February 9, 2017
Mosul
Today’s Major Developments
Iraq
Al-Abadi gets a call from President Trump. [..]
Al-Abadi reiterates commitment to devolve authority to the provinces. [..]
Two more mass graves discovered, in Rutba. [..]
Daesh arrests 385 villages in Hawija area trying to escape. [..]
Daesh drones keep attacking, but Coalition, IAF take out two drone facilities. [..]
Daesh executes 46 people trying to escape west Mosul. [..]
Exclusive report: Daesh arrests media, social media activists in Mosul. [..]
Syria
US kills veteran Al-Qaeda leader in Idlib. [..]
SDF, Coalition keep momentum in Raqqa campaign. [..]
Turkish coalition gains further in Al-Bab, but clashes with Syrian Army. [..]
REPORTS FROM IRAQ
NATIONAL NEWS
Prime Minister Abadi received a phone call from President Trump according to a statement from Abadi’s office. Abadi told President Trump that Daesh is in its final stages and Iraq is determined to put an end to. He stressed the importance of continuing Coalition support to Iraq. Abadi also asked President Trump to reconsider the travel ban on Iraqis, and the President says it is important to coordinate regarding this issue and he will issue orders to the Department of State in this regard. [Sumaria]
Prime Minister Abadi says in a meeting with the High Commission for Coordination with the Provinces that the government is moving on to devolve authority to the governorates. He also warns of “hidden hands” that are committing assassinations and trying to create conflicts. [Sumaria]
Former Vice President Osama Al-Nujaifi says he met with the US Ambassador Douglas Silliman and the UK Ambassador in separate meetings. He says he told the ambassadors that kicking out the Ninewa Guard one day after the liberation of the east side of Mosul gave the wrong message to the people of Mosul. He says the Ninewa Guard was supposed to hold the ground in 30 neighborhoods in Mosul according to a political agreement. He also says many thefts happened in that part of Mosul after the Ninewa Guard was kicked out. He says the Ninewa Guard did a good job fighting Daesh with the Iraqi Army 16th division in north Mosul. [BasNews] [Sumaria]
DaeshDaily comment. Well, we don’t know where to start. The leader of the Ninewa Guard is Nujaifi’s brother, former Ninewa governor Atheel Al-Nujaifi. He was previously indicted for allowing foreign troops (Turkish) to enter Iraq without informing the government. Atheel was once openly implicated in a plan to hand over Mosul to Turkey. In 2013 he said that the “Safavid Army” (meaning the Iraqi Army) should leave Mosul. He conspired with the Baathists to take over Ninewa, resulting in Daesh capturing the province in mid-2014. He was implicated in many shady business deals with the “mujahidin” and he even ordered his people not to mess with them. He opposed the rights of minorities in Ninewa and wanted to take over most of their lands for his imaginary Turkey-governed Ninewa region.
As for the Guard’s role in liberating Mosul, we covered the battles day by day and the areas where the National Guard was present were not liberated until the IFP came in. Nujaifi’s Turkey-trained force was insignificant. This could not have been surprising because his troops were former Ninewa police who didn’t fight Daesh in the first place, and later refused to join IFP training camps when the government told them to report, instead staying in their Erbil hotels. As for the alleged thefts, it is worth noting that they were mainly reported by the Turkish Anadolu organization. The Coalition and the UN praised the Iraqi forces’ behavior after the liberation of Mosul.
The Minister of Displacement and Migration says 1,650,000 displaced people have returned to their houses all over Iraq, including 60,000 in Mosul. [Sumaria]
The Coalition says it conducted 12 airstrikes against Daesh targets in Iraq (near Mosul (6), Qayara (1), Kasik (1), Kirkuk (1), Tuz (1), and Haditha (1)). [InherentResolve]
DaeshDaily comment. There is mistake in this report as the numbers don’t quite add up.
BAGHDAD
Security-related incidents reported
North (Tarmiya, Taji, etc.)
The BOC says 22nd army brigade destroyed a roadside IED in Al-Tadabir neighborhood. [BOC Facebook Page]
Daesh says it killed an Iraqi Army officer and a soldier with an IED, and damaged a Humvee with a rocket, in Hay Al-Dhubat in Tarmiya on Wednesday. [A3maq]
Northeast (Adhamiya, etc.)
The BOC says 44th army brigade defused an IED placed in a popular coffee shop in Shaab neighborhood. [BOC Facebook Page]
Southeast (Mada’in, etc.)
A police source says armed men on a motorcycle shot and killed a civilian near his house in Zafaraniya. [Sumaria]
South (Dora, Yusufiyah, Mahmudiya, etc.)
A police source says a civilian was wounded when a roadside IED exploded in the Shia Hor Rijab area. [Sumaria]
The MoD says security units captured a man on terrorism charges and confiscated 6 rockets in the Karakza area. [Harbi]
The MoD says Iraqi Army 55th brigade found an explosives cache in the Karaghoul area. [Harbi]
The MoD says Iraqi Army 25th brigade found 25 IEDs and other explosives in Hay Al-Murtadha in Mahmudiya. [Harbi]
West (Ghazaliya, Abu Ghraib, etc.)
A police source says the body of an MoI employee was found shot in Abu Ghraib. [Sumaria]
The BOC announced the arrest of a “Wilayat Baghdad” cell in west Baghdad after a pursuit and an ambush. The BOC statement did not define the exact area. Weapons, explosives, and explosive belts were found with the group. [Sumaria]
Total Baghdad incidents reported: 10 (Includes only incidents reported)
Total IED incidents reported: 5
ANBAR
Falluja
A security source in Anbar says two soldiers were killed and two wounded in a Daesh attack with a car bomb on an army checkpoint on the road connecting Falluja city to Ameriyat Al-Falluja subdistrict. [Sumaria]
Daesh says one of its Iraqi suicide terrorists attacked “Iraqi Army and police” in the Al-Fahailat area southeast of Falluja with a vehicle bomb, killing nine people, wounding others, and destroying a Humvee. Daesh publishes a photo of the suicide terrorist. [DawaAlhaq]
The MoD says Iraqi forces found 2 IEDs in the Albu Hawa area south of Falluja. [Harbi]
Ramadi
The MoD says Iraqi forces found 34 IEDs in the Tawi area northwest of Ramadi. [Harbi]
The MoD says Iraqi forces found 20 IEDs in the Albu Risha area. [Harbi]
Daesh says it killed two policemen with an IED at the University Intersection in Ramadi city on Wednesday. [A3maq]
Hit/Haditha
The MoD says Iraqi forces found 4 IEDs in the Al-Aqba area south of Mohammedi. [Harbi]
Northwest Anbar
A leader in Anbar Tribal Mobilization says army units attacked Daesh gatherings in passages connecting Anah to Haditha, killing 9 Daesh militants, including foreigners, and destroying three vehicle bombs. The source says army helicopters attack these areas on a daily basis. [Maalomah]
Rutba
A security source says 1st army division found two mass graves, believed to be of civilians executed by Daesh, in a dump behind the Askari neighborhood in Rutba. A forensics team is arriving in the area to identify the bodies. [Sumaria]
Daesh says it destroyed an Iraqi Army barracks near the Trebil border crossing on the Jordanian border, after targeting it with several mortars. [StoreUp]
SALAHUDDIN
Shirqat
A security source says unidentified gunmen shot dead two Daesh militants on a motorcycle on a countryside road east of Shirqat. Daesh deployed its combatants in the area, as the incident is the first of its kind there. [Sumaria]
Daesh says a group of its terrorists attacked 2 PMF positions near Al-Dibis village, killing three fighters, wounding others, and destroying a barracks before returning safely. [DawaAlhaq]
Daesh issues a video of the attack. [A3maq]
Daesh says its snipers killed an Iraqi soldier in Ain Al-Baidha village south of Shirqat. [StoreUp]
Daesh publishes photos of a PMF fighter being targeted by its snipers near Ain Al-Baidha village south of Shirqat. [DawaAlhaq]
Daesh publishes photos of its terrorists near Misahaq village in the Makhoul Mountains southeast of Shirqat. [DawaAlhaq]
Daesh says it targeted Iraqi Army positions in several areas in Shirqat with tens of mortars. [StoreUp]
Daesh says it destroyed an Iraqi Army military position with a 12.5mm weapon in the Al-Qusour area near the Makhoul Mountains. [StoreUp]
Baiji
PMF says its 20th brigade blocked an attack by the Daesh suicide squadron on its positions in Baiji. The PMF killed several attackers and arrested one of them. [Ghad]
The MoD says Iraqi forces stopped a Daesh attack in the Thermal Station area in Baiji, killing several terrorists and destroying 3 hideouts. It also says the IFP killed 25 terrorists in a nearby area. [Harbi]
The MoD says Iraqi forces destroyed 2 Daesh machine gun-mounted vehicles in Makhoul subdistrict, killing the terrorists inside. [Harbi]
Tikrit
A security source says Daesh attacked Ajil oilfield from the south and captured several military positions, and failed to advance in the north. The source says military reinforcements arrived from Al-Alam to the field. The source also says seven Iraqi soldiers were wounded in the attack. [BasNews]
A security source says security units defused a car bomb on Street 40 in Tikrit city. A curfew was imposed for a few hours after the car was detected. [Sumaria]
Eastern Salahuddin (Tooz, Al-Daur)
The MoD says Samarra Operations Command, supported by the IAA, searched more than 160 sq km (62.5 sq miles) in Jalam Albu Khaddo and Jalam Al-Daur and captured two people on terrorism charges, destroyed a booby-trapped house and defused another one, and found 35 IEDs. [Harbi]
DIYALA
Baquba/Southeast Diyala
The Diyala Police Chief says his troops captured 2 men on terrorism charges in Abbara subdistrict north of Baquba and confiscated explosives from their vehicle. [Ghad]
Muqdadiya/Abu Saida
The chairman of the Muqdadiya District Council says some checkpoints in Diyala are imposing bribes on vehicle owners, especially of trucks, in different areas in Diyala. [Sumaria]
DaeshDaily comment. For anyone who wants to know how can Daesh move vehicle bombs to Baghdad and other areas, this story is your answer.
A local source says two policemen were wounded when a group of Daesh terrorists attacked a checkpoint near Al-Kubba village. [Sumaria]
KIRKUK
Kirkuk/Dibis
A security source says a 10-year-old boy was killed and two men from his family were wounded when an IED exploded in front of their house in Hay Al-Badr in south Kirkuk. [Sumaria]
The Directorate of Migration and Displacement in Kirkuk says 500 people were hosted in the new camp for displaced people in Laylan, called Laylan C. The camp capacity is 2,500 people. [Sumaria]
Hawija (Riyadh, Al-Zab, etc.)
A security source says Daesh arrested 260 persons from Dhibat village and 125 persons from Hamal village in Himrin who were trying to escape Hawija to Maktab Khalid, held by the Peshmerga southwest of Kirkuk. The arrestees were taken to Hawija, accused of escaping “Caliphate territories”. [Sumaria]
A local source in Kirkuk says unidentified gunmen broke into the house of Abu Saif Al-Farouq, A Saudi national and the officer of executions in Hawija and shot him dead. [Maalomah]
Daesh publishes 3 photos from Sdaira Wusta village near Al-Zab. [JustPaste]
NINEWA
Mosul
Mosul liberation campaign
Prime Minister Al-Abadi says most Daesh foreign combatants have left Mosul with their families towards Syria. He says that large quantities of weapons and explosives were captured with excellent cooperation from Mosul residents. He says that the west side off Mosul will be liberated shortly. [Anadolu]
US Secretary of Defense James Mattis congratulated his Iraqi counterpart Irfan Al-Hayali on his new office and on liberating the east side of Mosul. In a telephone conversation, Secretary Mattis discussed with Minister Al-Hayali the pending operation in west Mosul. [Anadolu]
West Mosul
Coalition warplanes targeted and destroyed one of the main Daesh bases for launching drones from west Mosul. Local sources say the location was run by “Russian” experts and other foreigners. The site was destroyed and all persons present in the location were killed. [ARA]
The Times of London says Daesh executed 46 civilians trying to escape Daesh recruitment for jihadi service west of Mosul. The paper says that 40 of them tried swimming across the river to the east side. The youngest of the victims is 16 years old. Daesh emptied houses overlooking the riverbank and converted them into watch and defense positions. [Mawazin]
DaeshDaily sources in Mosul say Daesh arrested several media and social media activists, including a woman, and took them to unknown locations.
DaeshDaily comment. We don’t know who these people are, but we relate to such people and this story is worrisome. There are some brave people in Mosul who have taken risks to communicate with the outside world about circumstances in Iraq.
The same Daesh Daily sources also say Daesh is issuing more taxes on the people of the west side of the city. They also say Daesh has deployed snipers and increased its checkpoints in order to prevent people from escaping.
The IFP commander says the IAA stopped heavy attacks on Daesh positions in west Mosul. He also says Daesh is losing control of its terrorists on the west side. [Maalomah]
A local source says Daesh initiated a house-to-house search in the Dawasa and Bab Al-Tob neighborhoods and arrested three local Daesh leaders. The three are Mosul residents and one is the mosques officer. The arrest was made on charges of planning to desert Daesh. [Sumaria]
A local source says Daesh captured 12 men, 11 women, and 19 children who were trying to escape Mosul to the south. The source says Daesh executed the men and whiplashed the women before releasing them. [ARA]
Local residents of Bab Al-Tob say mortars fired from the east side killed 8 and wounded 16 civilians, in addition to causing material damage to shops in the area. A doctor in the Republican Hospital of Bab Al-Tob says the hospital, which received the wounded, lacks basic supplies and equipment to treat the wounded properly. [Rudaw]
The MoD says 9th army division and the IFP are maintaining their vehicles and weapons in preparation for the anticipated attack on west Mosul which could start at any minute. [Harbi]
Kurdistan Security Council says Abu Waleed Al-Kurdi (alias Abu Ali Al-Kurdi), a Kurdish Daesh commander, was killed in a Coalition airstrike along with 4 of his escorts in Zanjili neighborhood in west Mosul. Al-Kurdi was the Daesh religious officer in Tel Keif area. The council says around 500 Kurds are fighting with Daesh, recruited from Syria and Mosul. [Sumaria]
North Mosul
Daesh says it wounded two Iraqi soldiers and targeted a Humvee and a car in Al-Qubba village with a drone strike. [A3maq]
Daesh says its snipers killed two Iraqi soldiers and wounded others in Al-Qubba village and Al-Faisaliya (east Mosul). [A3maq]
Daesh says it destroyed an Iraqi forces Humvee and damaged a bulldozer with IEDs in Alam Louk village in Rashidiya. [A3maq]
East Mosul
IWMC says army units captured and destroyed a Daesh car bomb in Intisar neighborhood east of Mosul. [Sumaria]
Daesh says it wounded six Iraqi soldiers and targeted 2 Humvees in drone strikes on Al-Rashidiya (north), Al-Ghabat, Al-Maliya, and Al-Wihda (southeast). [A3maq]
Daesh publishes 2 photos of targeting an Iraqi Army vehicle with a drone strike in the Al-Ghabat area. [DawaAlhaq]
A military source says 3 drone attacks on north and east Mosul killed two civilians and wounded 25 others. The target locations were Al-Arabi, Jaza’er, Iqtisadiyeen and Zuhoor. Daesh attacks with drones take place at night when they are difficult to see. [Anadolu]
Daesh publishes photos of dropping a “bomb” on an Iraqi Army Humvee from a drone over Hay Al-Maliya in east Mosul, across the river from downtown. [DawaAlhaq]
Southeast Mosul
Daesh publishes photos of dropping a bomb on an Iraqi Army barricade in Hay Al-Wihda. It says two soldiers were wounded in the attack. [DawaAlhaq]
Daesh says one of its Iraqi suicide terrorists sneaked into an Iraqi Army position in Hay Al-Saheroun in southeast Mosul and planted a land mine under an Abrams tank, destroying it. It also says the terrorist detonated his explosives vest on Iraqi soldiers, killing several soldiers and destroying a Humvee. Daesh publishes a photo of the suicide terrorist and aerial photos of the attack. [DawaAlhaq] [JustPaste]
Human conditions in Mosul
The Chairman of the Sunni Endowment arrived in Mosul and reopened the Endowment branch in east Mosul. [Mosul]
Hammam Al-Alil/ Mosul subdistrict
Daesh says one of its drone strikes hit an Iraqi forces’ tank and a car in Al-Arij village near Hammam Al-Alil. [A3maq]
Daesh says it shot down a PMF recon drone in Ain Alwah village near Mahalbiya. [A3maq]
The MoD says the IAF destroyed a Daesh cannon and a weapons and ammunition storehouse in Mahalbiya. [Harbi]
Shura/Qayara
Daesh says it killed four IFP members, including an officer, in an ambush in Al-Jamsa village in Qayara on Wednesday. [A3maq]
The Ministry of Oil says its teams extinguished the fire on Oilfield 70 in Qayara, raising the total number of extinguished-fire fields to 20. It says only 5 oilfields are still on fire. [Sumaria]
Northwest (Tal Afar, Sinjar)
MoD says the Iraqi Air Force (IAF) destroyed a workshop in Tal Afar for manufacturing drones and another for manufacturing of IEDs. IAF also destroyed a heavy cannon and a weapons storehouse in Tal Afar. [Waradana]
The MoD says an Iraqi CH4 drone destroyed a Daesh bulldozer in Tal Afar, but also reported the IAF destruction of the IED workshop and also a drone control center in Tal Afar. [Harbi]
PMF command says Iraqi Army Air (IAA) helicopters attacked a meeting of Daesh commanders in Hasan Kawi near Al-Noor mosque, in the middle of Tal Afar city, following information received by the “Tal Afar Liberation Movement,” which is cooperating with the government. [Ghad]
An infographic presentation of Daesh losses published by the PMF organization shows Daesh casualties in the past week in operations southwest of Mosul. Daesh lost 117 combatants and 40 defensive positions. The PMFs captured over 40 different weapons. The graph also shows that 500 civilians evacuated their areas during the past week. [Ghad]
Daesh says it targeted Iraqi Army and PMF positions at the Tal Afar Airport and surrounding areas with 136 mortars. [StoreUp]
SOUTHERN IRAQ
Basra
A PMF source denied a report that the general secretary of Hezbollah/Iraq, Bassem Al-Musawi, had been assassinated in Basra today. It had been reported that unidentified armed men killed the important PMF leader and wounded one of his escorts in Hayaniyah in downtown Basra. Hezbollah/Iraq is not related to the Lebanese Hezbollah. [Aljournal]
A security source says unknown armed men blew up 3 IEDs near houses in different areas in Basra without causing casualties. [Sumaria]
REPORTS FROM SYRIA
The leader of Tahrir Al-Sham, Hashim Al-Sheikh (Abu Jaber), says in a video speech his group is not an “extension” of any other group and is part of the Syrian revolution. [ARA]
DaeshDaily comment. Al-Nusra, the major part of Tahrir Al-Sham, is trying to avoid attacks by trying to show itself as a national Syrian movement instead of being part of Al-Qaeda. So far, this effort doesn’t seem that successful. Al-Sheikh is a former Ahrar Al-Sham member, and putting his face in the front is an attempt to make people forget that the military commander (and actual leader) of Tahrir Al-Sham is still Zawahiri’s boy, Abu Mohammed Al-Jolani.
The Coalition says it conducted 17 airstrikes against Daesh targets in Syria, 14 near Raqqa and 3 near Al-Bab. [InherentResolve]
Northeast (Hasaka, Raqqa)
Raqqa
Coalition spokesman John Dorrian says Raqqa will be totally isolated in the next few weeks. He says entering the city will follow, but the timing is dependent on military developments. [ARA]
SDF says it blocked Daesh attacks on Suwaidiya, Hamareen, and Wadyan northeast of Tabaqa. Tens of Daesh combatants were killed or wounded. After their retreat, the Daesh militants shelled the villages with mortars. [Hawar]
Daesh’s version says it attacked SDF positions in Suwaidiya Kabira, Al-Bayoudh, Al-Wadyan, and Traikiya villages north of Tabaqa on Wednesday. It says heavy battles erupted when one of its suicide terrorists detonated his explosive vest. It also says it targeted the SDF with heavy weapons, rockets, and artillery. It says it killed or wounded forty fighters and captured light weapons. [DawaAlhaq]
DaeshDaily comment. Compare these two stories for a window on Daesh propaganda. Daesh’s version is a typical “victorious” story: It “attacked,” engaged in “heavy battles,” unleashed “heavy weapons,” etc., and killed 40 men while apparently losing none of its own, and captured weapons too. Notice also what it doesn’t say; Daesh failed to capture the places targeted. This also undermines the credibility of its claim to have killed 40 SDF soldiers. As we say, “Daesh is always victorious” (even when it isn’t).
SDF forces liberated Sanina village northeast of Raqqa after inflicting heavy casualties on Daesh militants. [Hawar]
A Tunisian called Abu Al-Bara detonated himself as Daesh security personnel entered his house in Raqqa, sources say. Three Daesh militants were killed in the incident. Local sources say he was a member of a radical group that deserted Daesh. Abul Bara was reportedly planning to leave Raqqa. [ARA]
A car bomb exploded in Tal Abyad, in northern Raqqa Governorate, wounding two YPG fighters. [Hawar]
Daesh says it detonated a parked car bomb near the SDF mobilization headquarters in Tal Abyad. [A3maq]
Northwest (Aleppo, Idlib)
Aleppo/Idlib
The Pentagon says the US killed Abu Hani Al-Masri, a veteran Al-Qaeda leader with connections to Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, in an airstrike in Idlib. This attack followed another on the previous day when 10 Qaeda leaders were killed by an airstrike on a building in Idlib. [Sumaria]
We reported on February 3 from several sources that Coalition warplanes attacked a command center of Tahrir Al-Sham (Nusra) in Sermin, in Idlib, killing 12 of the militants. Other air attacks by unidentified planes left several civilians wounded in the city. [ZamanAlWasl] [Qasioun] [Qasioun] [ARA]
Tahrir Al-Sham (Nusra-led) militants attacked Ahrar Al-Sham positions in Kafr Naha, capturing several vehicles and capturing one Ahrar Al-Sham fighter. [EnabBaladi]
Syrian Army says it destroyed 4 Daesh vehicles near the air academy east of Aleppo. [SyriaNow]
Syrian government media says five children were killed in a land mine explosion in Bustan Al-Qasr neighborhood in Aleppo. [SyriaNow]
Daesh attacked Al-Hamam village southeast of Aleppo with a rocket that wounded ten civilians. [SyriaHR]
Daesh says it stopped another Syrian Army and Shia militia attack on the Draihem area east of Khanasir. It says heavy battles erupted and 28 soldiers and militiamen were killed and others wounded. It says the Syrian Army and militias have tried 9 times to capture the area so far during the last 2 weeks. [DawaAlhaq]
Al-Bab
Three Turkish soldiers were killed and 11 wounded in an attack by Russian warplanes on Daesh targets in Al-Bab city. Russia’s President Putin expressed sorrow and condolences to his Turkish counterpart President Erdogan for this mistaken attack. [Anadolu]
Turkish Army says it bombarded 187 Daesh targets with artillery while Turkish warplanes bombed 66 other targets, killing 44 Daesh militants. Coalition warplanes also initiated 3 airstrikes, destroying 6 targets including a tunnel and vehicle bombs. [Anadolu]
The SOHR denied reports that Turkish-backed forces have reached the middle of Al-Bab city. It says they are facing stiff opposition from Daesh combatants and that fighting is still going on west of the city. [Hawar]
Opposition forces captured the western part of Al-Bab connecting the city to Mare’. This comes while fighting continues in the western part of the city, where Daesh attacked opposition forces with a vehicle bomb. [ARA]
Meanwhile, clashes erupted between the Syrian Army and Turkey-supported opposition units near Al-Bab city. Reports say that government forces destroyed an opposition vehicle and the opposition captured two Syrian Army vehicles. Sporadic fighting is reported. [Hawar]
This is reportedly the first time since August 2016 that the Turkey-supported opposition engaged Syrian government forces, which occurred in Al-Ghor and Abu Al-Zendayn villages. The clashes broke out after government forces captured Deir Qaq and Shamawiya villages south of the city. [Hawar]
Local sources say government forces are only 2 km of Al-Bab southern entrance after capturing Deir Qaq. Army troops inflicted heavy casualties on Daesh forces in the village. [ARA]
Daesh publishes photos of targeting the Syrian Army with heavy machine guns and mortars south of Al-Bab. [DawaAlhaq]
Daesh issues a video of a purported suicide attack on the Syrian Army in Al-Batoushiya village south of Al-Bab. The video just shows a remote explosion. [A3maq]
Daesh publishes photos of the suicide bomber and the attack. [DawaAlhaq]
Daesh publishes photos of targeting the Syrian Army with heavy machine guns and mortars in and near Al-Awaishiya village south of Al-Bab. [JustPaste] [JustPaste]
Daesh publishes a photo of targeting Syrian Army positions near Al-Awaishiya village with tank shells. [Top4Top]
Daesh says it targeted Syrian Army and allied militia positions in Rasm Al-Sarhan and Al-Batoushiya villages south of Al-Bab with mortars. [StoreUp]
Daesh issues a video of an attack on Al-Muqri Hill east of Al-Bab. [A3maq]
Azaz
Heavy and medium weapons shelling and counter shelling was reported near Maraanaz between SDF and opposition units. [Qasioun]
A Daesh land mine explosion killed a colonel in the opposition forces in Al-Ra’i. [SyriaHR]
Afrin
Turkish forces occupied a strategic hill in Koran east of Kobane, 250 meters inside Syrian territory. The Turks dug a trench around the hill from the Syrian side. This comes as the Turkish government works to establish a buffer zone inside Kurdish Syrian territory. [Hawar]
Central and West (Homs, Hama, etc.)
Daesh initiated a counter attack and recaptured Hayan Gas station east of Homs, as fighting continued around T4 airport under heavy Russian air attacks. [ARA]
Daesh claims to have captured two Syrian Army positions in Al-Baydha junction north of T4 airport, amid fierce fighting. Local activists say both sides are alternating control of several points in the battlefield. [ARA]
Daesh says 6 of its terrorists attacked 2 Syrian Army barricades near Al-Baidha Intersection east of the T4 Airport. Daesh says it captured the 2 barricades in addition to weapons and ammunition after killing several soldiers and forcing the rest to retreat. [Top4Top]
Russian warplanes initiated intensive attacks on Palmyra, causing huge material damage, in an attempt to drive Daesh combatants back to pave the way for government forces to recapture the city. Battles in Jahar and Baydha are continuing. [ARA]
Jund Al-Aqsa, an Al-Qaeda affiliate, raided Kafr Zita, north of Hama, expelling the Ahrar Al-Sham related opposition units there. [ARA]
An IED explosion in Hay Al-Zahra in Homs, controlled by the government, killed three civilians and wounded two others. [EnabBaladi]
Daesh says it detonated an IED in the “Alawite” Hay Al-Zahra’ area, killing three people and wounding fifteen. [A3maq]
East (Deir Ez-Zor)
A woman was killed and eight civilians wounded in a Daesh mortar and artillery shelling of Al-Joura, A government–controlled neighborhood in Deir Ez-Zor. A Russian plane dropped food supplies on that part of the city. [ARA]
Syrian Army says it repelled a Daesh attack near Tal Barouk, southwest of Deir Ez-Zor, inflicting heavy casualties to attackers. [SyriaNow]
South (Rif Damashq, Suwayda, Daraa, etc.)
Reports say that opposition forces made advances against Daesh in Qalamoun in heavy fighting with medium and heavy weapons. [Qasioun]
The SOHR says battles between the Khaled Army (Daesh affiliate) and opposition forces continued west of Daraa in the Allan and Sahm Al-Jolan Dam areas, with reports of casualties among both parties. [SyriaHR]
Daesh issues a video of battles in East Qalamoun. [A3maq]
OTHER MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA REPORTS
North Africa
Egypt
Daesh says it targeted an Egyptian Army water tanker with an IED west of the Al-Qawadis area. It also says it clashed with the Egyptian Army at a security barrier in the Karm Al-Qawadis area. [StoreUp]
Local sources say Ansar Bait Al-Maqdis terrorists shot and killed a National Construction Council employee after stopping his vehicle in the Al-Khazzan area in Arish. [ElWatan]
Libya (no reports)
REPORTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
Israel
Daesh says it launched several Grad rockets on “Jewish gatherings” in Eilat, at Israel’s southern tip, on Wednesday. [DawaAlhaq]
The Israeli Army said yesterday it intercepted 3 rockets that were launched from Egypt toward Eilat while the 4th one fell in an open area.
Yemen
Daesh says its snipers killed a Houthi militiaman in the Qifa area. [StoreUp]
Daesh publishes photos of targeting Houthi positions in the Qifa area with mortars. [DawaAlhaq]
SOCIAL MEDIA
The Governor of Dhi Qar attends the wedding of a CTS soldier from Nasiriya who marries a girl from the east side of Mosul. [Facebook] [Facebook]
A PMF fighter wounded severely after destroying a Daesh vehicle bomb [Facebook]
Some Daesh casualties after Wednesday’s attack on Al-Jahaf [Twitter] [Twitter]
Romantic photos of a Daesh couple [Facebook]
And another couple [Facebook]
Videos of the Day
PMFs stopped a Daesh attack near Baiji, killing or capturing many terrorists [Harbi]
Iraqi forces capture a Daesh terrorist dressed as a woman in Salahuddin [Facebook]
A man from Mosul meets his sister for the first time in 3 years [Yalla]
A video reportedly found in the mobile phone of a dead Daesh terrorist [Facebook]
CTS soldiers in close battles [Facebook]
Iraqi forces stop a Daesh attack near Mosul [Facebook]
Iraqi soldiers celebrate in east Mosul [Facebook]
Iraqi forces capture a Daesh vehicle bomb in Hay Al-Intisar in Mosul [Afaq]
A Moroccan Daesh terrorist captured by Iraqi forces [Facebook]
IFP units deployed near Abu Saif Hills preparing for the attack on west Mosul [Twitter]
The IFP finds a Daesh explosives cache in Shura and destroys it [Afaq]
DAESH MEDIA
Daesh audio newsletter for today [Bayan]
Daesh publishes the 67th issue of its Al-Naba’ magazine. In this issue it publishes infographics about the battles near Al-Bab. It says it has conducted 29 suicide attacks, killing more than 85 Turkish soldiers and 270 Syrian opposition group fighters. It also says that Russian and Turkish planes conducted over 800 airstrikes, killing or wounding more than 610 civilians.
Daesh also publishes an interview with its “emir of the health diwan” who says that Daesh established “distinguished” health facilities and that Daesh universities are providing qualified medical staff. Daesh also issues instructions to married couples not to give away each other’s secrets. [DawaAlhaq]
Daesh issues a propaganda video criticizing several Sunni clerics who issued fatwas against Daesh. [DawaAlhaq]
