Highlights of the events
- In the Idlib region, the ceasefire was generally maintained. It appears that the Syrian army, the rebel organizations and Turkey are now on standby due to the fear of an outbreak of COVID-19 in the region. To date, no COVID-19 cases have been reported in the Idlib region, but unreported morbidity should not be ruled out, in the absence of functioning health services and an effective screening system. In any case, the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham is taking preventive action within its ranks. ISIS carried out intensive activity in the Euphrates Valley. Its activity consisted mainly of planting IEDs and targeted killings. In southern Syria, including the Syrian Golan Heights, ISIS recently increased its activity, which took the form of ambushes and shooting attacks.
- In Iraq, ISIS has increased its activity significantly, taking advantage of the spread of COVID-19 (1,584 patients to date) and the reduction in the scope of activity of the US-led International Coalition. ISIS’s infographics on its activity in April indicate that more than half of the attacks in its various provinces were carried out in Iraq. The Iraqi minister of defense warned of an increase in ISIS’s activity, taking advantage of the situation created by the COVID-19 epidemic.
- The most significant attacks in ISIS’s other provinces in Africa and Asia:
- Nigeria: ISIS’s West Africa Province continued its intensive activity against the Nigerian army in the northeast of the country and on the coast of Lake Chad (attacking army camps, activating IEDs, and firing mortar shells).
- Mozambique: ISIS’s Central Africa Province has recently intensified its activity in the northeast of the country. In addition to increasing its military activity (attacking army camps and apparently also shooting down a helicopter), ISIS operatives are attempting to take control of villages in order to establish a civilian governance of sorts in the region.
- The Maldives: ISIS claimed responsibility (for the first time) for setting fire to five boats belonging to the Maldives Police and officials of the ruling party. The Maldives is a popular international tourist destination. Tourism, on which the country’s economy is based, has suffered a severe blow due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ISIS is apparently attempting to take advantage of the crisis in order to gain a foothold in the islands.
- Afghanistan: the resurgence of ISIS’s Khorasan Province continues, after it had suffered a blow which led to several months of inactivity. On April 9, 2020, ISIS operatives (again) fired three rockets at Bagram Airbase north of Kabul, where US army troops are stationed.
- In conclusion: ISIS is intensifying its activity in the various provinces taking advantage of the COVID-19 crisis. The most prominent activity is in ISIS’s Iraq Province, followed by Syria (the Euphrates Valley) and Nigeria. In addition, resurgence is evident in Central Africa and, for the first time, there was an attack in the Maldives. Most of the activity consisted of routine attacks (activating IEDs, shooting attacks, targeted killings, and attacks against military camps). However, in the future, as ISIS gains in strength and confidence, it is liable to carry out more sophisticated showcase attacks as well.
The Idlib region
The ceasefire in the Idlib region has generally been maintained. Thus, it seems that the Syrian army and the rebel organizations are now in a waiting position, first and foremost due to the fear of a widespread outbreak of COVID-19 in the Idlib region. So far, no COVID-19 cases have been reported in the area.
UAV airstrikes by Iranian-affiliated militias
- On April 16, 2020, UAVs of Iranian-affiliated militias carried out several airstrikes against vehicles of rebel organizations supported by Turkey (the National Liberation Front). The airstrikes were carried out in the northeastern Al-Ghab Plain and near the Syrian-Turkish border. Several rebel operatives were killed and wounded. One aircraft was reportedly shot down by the rebel organizations (Khotwa, April 16, 2020).
Preventive activity of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham against COVID-19
- On April 19, 2020, the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham released a video showing how countries around the world are coping with COVID-19 and the steps taken in the Idlib region (mainly in the town of Sarmada, about 30 km north of Idlib). As part of its preventive activity, studies and prayers in the mosques were banned; there were training sessions on protection from the virus and people were instructed to maintain social distancing. In addition, international organizations carried out disinfection activity, and rooms were prepared to hospitalize patients (Ibaa, April 19, 2020).
Northeastern Syria
ISIS continues its high-intensity activity in the Euphrates Valley. The main forms of activity were planting of IEDs on traffic routes, targeted killings, and attacks against SDF positions.
The area of Al-Mayadeen and Albukamal
- On April 2, 2020, two SDF intelligence operatives were targeted by machine gun fire in the village of Darnaj, about 14 km southeast Al-Mayadeen. They were both wounded (Telegram, April 21, 2020).
- On April 17, 2020, an IED was activated against an SDF truck on the road leading to the oilfields of Al-Tanak (about 40 southeast of Al-Mayadeen) and Al-Omar (about 50 km southeast of Deir ez-Zor). Three passengers were killed (Telegram, April 18, 2020).
- On April 17, 2020, an SDF vehicle was targeted by machine gun fire about 50 km northeast of Deir ez-Zor. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, April 18, 2020).
- On April 17, 2020, an SDF fighter was targeted by machine gun fire in the village of Mahaimida, about 10 km north of Deir ez-Zor. He was killed (Telegram, April 17, 2020).
- On April 17, 2020, an SDF intelligence operative was targeted by machine gun fire in the village of Diban, about 5 km east of Al-Mayadeen. He was killed (Telegram, April 17, 2020).
- On April 17, 2020, an IED was activated against an SDF vehicle in the village of Al-Hisan, about 4 km north of Deir ez-Zor. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, April 17, 2020).
- On April 16, 2020, an IED was activated in a building of the SDF forces in the village of Al-Jaradi, about 20 km southeast of Al-Mayadeen. The building was damaged (Telegram, April 17, 2020).
- On April 15, 2020, an SDF intelligence operative was shot and killed in the village of Shahil, about 10 km north of Al-Mayadeen (Telegram, April 16, 2020).
- On April 14, 2020, several IEDs were activated in a building intended to be used as an SDF headquarters in the village of Hawaij, about 5 km northeast of Al-Mayadeen. The building was damaged (Telegram, April 14, 2020).
- On April 13, 2020, an SDF intelligence commander was targeted by machine gun fire in the village of Shahil, about 10 km north of Al-Mayadeen. He was killed (Telegram, April 13, 2020).
- On April 13, 2020, an IED was activated against an SDF vehicle in the village of Al-Basira, about 14 km north of Al-Mayadeen. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, April 14, 2020).
- On April 6, 2020, ISIS operatives captured a man affiliated with the Syrian regime in the village of Shahil, about 10 km north of Al-Mayadeen. He was interrogated and then executed (Telegram, April 7, 2020).
- On April 6, 2020, an IED was activated against an SDF vehicle on the Al-Tiyanah road, about 5 km east of Al-Mayadeen. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, April 8, 2020).
Al-Hasakah area
- On April 15, 2020, an IED was activated against an SDF vehicle south of Al-Hasakah. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, April 16, 2020).
- On April 11, 2020, two SDF intelligence operatives were shot at about 30 km south of Al-Hasakah. One of them was killed and the other wounded (Telegram, April 12, 2020).
Al-Raqqah area
- On April 18, 2020, an IED was activated in the house of an SDF intelligence operative in the western part of Al-Raqqah. He was wounded (Telegram, April 18, 2020).
Southern Syria
Recently, an increase has been evident in the activity of ISIS’s Hawran Province in the areas of Daraa and the Syrian Golan Heights. The main forms of activity were ambushes and shooting at Syrian army personnel and figures affiliated with the Syrian regime.
The Syrian Golan Heights
- On April 7, 2020, Salwan al-Jundi, the secretary of the Ba’ath Party in the city of Nawa (about 16 km east of the Syrian-Israeli border), was targeted by machine gun fire. He was killed in front of the party headquarters. The assassination occurred on the anniversary of the establishment of the Ba’ath Party (Telegram, April 7, 2020; ISIS’s Al-Naba’ weekly, April 9, 2020).
Salwan al-Jundi, secretary of the Ba’ath Party in Nawa, killed by ISIS
(Al-Naba’, April 9, 2020)
Daraa area
- On April 18, 2020, near the town of Al-Harak (22 km east of Daraa), ISIS ambushed and fired machine guns at a vehicle carrying Brigadier General Hamed Makhlouf, commander of the Syrian Army’s 52nd Brigade, and Colonel Mahmoud Habib, who serves in the brigade. They were both killed (Telegram, April 18, 2020).
- On April 16, 2020, two Syrian soldiers were targeted by machine gun fire about 20 km northeast of Daraa. They were both killed (Telegram, April 16, 2020).
- On April 16, 2020, a vehicle carrying Syrian soldiers was targeted by machine gun fire near Azra’, about 25 km northeast of Daraa. An officer and four soldiers were killed or wounded (Telegram, April 16, 2020).
The Iraqi arena
In recent month, there has been a significant increase in the scope of ISIS’s activity in Iraq. The increase apparently stems from ISIS’s wish to take advantage of the spread of COVID-19[1] and the reduced activity of the US and Coalition countries. ISIS’s activity in the past two weeks mainly took the form of ambushes, activating IEDs, sniper fire, targeted killings, launching rockets and mortar shells, and attacks against bases and facilities of the Iraqi security forces and the Kurdish forces.
Increase in the scope of ISIS’s activity in the Iraqi arena
- During April 2020, ISIS released two infographics summing up its activity in the various provinces around the world (“The Harvest of the Fighters”). The infographic of the activity on April 2-8, 2020 indicates that 60 attacks were carried out during this time. Half of ISIS’s activities were carried out in Iraq, even though the greatest number of casualties was in West Africa (Al-Naba’, quoted on Telegram, April 9, 2020).
- On April 16, 2020, ISIS released another infographic summing up the activity on April 9-15, 2020 in ISIS’s provinces around the world. A total of 49 attacks were carried out in this period, including 33 in Iraq (Al-Naba’, April 16, 2020).
- The increase in the scope of ISIS’s activity was reflected in a statement by Iraqi Defense Minister Najah al-Shammari. During his visit at the General Intelligence Directorate and the Military Intelligence Directorate, he noted that “recently, an increase has been evident in the number of attacks in most of the fighting zones.” Al-Shammari noted that they had to identify the reason for that in order not to allow ISIS to seize the current situation of the spread of COVID-19. He added that they had to join efforts in collecting and analyzing the intelligence in order to eliminate what remains of ISIS (Facebook page of the Iraqi Defense Ministry, April 13, 2020).
Highlights of the activity carried out by ISIS’s Iraq Province
Diyala Province
- On April 20, 2020, an Iraqi policeman was targeted by sniper fire near the University of Diyala, about 3 km south of Baqubah. The policeman was killed (Telegram, April 21, 2020).
- On April 20, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle north of Jalulah, about 80 km northeast of Baqubah. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, April 20, 2020).
- On April 19, 2020, an Iraqi army camp about 20 km northeast of Baghdad was targeted by sniper fire. One soldier was killed (Telegram, April 20, 2020).
- On April 18, 2020, an Iraqi police compound was targeted by sniper fire about 10 km north of Baqubah. One soldier was killed (Telegram, April 18, 2020).
- On April 18, 2020, ISIS operatives led Iraqi army soldiers to a booby-trapped house in the Al-Wasat region, about 40 km northeast of Baqubah. As the soldiers approached the house, several IEDs were activated against them. One soldier was killed and an officer and three of his escorts were wounded (Telegram, April 18, 2020).
- On April 17, 2020, an IED was activated against a motorcycle carrying two members of the oil facilities security police, about 5 km south of Baqubah. Both policemen were killed (Telegram, April 18, 2020).
- On April 17, 2020, an Iraqi army camp in the Baqubah region was targeted by sniper fire. Two soldiers were killed (Telegram, April 18, 2020).
- On April 16, 2020, a camp of the Iraqi Interior Ministry commando unit and the Iraqi Interior Ministry was targeted by sniper fire about 60 km north of Baqubah. One fighter was wounded (April 17, 2020).
- On April 15, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle about 20 km northeast of Baqubah. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, April 15, 2020).
- On April 13, 2020, snipers fired and hand grenades were thrown at an Iraqi army patrol about 50 km north of Baqubah. Two soldiers were killed and another was wounded (Telegram, April 14, 2020).
- On April 12, 2020, a Tribal Mobilization commander was targeted by machine gun fire about 30 km northeast of Baqubah. The commander was killed (Telegram, April 13, 2020).
- On April 9, 2020, an IED was activated against Tribal Mobilization fighters north of Jalulah, about 70 km northeast of Baqubah. Two fighters were killed and two others were wounded (Telegram, April 9, 2020).
- On April 8, 2020, an Iraqi army camp was targeted by sniper fire. The camp is located in the Al-Azim region, about 50 km north of Baqubah. One soldier was killed (Telegram, April 9, 2020).
- On April 7, 2020, a camp of the Kurdish Peshmerga fighters was targeted by sniper fire about 120 km northeast of Baqubah. Three fighters were killed (Telegram, April 8, 2020).
Al-Anbar Province
There has recently been an increase in ISIS’s activity in the Al-Anbar Province in western Iraq. ISIS published an infographic about its operations in the province since the beginning of 2020 (January 3 – April 16, 2020). According to the infographic, ISIS carried out 41 attacks, killing and wounding 128 Iraqi soldiers and Popular Mobilization operatives. The most common type of attack was planting IEDs (13 attacks), followed by raids (7), sniper fire (7), ambushes (6), rocket fire (5), and other types of attack (3) (Al-Naba’, April 16, 2020).
- On April 18, 2020, several mortar shells were fired at an Iraqi army headquarters near the city of Rutba, some 280 km west of Ramadi. Several soldiers were wounded (Telegram, April 18, 2020).
- On April 15, 2020, an IED was activated against an employee of the Interior Ministry in the city of Rutba, about 280 km west of Ramadi, in the western Al-Anbar Province. He was wounded (Telegram, April 16, 2020).
- On April 15, 2020, several IEDs were activated against an Iraqi army and Popular Mobilization convoy south of the city of Hit. An officer and 10 soldiers and fighters were killed or wounded (Telegram, April 16, 2020).
- On April 15, 2020, ISIS operatives attacked an Iraqi army camp northeast of Fallujah, about 45 km west of Baghdad. Three soldiers were killed and two others were wounded (Telegram, April 17, 2020).
- On April 13, 2020, two rockets were fired at an Iraqi army headquarters near Hit, about 135 km northwest of Baghdad. Several soldiers were wounded (Telegram, April 14, 2020).
- On April 12, 2020, ISIS operatives ambushed an Iraqi army and Popular Mobilization convoy near Rutba. Several soldiers were wounded (Telegram, April 13, 2020).
- On April 10, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle about 60 km west of Ramadi. An officer and three soldiers were killed (Telegram, April 10, 2020).
Kirkuk Province
- On April 21, 2020, a bus carrying Iraqi policemen about 45 km southwest of Kirkuk was targeted by machine gun fire. Two policemen were killed and others were wounded (Telegram, April 21, 2020).
- On April 20, 2020, ISIS operatives attacked an Iraqi police compound in the Daquq area, about 30 km south of Kirkuk. One policeman was killed and three others were wounded (Telegram, April 21, 2020).
- On April 19, 2020, ISIS operatives fired light weapons at an Iraqi police compound about 40 km west of Kirkuk. Three policemen were wounded and the others fled (Telegram, April 20, 2020).
Right: Iraqi police compound attacked by ISIS southwest of Kirkuk. Left: ISIS operative firing an RPG rocket at the compound (Telegram, April 20, 2020)
- On April 19, 2020, an Iraqi police compound about 15 km southwest of Kirkuk was targeted by machine gun fire. One policeman was killed. Another IED was activated in the same area against a vehicle. The passengers were wounded (Telegram, April 20, 2020).
- On April 19, 2020, an Iraqi police compound about 20 km southwest of Kirkuk was targeted by machine gun fire. One policeman was killed (Telegram, April 20, 2020).
- On April 18, 2020, an IED was activated against a Tribal Mobilization vehicle about 40 km southwest of Kirkuk. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, April 18, 2020).
- On April 16, 2020, ISIS operatives attacked a compound of the Oil Facility Security Police about 30 km south of Kirkuk. Two policemen were killed (Telegram, April 17, 2020).
- On April 14, 2020, ISIS operatives ambushed an Oil Facility Security Police convoy near the Baiji-Kirkuk highway. An IED was activated during the attack. Five policemen were killed and several others were wounded (Telegram, April 14, 2020).
- On April 13, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle about 80 km west of Kirkuk. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, April 14, 2020).
- On April 12, 2020, an Iraqi police compound about 50 km west of Kirkuk was targeted by machine gun fire. Two policemen were killed and three others were wounded (Telegram, April 13, 2020).
- On April 11, 2020, two Popular Mobilization camps were targeted by machine gun fire. The camps are located at an airport about 70 km south of Kirkuk. Four fighters were killed. In addition, and IED was activated against a Popular Mobilization force that was on the way to the scene of the attack. One fighter was killed and seven others were wounded (Telegram, April 11, 2020).
- On April 11, 2020, a sticky bomb was activated against an Iraqi police vehicle in the city of Kirkuk. An officer was wounded and one of his escorts was killed (Telegram, April 11, 2020).
- On April 11, 2020, an Iraqi police compound was targeted by machine gun fire. The compound is located near Al-Dabaa Airport, about 35 km southwest of Kirkuk. Two policemen were killed and another was wounded (Telegram, April 12, 2020).
- On April 9, 2020, an Iraqi police vehicle was shot at about 40 km southwest of Kirkuk. The two policemen in the vehicle tried to flee. One of them was killed (Telegram, April 10, 2020).
Right: Iraqi police vehicle being shot at. Left: Two Iraqi policemen attempting to flee
(Telegram, April 11, 2020)
Nineveh Province
- On April 7, 2020, ISIS operatives captured a Tribal Mobilization fighter southwest of Tal Afar, about 50 km west of Mosul. He was interrogated and then executed (Telegram, April 9, 2020).
Salah al-Din Province
- On April 19, 2020, an IED was activated against a Tribal Mobilization vehicle near Tikrit. Two fighters were killed (Telegram, April 20, 2020).
- On April 18, 2020, ISIS ambushed and fired light weapons at an Iraqi army armored vehicle about 25 km north of Baghdad. Five soldiers were killed and two others were wounded (Telegram, April 19, 2020).
- On April 13, 2020, a Tribal Mobilization camp about 70 km north of Baghdad was attacked by machine gun fire and hand grenades. Several fighters were killed or wounded (Telegram, April 13, 2020).
- On April 8, 2020, An IED was activated against fighters of the Shiite Bader militia north of Tikrit. Three fighters were wounded (Telegram, April 9, 2020).
Erbil Province
- On April 19, 2020, ISIS operatives ambushed an Iraqi army foot patrol about 60 km southwest of Erbil. Two soldiers were killed (Telegram, April 20, 2020).
Babel Province
- On April 14, 2020, an operative of the Iraqi National Security Agency was taken prisoner by ISIS operatives about 30 km north of Baghdad. He was interrogated and then executed (Telegram, April 15, 2020).
- On April 14, 2020, an IED was activated against a Tribal Mobilization vehicle near the Al-Shirqat junction, about 100 km west of Kirkuk. The passengers were wounded (Telegram, April 16, 2020).
- On April 12, 2020, two Shiites were taken prisoner by ISIS southeast of Baghdad. They were shot to death (Telegram, April 14, 2020).
Counterterrorist activities by the Iraqi security forces
Nineveh Province
- On April 17, 2020, an Iraqi National Security force captured a senior ISIS commander. At the time when the Nineveh Province was under ISIS’s control, he was one of the officers in charge of recruitment activity, he took part in executions of civilians and in attacks that led to the deaths of many people (Al-Sumaria, April 17, 2020).
- On April 12, 2020, a force of the Operational Headquarters in the western Nineveh Province located and deactivated a store of ISIS weapons and ammunition (SecMedCell Facebook page, which belongs to the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office, April 12, 2020).
Diyala Province
- On April 16, 2020, a force (from the 5th Division) of the Iraqi army set up an ambush about 14 km southeast of Baqubah. One [ISIS] operative was killed and another was wounded (Al-Sumaria, April 16, 2020).
Al-Anbar Province
- On April 16, 2020, a Popular Mobilization force located and burned down an ISIS guesthouse in the desert (al-hashed.net, April 16, 2020).
Kirkuk Province
- On April 19, 2020, Iraqi security forces detained an ISIS operative in the Daquq region. The detainee was in charge of ISIS’s logistical assistance in the Kirkuk Province (Iraqi News Agency, April 19, 2020).
- On April 13, 2020, Iraqi army forces operating about 30 km south of Kirkuk located a cave used as a hiding place by ISIS operatives. The Iraqi Air Force carried out airstrikes against the cave. International Coalition aircraft also provided air support. A total of 23 ISIS operatives were killed and the hiding place was destroyed. One soldier was killed and four others were wounded (SecMedCell Facebook page, April 13, 2020).