MESOPOTAMIA NEWS INTEL BY MEIR AMIT INTELLIGENCE & TERRORISM INFORMATION CENTER / ISRAEL – Spotlight on Global Jihad (July 4-10, 2019)

• In the Syrian arena, the Syrian army’s ground operation against the rebel organizations in the Idlib region, which has been going on for nearly two and a half months, is still bogged down. This week, the rebel organizations carried out an unsuccessful large-scale attack against the Syrian forces holding Hamamiyat, north of the rebel control zone (32 km northwest of Hama). In eastern and northeastern Syria (in the areas controlled by the Kurds), ISIS has increased its terror and guerrilla activity. Its attacks are concentrated in the area of the city of Al-Mayadeen in the Euphrates Valley and in the area of Al-Hasakah, which lies deep within the Kurdish control area.
• In the Iraqi arena, the Iraqi security forces launched a large-scale security operation to mop up the northern and western provinces of the country from the presence of ISIS. The Iraqi army, the Popular Mobilization (Shiite militias), and the Tribal Mobilization (the Sunni militias) are all taking part in the operation, with Iraqi and International Coalition air support. At the same time, ISIS operatives continue their intensive activity in northern and western Iraq, with the main form of attacks being the detonation of IEDs against vehicles traveling on the roads.
• In ISIS’s various provinces in the Middle East and around the globe, “routine” activity continues: In Nigeria, Nigerian army bases in the north and northeast of the country were attacked; In Niger, ISIS operatives attacked a Niger army base near the border with Mali; In Mozambique, ISIS operatives attacked a Mozambican army base near the border with Tanzania (Mozambique has apparently become a new activity arena for ISIS); In Somalia, policemen were shot at by ISIS operatives in the northeast of the country (in the city of Bosaso); In Tunisia, a suicide bomber blew himself up near a Metro station in the suburbs of the capital Tunis; In Egypt, a sniper killed an Egyptian soldier in Sheikh Zuweid in northern Sinai; In Afghanistan, ISIS detonated an IED in a Shiite mosque (around 40 dead and wounded). In addition, ISIS operatives continued their attacks in the Nangarhar Province against the security forces of the Afghan government and against the Taliban.

Main events in Syria

The Idlib region

Nearly two months since the beginning of the Syrian army’s ground operation, fighting in the Idlib region is still concentrated in the area northwest of Hama. On July 5 and 6, 2019, the rebel organizations headed by the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham carried out an extensive attack against a Syrian force located in Tal Hamamiyat, about 30 km northwest of Hama (north of the village of Tal Malah, which is held by the rebels). Although this was an organized attack, with tanks and armored vehicles, it failed and no significant change took place on the ground. According to Russian media, in the Idlib region, there are 30,000 operatives of the rebel organizations (“militants”), including operatives of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham (the former Al-Nusra Front) (Sputnik, July 6, 2019).

• Last week, the rebels failed in their attempt to attack the Syrian force in Tal Hamamiyat, north of Tal Malah. The dominant organization in the attack was the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham. It was carried out from several directions, and tanks, armored vehicles as well as vehicles with mounted machine guns took part in it. Suicide bombers who detonated car bombs also participated. The attacking force retreated after sustaining casualties (Al-Ikhbariya Channel; SANA; the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, July 5, 6, 2019).
• Concurrently, exchanges of artillery fire continued between the Syrian army and the rebel organizations, concentrated in the rural area northwest of Hama. During the attack against Tal Hamamiyat, there were exchanges of artillery fire between the sides (Khotwa, July 5, 2019). In another sector, the Syrian army fired artillery at positions of the Turkestan Islamic Party (Uyghurs from China) in the northern Al-Ghab Plain, about 10 km south of Jisr al-Shughur (Al-Ikhbariya Channel, July 6, 2019). Russian and Syrian aircraft attacked rebel targets north of Hama (Khotwa, July 6, 2019).

Clashes in the area of the Turkmen Mountain

• The “Awaken the Believers” operations room (affiliated with Al-Qaeda) reported that its operatives had clashed with the Syrian army and militias supporting it on the Turkmen Mountain. The main site of the clashes was 25 km west of the city of Jisr al-Shughur, in the northwestern Idlib region. According to the operations room, dozens of Syrian soldiers were killed and wounded, and four were taken prisoner (Khotwa; Telegram, July 9, 2019).

Interim summary of the losses in the fighting

• The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that since April 30, 2019 (shortly before the Syrian army offensive) until July 8, 2019, a total of 2,276 people had been killed. At least 887 of the dead belonged to the rebel organizations, 798 to the Syrian army and the forces supporting it, and 591 were civilians (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, July 9, 2019).

Northeastern Syria

• In recent weeks, there has been an evident increase in the scope of ISIS attacks in the Al-Hasakah region, at the heart of the Kurdish control zone. Following are the attacks carried out this week:
  • July 3, 2019: Firing a weapon with a silencer at one of the SDF fighters in southwestern Al-Al-Hasakah. The SDF fighter was killed (Telegram, July 4, 2019).
  • July 5, 2019: Firing a weapon with a silencer at one of the SDF fighters about 120 km northeast of Al-Hasakah (near the Syrian-Iraqi border). In addition, an SDF fighter was shot at about 60 km northeast of Al-Al-Hasakah. One SDF fighter was killed and another was wounded (Telegram, July 7, 2019).
  • July 7, 2019: The Kurdish forces neutralized three IEDs planted by ISIS operatives in Al-Raqqah. Local residents told the Kurdish forces where the IEDs were located (SDF Press, July 7, 2019).
  • July 7, 2019: An IED was activated against a vehicle of the SDF forces about 70 km northeast of Al-Al-Hasakah. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, July 8, 2019).

Eastern Syria

• During the past week, ISIS continued its terrorism and guerrilla activity in the Al-Mayadeen region. Following are the main activities, according to statements of the Al-Sham Province – Al-Khayr region):
  • July 6, 2019: Several IEDs were activated against an SDF headquarters in the village of Al-Tiana, 8 km southeast of Al-Mayadeen. The headquarters building was completely destroyed (Telegram, July 7, 2019).
  • July 6, 2019: ISIS operatives captured an “agent” of the International Coalition forces in the village of Diban, 5 km east of Al-Mayadeen. After the “agent” had been interrogated, he was shot to death (Telegram, July 8, 2019).
  • July 7, 2019: Several IEDs were activated against an SDF headquarters in the village of Al-Hawaij, 4 km northeast of Al-Mayadeen. The headquarters building was completely destroyed (Telegram, July 8, 2019).
  • July 7, 2019: Several RPG rockets were launched at an SDF checkpoint in Al-Basira, 14 km north of Al-Mayadeen, killing one of the fighters (Telegram, July 8, 2019).
  • July 9, 2019: An IED was activated against an SDF truck in the village of Al-Zir, about 10 km north of Al-Mayadeen. Three SDF fighters were killed and four others were wounded (Telegram, July 9, 2019).
  • July 9, 2019: An IED was activated against SDF vehicles in the village of Al-Basira, 14 km north of Al-Mayadeen, killing three SDF fighters (Telegram, July 9, 2019).
  • July 9, 2019: An IED was activated against an SDF vehicle in the village of Al-Tiana, 8 km southeast of Al-Mayadeen. Four SDF fighters were wounded (Telegram, July 9, 2019).

Main developments in Iraq

ISIS’s terrorist and guerrilla activity

This week, ISIS continued its intense activity in the north and west of Iraq. The most prominent modus operandi continued to be the detonation of IEDs against vehicles traveling on the roads.

• Following are the highlights of the terrorist and guerrilla attacks for which ISIS claimed responsibility in the past week:
  • Nineveh Province: ISIS operatives manning a checkpoint north of Sinjar killed a member of the National Security Service (Telegram, July 2, 2019).
  • Salah al-Din Province: Several IEDs were detonated against three vehicles of the oil facilities security police around the Alas oil field, about 40 km northeast of Tikrit. The passengers were either killed or wounded (Telegram, July 3, 2019).
  • Kirkuk Province: An IED was activated against an Iraqi police vehicle about 50 km west of Kirkuk. Four policemen, including an officer, were killed (ISIS’s Kirkuk Province, posted on Telegram, July 3, 2019).
  • Salah al-Din Province: ISIS operatives attacked a Tribal Mobilization staging zone about 30 km north of Baghdad. Subsequently, ISIS operatives ambushed a rescue force arriving at the scene and activated an IED against the fighters. About 20 operatives of the Tribal Mobilization were killed and wounded. Two operatives were captured, and one of them was executed (Telegram, July 5, 2019).
  • Diyala Province: Iraqi army soldiers were targeted by sniper fire. One of the soldiers was wounded (Telegram, July 5, 2019).
  • Diyala Province: A vehicle of the Popular Mobilization was targeted by sniper fire about 30 km northeast of Baqubah. Two Popular Mobilization operatives were wounded (Telegram, July 5, 2019).
  • Diyala Province: An IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle about 20 km south of Baqubah. Two soldiers were wounded (Telegram, July 5, 2019).
  • Diyala Province: An Iraqi army soldier was targeted by sniper fire about 20 km south of Baqubah and was wounded (Telegram, July 5, 2019).
  • Diyala Province: A Popular Mobilization fighter was targeted by sniper fire about 70 km northeast of Baqubah. He was wounded (Telegram, July 5, 2019).
  • Diyala Province: An IED was activated against a Popular Mobilization patrol about 70 km northeast of Baqubah. When a rescue force arrived at the scene, the ISIS operatives active another IED. Some five Popular Mobilization fighters were killed or wounded (Telegram, July 5, 2019).
  • Diyala Province: An IED was activated against a vehicle carrying Tribal Mobilization fighters about 80 km northeast of Baqubah. One fighter was killed and another was wounded (Telegram, July 7, 2019).
  • Diyala Province: ISIS killed an Iraqi government “spy” about 30 km northeast of Baqubah (Telegram, July 7, 2019).
  • Salah al-Din Province: Three IEDs were activated against a Tribal Mobilization vehicle in the Shirqat area, about 90 km south of Mosul. Six Tribal Mobilization fighters were killed and wounded (ISIS’s Amaq News Agency and ISIS’s Dijla Province, posted on Telegram, July 9, 2019).

Counterterrorist activities by the Iraqi security forces

Large-scale security operation against ISIS

• On July 7, 2019, the Iraqi security forces launched a security operation intended to mop up the provinces of Salah al-Din, Nineveh, Al-Anbar and Al-Jazeera (the desert area in northwestern Iraq) from ISIS operatives. Iraqi army forces, the Popular Mobilization and Tribal Mobilization forces are participating in the operation, which is due to last for several days, with Iraqi and International Coalition air support (Al-Sumaria, July 7, 2019).
• Jawad Kazem al-Rabi’awi, a senior commander in the Popular Mobilization Operations Department, announced that 13 Popular Mobilization brigades were taking part in the security operation to mop up the Al-Jazeera desert. According to his statement, during the second phase of the operation, the Popular Mobilization forces destroyed ten “guesthouses” and two camps of ISIS. In addition, three car bombs were blown up and 27 IEDs were destroyed (al-hashed.net, July 8, 2019).

Additional activity of the Iraqi security forces

• Following are highlights of additional activities carried out by the Iraqi security forces in the various provinces:
  • Nineveh Province: An Iraqi police force detained an ISIS operative dressed in women’s clothing south of Mosul. The operative had been in charge of inflicting punishments (sentencing people to death) while Mosul was under ISIS’s control (Iraqi News Agency, July 5, 2019).
  • Baghdad Province: The Iraqi security forces detained a suicide bomber wearing an explosive belt in the area of Abu Ghreib, 17 km west of Baghdad. He intended to blow himself up among civilians in the area (Al-Sumaria, July 6, 2019).
  • Kirkuk Province: An Iraqi police force located two ISIS hideouts in the Kirkuk Province (Iraqi News Agency, July 6, 2019).
  • Kirkuk Province: International Coalition warplanes carried out an airstrike against an ISIS hideout about 30 km southwest of Kirkuk. Three ISIS operatives were killed (Al-Sumaria, July 7, 2019).
  • Nineveh Province: Iraqi security forces located two explosive belts and four IEDs composed of plastic canisters containing explosives in west Mosul (Al-Sumaria, July 7, 2019).