons, 4 military vehicles, 5 mortars, a car bomb, and a motorcycle. [Hawar]
Monday, Daesh’s A3maq news agency reported that Daesh killed 7 SDF members with 2 IEDs and 5 others during the clashes near Suwaidan. [Qasioun]
Albu Kamal
Clashes continue between the Syrian forces and Daesh on the west bank of the Euphrates River. [SyriaHR]
Qasioun reports that Daesh regained control of several villages and part of the Hamdan Agricultural Airport from the Syrian forces in western rural Albu Kamal. [Qasioun]
Tuesday, Daesh’s A3maq news agency reported that Daesh captured Albu Kamal’s northwestern villages of Al-Tuwaitha, Al-Abbas, and Al-Majawda, as well as the Al-Salihiya town, in an attempt to lift the siege on its last enclave in the region. [EnabBaladi]
Monday, Daesh’s A3maq news agency reported that Daesh had launched a large-scale attack on the Syrian forces’ positions west of Albu Kamal near the Second Station (T2), targeting one of them with a car bomb, killing and wounding a number of the Syrian forces. Meanwhile, pro-Syrian government sources said that more than 20 members of the Syrian forces were killed during clashes with Daesh near the Second (pumping) Station (T2). [Qasioun]
Daesh says it captured Al-Salihiya and Al-Wala’ towns in addition to 4 villages near Albu Kamal, killing 41 Syrian soldiers and Shia militiamen, and capturing 3 others. It says the attack is still ongoing. [ICDNDec12]
A DaeshDaily source says Daesh executed a Syrian Army captain it captured in Al-Salihiya. The source says government forces surrounded the town from 4 sides and refused a Daesh offer to break the siege in exchange for releasing the captain.
Daesh says it shot down a Syrian Army recon drone in Al-Susah, near Albu Kamal. [ICDNDec12]
DaeshDaily comment. All these stories add up to the difficulties encountered by the Syrian Army and its allies in trying to close Daesh out in Albu Kamal. Syria and Russia rushed into Albu Kamal prematurely, for political reasons, to prevent the SDF from taking Albu Kamal first. Even with the help of Iran’s General Soleimani, Iranian militiamen, and Iraqi PMFs, however, they have struggled and have lost a lot of men. Having rushed into the situation for self-serving reasons, they now own it.
South
Damascus/Rif Damashq
A SANA correspondent reported that the Syrian forces inflicted heavy losses on the Nusra Front in southwestern rural Damascus. [SyriaNow]
An official source says 11 Daesh members left their main stronghold in southern Damascus and left the region, with facilitation by the Syrian forces. The source says the 11 Daesh members, carrying light weapons, emerged from the stronghold, and the Syrian forces accompanied them towards a checkpoint. [ZamanAlWasl]
Monday, Qasioun reported that 15 members of the Syrian forces were killed and wounded during an attempt to advance to the outskirts of Mazra’at Bait Jinn town southwest of Damascus. [Qasioun]
OTHER MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA REPORTS
North Africa
Libya/Tunisia
Tunisian National Security units arrested a takfiri member in western Gabes in Tunisia. [Tunisien]
At the forum on combating terrorism on the African continent held on Tuesday in Oran, Algeria, Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel warned that according to security reports, Daesh members leaving Syria and Iraq are already moving toward Libya and the African Sahel region. [Shafaaq]
REPORTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
U.S./EUROPE
United States
Friday, US federal agents arrested an 18-year old man in Houston on terrorism charges. According to the investigation, Kaan Sercan Damlarkaya had previously planned to travel to Syria to fight alongside Daesh but failed. [AlHurra]
According to the New York Times and other US media outlets, the Bangladeshi immigrant who detonated an IED in an underground passageway near Times Square on Monday told investigators he wanted to carry out an attack in the name of Daesh. While the NYPD did not confirm this, New York Governor Cuomo said that the suspect appears to have been influenced by extremist groups. [AlArabiya]
Great Britain
Tuesday, The Times published an article written by Melanie Phillips titled “It’s right to use lethal force against jihadis” arguing that sometimes killing terrorists is the only way to protect innocent civilians. This came in the midst of the controversy sparked by Defence Minister Gavin Williamson’s statement “that Britons who have fought for Islamic State abroad were rightly being hunted down and killed to ensure they never returned to Britain from Libya, Iraq or Syria, the breeding grounds for plotting attacks in the UK.” Phillips quoted Williamson saying “dead terrorists can’t cause any harm to Britain.” [Times] [Sumaria]
Belgium
Brussels-based Patriarch Benyamin I Aboud of the Unity Church said that the problems facing Iraqi Christians have not ended despite the elimination of Daesh from Iraq. He criticized the CoR’s laws which “are no different from Daesh resolutions, such as allowing the marriage of minors, warning of future implications. He added that there will be no true victory if the persecutions of Christians all over Iraq is not addressed. [Shafaaq]
ASIA
Afghanistan
Tuesday, Afghanistan Defense Ministry spokesman, General Dawlat Waziri, told Agence France–Presse that the Afghan forces are preparing to carry out a large-scale attack against Daesh foreign fighters in northern Afghanistan. [Xendan]
Daesh says it killed 5 Taliban fighters and wounded 13 others, including a commander, in clashes in two different areas in Nangarhar on Monday. [ICDNDec12]
