Funeral of fighters of the “Tiger” forces (Nidaa Suriya, April 4, 2019)
Main events of the week
- Following are the main developments in the Syrian arena:
- In the ITIC’s assessment, the SDF forces have finished mopping up the Al-Baghouz area from the presence of ISIS operatives. The ISIS operatives who had remained in tunnels, trenches and caves have reportedly turned themselves in to the SDF. ISIS’s guerrilla activity in the Syrian arena is now concentrated in the areas of Al-Mayadeen and Deir ez-Zor.
- In the Idlib area, exchanges of fire continue between the Syrian army and the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham and other jihadi organizations. During the past week, the intensity of the Syrian army’s artillery fire at the rebel organizations seemingly increased.
- In the Al-Sukhnah area, ISIS released a video showing the bodies of two Russian officers and a captive Syrian soldier. The video apparently shows the aftermath of an ambush set by ISIS operatives for a Syrian-Russian convoy on the road leading from Al-Sukhnah to Deir ez-Zor (March 17, 2019).
On April 8 and 9, 2019, ISIS’s various provinces in Syria, Iraq, and around the world carried out a series of carefully timed attacks of various types in revenge for the blow suffered by ISIS in Syria. The attacks were accompanied by an extensive media campaign. Retaliatory attacks are known to have been carried out in Syria, Iraq, the Sinai Peninsula, Libya, Somalia, and West Africa (Note: After this bulletin was issued, there were additional reports of dozens of attacks carried out by ISIS around the world as part of its vengeance campaign). In the ITIC’s assessment, the attacks and the media campaign accompanying them were coordinated and orchestrated by ISIS’s leadership to convey a resounding message that despite ISIS’s defeat in Syria, ISIS remains “on the map” and possesses not inconsiderable operational capabilities in Syria, Iraq, and around the world.
- At the same time, the “routine” activity of ISIS’s provinces throughout the world continued: the Iraq Province carried out attacks in various parts of northern and western Iraq, especially ambushes and sniper fire at Iraqi security forces; East Asia Province operatives continue to clash with the Philippine army in the south of the country; ISIS operatives in the West Africa Province (which shows signs of being ISIS’s most active province) carried out attacks against the Nigerian army, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) operating in the region, and the Cameroonian army; Yemen Province operatives continued to clash with Al-Qaeda operatives in the Al-Bayda region; and the Khorasan Province detonated two IEDs near a National Security Directorate checkpoint in Jalalabad.
The Idlib area
Exchanges of fire continue between the Syrian army and the jihadi rebel organizations
- This week as well, exchanges of fire continued between the Syrian army and the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham and other jihadi rebel organizations. According to reports by the Syrian army and the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham, the Syrian army has seemingly intensified its artillery fire, whereas the rebels are less active.
- Following are the main incidents:
- Militias affiliated with the Syrian army fired at the city of Maarat Numan and several villages in its vicinity. It was reported that in the village of Kafr Nubl, 9 km southwest of Maarat Numan, a total of 15 residents were killed and dozens were wounded (Nidaa Suriya, April 4, 2019; Al-Arabiya, April 4, 2019; Ibaa, April 5, 2019). Militias affiliated with the Syrian army fired artillery at several villages about 20-30 km north of Hama (Ibaa, April 5, 2019).
- The Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham announced that it had fired an antitank missile at a Syrian army force about 50 km south of Idlib, causing the Syrian army many losses (Ibaa, April 4, 2019). The rebel organizations fired rockets and artillery at a compound of Suheil Hassan’s forces (the “Tiger” forces), on the border of the Idlib Province (with the Hama Province). Five fighters of the “Tiger” forces were killed (Nidaa Suriya, April 4, 2019). The Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham fired mortar shells at Syrian army forces and militias supporting them about 8 km south of Aleppo (Ibaa, April 7, 2019).
Right: Firing a mortar shell by the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham at forces of the Syrian army and militias supporting it south of Aleppo (Ibaa, April 7, 2019). Left: Funeral of fighters of the “Tiger” forces (Nidaa Suriya, April 4, 2019)
Incidents between the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham and ISIS
- The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that on the night of April 6-7, 2019, “anonymous militants” had attacked a command post of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham in the village of Salqin, near the Syrian-Turkish border (about 30 km northwest of Idlib). The attackers exchanged fire with the security guards of the command post, launched a rocket and then fled the scene (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, April 7, 2019). So far, no organization claimed responsibility for the attack, but it was probably ISIS.
- On April 7, 2019, the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham carried out extensive searches for ISIS operatives in the village of Sarmin, about 7 km east of Idlib. Several people were detained. It was reported that recently, the security apparatus of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham detained relatives of ISIS sleeper cell operatives to pressure the operatives to turn themselves in (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, April 7, 2019).
Eastern Syria
Report on the completion of mopping up the Al-Baghouz area by SDF
- The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 12 days after the International Coalition and the SDF forces had officially declared victory over ISIS in Al-Baghouz (on March 23, 2019), there were no longer ISIS operatives in the area. All ISIS operatives remaining in tunnels, trenches and caves turned themselves in. They surrendered after several days, during which the SDF forces searched the area and International Coalition fighter jets carried out airstrikes killing dozens of ISIS operatives. It was also reported that the fate of thousands of abductees was not clear – it is unknown whether they were executed or transferred to another site (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, April 4, 2019).
Smuggling ISIS operatives from Al-Baghouz to the eastern As-Suwayda Province
- According to the American Foreign Policy magazine, several sources in the As-Suwayda Province claim that over 1,500 ISIS operatives, most of them armed, were smuggled from Al-Baghouz through the Syrian Desert to the eastern part of the As-Suwayda Province. They were reportedly smuggled by the Iranian-affiliated militias controlling this route, in return for money. The smuggled ISIS operatives are posing a threat to the US army base in the Al-Tanf area, near the tri-border area between Syria, Iraq, and Jordan (Foreign Policy, April 3, 2019).
Killing two Russian soldiers and capturing a Syrian soldier in the Al-Sukhnah region
- ISIS released a video showing the bodies of two Russian officers and a Syrian soldier taken prisoner in the Homs Desert (the Al-Sukhnah region). It appears that on March 17, 2019, ISIS operatives set up an ambush for a Syrian-Russian convoy on the road between Al-Sukhnah and Deir ez-Zor. ISIS claimed at the time that six Russian soldiers and 19 Syrian soldiers were killed in exchanges of fire which lasted for several hours (Amaq news agency via Telegram, April 7, 2019; Shabakat Shumukh, March 21, 2019; Syrian TV, March 19, 2019).
Right: The captive Syrian soldier. Left: The body of one of the Russian officers (Telegram, April 7, 2019)
Northeastern Syria
ISIS guerrilla attacks in the Euphrates Valley
- This week as well, ISIS continued its guerrilla activity against the SDF forces in the Euphrates Valley, in the Al-Mayadeen and Deir ez-Zor areas. Following are the main attacks:
- Shooting attack against a vehicle about 8 km southeast of Al-Mayadeen. Ten SDF fighters were killed and wounded and the vehicle was destroyed (announcement by the Al-Sham Province – Al-Khayr Region, Akhbar Al-Muslimeen, April 4, 2019).
- Detonation of an IED against an SDF vehicle about 16 km southeast of Al-Mayadeen. Four SDF fighters were wounded and the vehicle was damaged (Akhbar al-Muslimeen, April 4, 2019).
- Shooting at an SDF roadblock about 8 km southeast of Al-Mayadeen. ISIS operatives exchanged fire with an SDF force and also detonated an IED against the building at the site. The building was destroyed and three SDF fighters were killed (Shabakat Shumukh, April 5, 2019).
- Detonation of an IED against an SDF vehicle near the Al-Jufra oil field, about 24 km east of Deir ez-Zor. The vehicle sustained damage (Shabakat Shumukh, April 5, 2019).
- Killing an SDF fighter about 65 km north of Deir ez-Zor (Al-Sham Province – Al-Hasakah Region, Shabakat Shumukh, April 5, 2017). Recently, there were no ISIS claims of responsibility found in this region.
- Detonation of a motorcycle bomb near an SDF checkpoint at the square of the village of Al-Hassan, on the east bank of the Euphrates, about 4 km north of Deir ez-Zor (Deir ez-Zor 24, April 6, 2019). In the ITIC’s assessment, the attack was carried out by ISIS.
- Shooting attack against an SDF fighter about 9 km southeast of Al-Mayadeen. An SDF fighter was killed (Al-Sham – Al-Khayr Province, as published by the Drexl Spivey@RisboLensky Twitter account, April 7, 2019).
- Shooting attack against SDF fighters about 20 km southeast of Deir ez-Zor, killing two SDF fighters (Amaq, as published by the Drexl Spivey@RisboLensky Twitter account, April 7, 2019).
- Thwarting of an ISIS suicide bombing attack against a checkpoint at the entrance to a village 4 km north of Deir ez-Zor. An ISIS suicide bomber wearing an explosive belt tried to approach the checkpoint, but a Kurdish Internal Security force stopped him. The suicide bomber detonated the explosive belt before arriving at the checkpoint. There were no casualties (ANHA, April 7, 2019).
Areas where ISIS carried out terrorist attacks in the Euphrates Valley over the past week (Google Maps)
Main developments in Iraq
ISIS’s terrorist and guerrilla activity
- Following are highlights of ISIS’s terrorist attacks in the past week (based on ISIS’s claims of responsibility):
- Nineveh Province: A sticky bomb was detonated against an Iraqi army vehicle in the eastern part of the city of Mosul, killing an Iraqi soldier and destroying the vehicle (Shabakat Shumukh, April 5, 2019).
- Nineveh Province: A hand grenade was thrown at an Iraqi army checkpoint in the eastern part of Mosul. Two Iraqi soldiers were wounded (Shabakat Shumukh, April 5, 2019).
- Al-Anbar Province: An ambush was set up against a Tribal Mobilization force west of Al-Rutba, near the Tarbil border crossing between Iraq and Jordan. Nine people, including an officer, were killed and wounded (Shabakat Shumukh, April 5, 2019).
- Diyala Province: Sniper shooting at the village of Al-Hamirat, about 15 km southeast of Baqubah. Two Iraqi army soldiers were killed (Shabakat Shumukh, April 7, 2019).
- Diyala Province: Sniper shooting at Iraqi army soldiers in the Khanaqin District, about 102 km northeast of Baqubah. One soldier was wounded (Shabakat Shumukh, April 7, 2019).
Counterterrorist activities by the Iraqi security forces
- Following are the main counterterrorist activities carried out by the Iraqi security forces:
- Salah al-Din Province: In an ambush set up at the northern entrance to the city of Tikrit, the Iraqi Military Intelligence Directorate detained an ISIS senior operative (his name was not mentioned) (Al-Sumaria, April 4, 2019).
- Kirkuk Province: The Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman reported that the Iraqi security forces had killed 14 ISIS operatives southwest of the town of Daquq (Iraqi News Agency, April 5, 2019).
- Salah al-Din Province: The Peace Battalions Shiite militia announced that in the southwestern Samarra District, fighters from its 4th Brigade had fired mortar shells, killing three ISIS operatives (Al-Sumaria, April 5, 2019).
- Al-Anbar Province: During clashes 44 km northwest of Karbala, the Iraqi security forces killed Suleiman Ahmad Madan, an ISIS senior figure who was in charge of general logistics of the ISIS camps (Iraqi News Agency, April 6, 2019).
- Kirkuk Province: The Iraqi Interior Ministry announced that Federal Police intelligence teams had detained (the site was not mentioned) an ISIS commander who had been in charge of ISIS’s guest houses in the Kirkuk area. Following his investigation, his father, who had been in charge of ISIS’s guest houses in the Salah al-Din Province, was also detained (Al-Sumaria, April 7, 2019).
Cooperation between the Iraqi government and the Kurds
- The Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman announced that the joint activity with the Kurdish Peshmerga forces for uncovering ISIS sleeper cells was ongoing. The spokesman noted that for this purpose, joint operations rooms were set up for both sides in Irbil and Baghdad (Iraqi News Agency, April 5, 2019).
Attacks carried out by ISIS in its provinces around the world
On April 8 and 9, 2019, ISIS’s various provinces in Syria, Iraq, and around the world carried out a series of large-scale operations in retaliation for the blow suffered by ISIS in Syria. These operations were accompanied by a media campaign (which began on April 8, 2019), in which “The Battle of Vengeance for Blessed Sham Wilayah” was declared in every region around the world where ISIS has a presence. Retaliatory attacks are known to have been carried out in Syria, Iraq, the Sinai Peninsula, Libya, Somalia and West Africa. In the ITIC’s assessment, the attacks and the media campaign accompanying them were initiated by ISIS’s leadership. The goal was to convey a resounding message that despite the organization’s defeat in Syria, ISIS remains “on the map” and its various provinces possess not inconsiderable operational capabilities.
Syria
- In Syria, ISIS’s operations were concentrated in the Upper Euphrates and in the area of Al-Raqqah, two areas where intensive guerrilla activity is being carried out. Revenge attacks that were carried out:
- Attacks against the SDF forces in the Al-Mayadeen area: killing a senior SDF officer; the activation of IEDs against vehicles; attacks on checkpoints. According to ISIS’s announcements, many SDF operatives were killed and wounded in these attacks (Al-Sham Province – Al-Khayr, via Telegram, April 9, 2019).
- Attacks against the SDF forces in the Al-Raqqah area: firing at a checkpoint; detonation of IEDs against vehicles; shooting attack at a checkpoint and firing at operatives. According to ISIS’s announcement, SDF operatives were killed and wounded in these attacks, and vehicles were destroyed (Al-Sham Province – Al-Raqqah, via Telegram, April 9, 2019).
Iraq
- In the Iraqi arena, the following operations were carried out on April 8 and 9, 2019 (Iraq Province – Al-Anbar, via Telegram, April 9, 2019):
- IEDs were activated against two Iraqi army vehicles in central Al-Qaim, a city located near the border with Syria. Eight Iraqi soldiers were killed and wounded.
- The vehicle of an Iraqi Military Intelligence commander in Al-Qaim was blown up with a sticky bomb. The commander was killed and the vehicle destroyed.
- Attack on an Iraqi army headquarters near the border with Jordan. According to ISIS’s announcement, 11 Iraqi soldiers were killed.