MESOPOTAMIA NEWS INTEL BY MEIR AMIT INTELLIGENCE & TERRORISM INFORMATION CENTER – ISRAEL / Spotlight on Global Jihad (May 14-20, 2020)

Wave of ISIS attacks called Raids of Attrition^[1]

• On May 14, 2020, ISIS carried out a synchronized wave of terrorist attacks, accompanied by a media campaign, called Raids of Attrition. The wave of attacks is not over yet. To date, over 60 attacks have been carried out, the vast majority in Iraq and Syria, and a few in other provinces around the world. The attacks carried out to date were routine attacks; no unusual showcase attacks were carried out, similar to previous waves of attacks.
• The waves of attacks and the accompanying media campaigns are intended to convey a message of strength to ISIS’s operatives, to its enemies, and to the international community. The current wave of attacks comes at a time when ISIS’s operational capabilities and self-confidence have improved, mainly in the Iraqi arena, and it is in a position of strength and superiority. This is in contrast to the three previous waves of attacks carried out in 2019, after severe blows were dealt to ISIS: The two waves of attacks in April-August 2019 followed the loss of the Euphrates Valley (with the fall of ISIS’s Al-Baghouz outpost), while the third wave of attacks (December 2019) followed the killing of ISIS’s leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and its spokesman Abu Hassan al-Muhajir.
• Following is an overview of the situation on the ground:
• Most of the attacks carried out as part of the Raids of Attrition were carried out in Iraq, which continues to stand out as ISIS’s main arena. The activity was characterized by attacks on bases and facilities, light arms fire, sniper fire, targeted killings and burning fields. However, no high-profile showcase attacks were carried out. The attacks in Iraq are accompanied by media activity aimed at encouraging ISIS operatives to intensify their attacks, to terrorize the enemy, and to mark the Shiites as ISIS’s principal enemy.
• In Syria, ISIS carried out intensive activity, focusing on the Euphrates Valley (the areas of Al-Raqqah and Deir ez-Zor-Al-Mayadeen) and southern Syria (the Hawran Province). The most common types of attacks were activating IEDs and targeted killings.
• In the other provinces around the world, routine attacks were carried out, with no significant increase in the scope or “quality” of the attacks. ISIS operatives carried out attacks in northern Sinai, Nigeria, Mozambique, Niger, Congo, Somalia, Yemen and Afghanistan.

The Idlib region

Overview

The ceasefire in the Idlib region was maintained this week, occasionally violated by local incidents (artillery fire or planting mines). This week, the incidents were less intense than in previous weeks. The joint patrols of the Syrian and Turkish armies continued in spite of residents’ protests (stones were thrown at one of the patrols). Despite fears of a COVID-19 outbreak in the region, there were no reports of such an outbreak so far.

Prisoner exchange between the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham and the Syrian army

• On May 16, 2020, a prisoner exchange deal was carried out between the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham and the Syrian army about 22 km northwest of Aleppo. The Syrian army released three operatives of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham and one Ahrar Al-Sham^[2] operative. In return, the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham released a Syrian colonel (aqid) who was captured on May 22, 2019. In addition, the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham returned a captured Syrian soldier and the body of another Syrian soldier (Ibaa, May 16, 2020).

Joint patrols of the Russian and Turkish armies continue

• The joint patrols of the Russian and Turkish armies continued this week as well. On May 14, 2020, Turkey and Russia carried out the 11th joint patrol on the M-4 highway. The patrol set out from the village of Tarnaba (about 3 km west of Saraqeb) and reached the city of Ariha, about 10 km south of Idlib. During the patrol, stones were thrown by demonstrators (Edlib Media Center, May 14, 2020).

Northeastern Syria

ISIS’s intensive activity in the Euphrates Valley continued, mainly in the form of IEDs against vehicles and targeted killings. It is also possible that some of the crop fires in the Al-Hasakah region were set by ISIS operatives (ISIS did not claim responsibility).

The Al-Raqqah area

• On May 18, 2020, an IED was activated against an SDF vehicle in the northwestern part of Al-Raqqah. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 19, 2020).
• On May 17, 2020, an IED was activated against an SDF vehicle about 10 km north of Al-Raqqah. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 18, 2020).
• On May 17, 2020, an IED was activated against an SDF intelligence operative in his home, in the western part of Al-Raqqah. He was wounded and the house sustained damage (Telegram, May 17, 2020).
• On May 16, 2020, an IED was activated against an SDF vehicle west of Al-Raqqah. Five of the passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 16, 2020).
• On May 16, 2020, an IED was activated against an SDF vehicle about 16 km west of Al-Raqqah. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 16, 2020).
• On May 16, 2020, an IED was activated against an SDF vehicle about 40 km west of Al-Raqqah. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 16, 2020).
• On May 14, 2020, an IED was activated against an SDF vehicle north of Al-Raqqah. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 14, 2020).
• On May 13, 2020, an SDF intelligence operative was targeted by gunfire about 10 km east of Al-Raqqah. He was killed (Telegram, May 14, 2020).
• On May 13, 2020, an IED was activated in an SDF headquarters about 5 km west of Al-Raqqah. The headquarters sustained damage (Telegram, May 13, 2020).

The area of Al-Mayadeen and Albukamal

• On May 19, 2020, an SDF fighter was targeted by gunfire about 35 km northwest of Deir ez-Zor. He was killed (Telegram, May 19, 2020).
• On May 18, 2020, an IED was activated against an SDF vehicle about 10 km northeast of Albukamal. Two fighters were wounded (Telegram, May 18, 2020).
• On May 17, 2020, an IED was activated against a tanker carrying oil for the Syrian regime about 20 km north of Al-Mayadeen. The tanker, which belonged to [Hussam] al-Qaterji, a Syrian MP and commander in the Homeland Defense Forces, went up in flames (Telegram, May 18, 2020). Al-Qaterji is a company that transfers oil from Kurdish control zones to areas controlled by the Syrian army.
• On May 17, 2020, an IED was activated against an SDF vehicle about 20 km northeast of Al-Mayadeen The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 17, 2020).
• On May 17, 2020, an SDF fighter was targeted by gunfire about 5 km northeast of Al-Mayadeen. He was killed (Telegram, May 17, 2020).
• On May 17, 2020, an IED was activated against an SDF vehicle about 10 km northeast of Deir ez-Zor. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 17, 2020).
• On May 16, 2020, an SDF fighter was targeted by gunfire about 70 km north of Deir ez-Zor. He was killed (Telegram, May 17, 2020).
• On May 16, 2020, an SDF sapper was taken prisoner and executed about 4 km northeast of Al-Mayadeen (Telegram, May 16, 2020).

The Al-Hasakah area

• On May 16, 2020, an IED was activated against an SDF vehicle about 5 km northwest of Al-Shadadi. The passengers were wounded (Telegram, May 16, 2020).

Burning crops

• On May 16, 2020, “local sources” reported wheat and barley fields were set on fire in the rural area of Al-Hasakah. The largest fire consumed about 800 dunams of crops. ISIS did not claim responsibility for these incidents but some of the fields may have been set on fire by its operatives (copying the modus operandi from Iraq).

Eastern Syria (Al-Sukhnah-Palmyra region)

• On May 17, 2020, ISIS operatives set up a roadblock on the Al-Sukhnah-Deir ez-Zor road and fired machine guns at Syrian army vehicles. Four soldiers and two “agents” were killed (Telegram, May 19, 2020).
• On May 14, 2020, ISIS operatives took a Syrian army “agent” prisoner west of Al-Sukhnah, about 60 km northeast of Palmyra. He was interrogated and then executed (Telegram, May 15, 2020).

Southern Syria

Daraa area

• On May 19, 2020, two Syrian soldiers were targeted by machine gun fire about 30 km east of Quneitra. Both of them were killed (Telegram, May 19, 2020).
• On May 18, 2020, a Syrian soldier was targeted by gunfire east of Daraa. He was killed (Telegram, May 18, 2020).
• On May 18, 2020, ISIS operatives captured a Syrian Military Security “agent” about 20 km east of Daraa. The prisoner was interrogated and then executed (Telegram, May 18, 2020).
• On May 17, 2020, a Syrian Military Intelligence “agent” was targeted by gunfire near Al-Hara, about 45 km north of Daraa (about 13 km east of the Syrian-Israeli border). The “agent” was killed (Telegram, May 17, 2020).
• On May 14, 2020, a Syrian army captain (naqib) was targeted by machine gun fire about 20 km east of Daraa. He was killed (Telegram, May 14, 2020).
• On May 14, 2020, two Syrian Military Security soldiers were targeted by machine gun fire about 13 km southeast of Daraa. Both of them were killed (Telegram, May 14, 2020).

The Iraqi arena

Iraq continues to be the main arena of ISIS’s global activity. This week, the scope of ISIS’s activity in Iraq increased, in the ITIC’s assessment, due to the operational effort invested in the Raids of Attrition. ISIS’s activity was similar to that of recent weeks: attacking bases and facilities, light arms fire, sniper fire, activating IEDs, targeted killings, and setting fields on fire (as part of the “economic war”). This week, ISIS’s attacks were concentrated in the provinces of Diyala, Salah al-Din, and Al-Anbar.

ISIS’s Iraq Province taking the lead in ISIS’s activity

• On May 14, 2020, ISIS released an infographic entitled “The Harvest of the Fighters,” summing up its activity in the various provinces between May 7-13, 2020, A total of 71 attacks were carried out around the world during this time, 42 of them (about 59%) in Iraq. ISIS’s West Africa Province follows (with nine attacks) and then the Syria Province (six attacks) and the Khorasan Province (Afghanistan) (five attacks) (Telegram, May 14, 2020).

ISIS calls for stepping up attacks against Shiites in Iraq

• On May 14, 2020, ISIS’s Al-Naba’ weekly published an editorial indicating weakness and defeatism on the part of Shiite forces in Iraq and calling for stepping up attacks against them. The article enumerates several reasons for their weakness: the decrease in the scope of US support, the political and economic crisis of the Iraqi government, and the internal struggles between the Shiite militias. In view of the above, the article calls on jihad fighters in Iraq to seize the opportunity and step up attacks against them. It also calls on readers to prevent the Shiite forces from recovering and regrouping and to strike them until they collapse altogether (Al-Naba’, May 14, 2020).

Video intended to terrorize ISIS’s enemies

• On May 15, 2020, ISIS’s Iraq Province released a video entitled “Off with their Heads.” The purpose of this video seems to be to encourage ISIS’s operatives and motivate them to increase their attacks during the Raids of Attrition, and to terrorize ISIS’s enemies. The video shows ISIS operatives beheading tribespeople, setting fire to their homes, and killing Iraqi soldiers. It also shows sniper fire, firing mortar shells and burning fields of ISIS’s enemies (Telegram, May 15, 2020).

    
Burning fields as shown on the video
(Telegram, May 15, 2020)

Highlights of ISIS’s activity during the past week

Diyala Province

• On May 19, 2020, a sticky bomb was activated against a vehicle carrying an Iraqi police officer about 40 km northeast of Baqubah. The officer was killed (Telegram, May 19, 2020).
• On May 18, 2020, an IED was activated against a vehicle carrying Popular Mobilization fighters about 20 km northeast of Baqubah. One Popular Mobilization fighter was killed and another was wounded (Telegram, May 19, 2020).
• On May 16, 2020, a vehicle carrying Iraqi police personnel was targeted by sniper fire about 20 km northeast of Baqubah. An officer and one of his escorts were killed (Telegram, May 17, 2020).
• On May 15, 2020, an ISIS squad attacked a Popular Mobilization compound in a village about 60 km north of Baqubah. Five operatives were killed. At the same time, another ISIS squad attacked a Popular Mobilization compound on the outskirts of the same village. Four operatives were killed and six were wounded. When another Popular Mobilization force arrived at the scene for assistance, an IED was activated against it. One fighter was wounded (Telegram, May 16, 2020).
• On May 15, 2020, Tribal Mobilization operatives were targeted by sniper fire about 40 km northeast of Baqubah. Two operatives were killed (Telegram, May 16, 2020).
• On May 14, 2020, a mukhtar and one of his escorts (both of them Shiites) were targeted by sniper fire in one of the villages in the Khanaqin area. Both were killed (Telegram, May 15, 2020).
• On May 14, 2020, an IED was activated against a Popular Mobilization vehicle in the Khanaqin area. A Popular Mobilization commander was killed and three operatives were wounded (Telegram, May 15, 2020).
• On May 13, 2020, an Iraqi soldier was targeted by sniper fire about 60 km north of Baqubah. He was killed (Telegram, May 14, 2020).
• On May 13, 2020, an IED was activated against Tribal Mobilization operatives about 20 km southwest of Khanaqin. Three operatives were wounded (Telegram, May 13, 2020).
• On May 12, 2020, Shiites were targeted by sniper fire about 20 km northeast of Baqubah. One Shiite was killed and two others were wounded (Telegram, May 13, 2020).
• In the assessment of the Iraqi government, about 70 dunams (about 17 acres) of wheat fields were burned last week in the northeastern Diyala Province (Baghdad Al-Youm, May 16, 2020). According to an Iraqi government report, a total of 88 incidents of burning fields were recorded in the various provinces between April 21 and May 14, 2020. Some of the fires occurred as a result of accidents or mishaps, but some of them may have been set by ISIS operatives (Kurdistan 24, May 16, 2020).

Salah al-Din Province

• On May 17, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle west of Baiji. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 19, 2020).
• On May 17, 2020, ISIS operatives attacked the home of a Tribal Mobilization commander about 20 km north of Baghdad. A Tribal Mobilization operative was killed. The commander and three of his escorts were wounded. When an Iraqi army force arrived at the scene to provide assistance, it was targeted by machine gun fire. Two soldiers were killed (Telegram, May 17, 2020).
• On May 17, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi police vehicle southeast of Samarra. Three policemen were killed and two others were wounded (Telegram, May 17, 2020).
• On May 16, 2020, an Iraqi police checkpoint was targeted by machine gun fire about 50 km north of Baghdad. Two policemen were killed and three others were wounded (Telegram, May 16, 2020).
• On May 15, 2020, ISIS operatives took an Iraqi “intelligence agent” prisoner about 90 km northeast of Tikrit. The “agent” was interrogated and then executed (Telegram, May 16, 2020).
• On May 15, 2020, ISIS operatives took an Iraqi army “agent” prisoner about 30 km north of Baghdad. The “agent” was interrogated and then executed (Telegram, May 16, 2020).
• On May 15, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle about 30 km north of Baghdad. An officer and three soldiers were killed and another soldier was wounded. When a force arrived at the scene to provide assistance, it was shot at. One soldier was killed and another was wounded (Telegram, May 15, 2020).
• On May 14, 2020, ISIS operatives attacked the home of a mukhtar in a village northeast of Samarra. Three Tribal Mobilization operatives who were family members of the mukhtar were killed. In addition, two houses were blown up, three vehicles were set on fire, and two motorcycles were damaged (Telegram, May 16, 2020).
• On May 14, 2020, an operative of the Iraqi national security service was targeted by machine gun fire about 20 km north of Baghdad. He was killed (Telegram, May 15, 2020).
• On May 14, 2020, an Iraqi police compound was targeted by machine gun fire about 60 km north of Baghdad. Three policemen were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 14, 2020).
• On May 14, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle about 30 km north of Baghdad. The passengers were killed (Telegram, May 14, 2020).

Kirkuk Province

• On May 18, 2020, an IED was activated against a Popular Mobilization vehicle about 70 km south of Kirkuk. A Popular Mobilization fighter was killed and three others were wounded (Telegram, May 19, 2020).
• On May 17, 2020, an IED was activated against a Tribal Mobilization fighter’s truck about 60 km west of Kirkuk. The Tribal Mobilization fighter was wounded (Telegram, May 19, 2020).
• On May 16, 2020, an Iraqi federal police compound was targeted by machine gun fire about 60 km southwest of Kirkuk. A policeman was killed (Telegram, May 17, 2020).
• On May 16, 2020, an Iraqi police checkpoint was targeted by machine gun fire about 4 km west of Kirkuk. Two policemen were killed (Telegram, May 16, 2020).
• On May 16, 2020, ISIS operatives attacked an Iraqi police compound about 50 km southwest of Kirkuk. A policeman was killed (Telegram, May 16, 2020).

Al-Anbar Province

• On May 17, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle about 30 km northwest of Ramadi. A soldier was killed and two others were wounded (Telegram, May 18, 2020).
• On May 17, 2020, ISIS operatives attacked an Iraqi army position about 40 km northeast of Al-Qaim (near the border between Iraq and Syria). At least four soldiers were killed or wounded. In addition, two IEDs were activated against an oil tanker and a vehicle carrying heavy weapons. Five soldiers were killed (Telegram, May 18, 2020).
• On May 16, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle about 6 km southwest of Baghdad. A total of 10 soldiers were killed or wounded. When an Iraqi army force arrived at the scene to provide assistance, another IED was activated against it. Other soldiers were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 17, 2020).
• On May 16, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle about 80 km east of Rutba. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 17, 2020).
• On May 16, 2020, ISIS operatives broke into the home of an Iraqi military intelligence operative about 60 km west of Ramadi. He was interrogated and then executed (Telegram, May 16, 2020).
• On May 16, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle about 100 km northeast of the border between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Two soldiers were killed and another was wounded (Telegram, May 16, 2020).
• On May 15, 2020, ISIS operatives attacked an Iraqi army convoy about 120 km northeast of the Iraq-Jordan-Saudi Arabia tri-border area. Several soldiers were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 15, 2020).
• On May 14, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle near the border between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Several soldiers were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 15, 2020).
• On May 12, 2020, ISIS operatives broke into the home of a fighter in the Iraqi government’s counterterrorism unit southeast of Fallujah while he was hosting relatives of fighters in the Iraqi security forces. ISIS operatives fired at them. Three of the fighter’s relatives, who were members of the Iraqi security forces, were killed. He and three members of the Iraqi national security service were wounded (Telegram, May 13, 2020).

Babel Province

• On May 19, 2020, two Popular Mobilization fighters were targeted by sniper fire about 40 km southwest of Baghdad. One fighter was killed and the other was wounded. When a force arrived at the scene to provide assistance, it was targeted by machine gun fire. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 19, 2020).
• On May 18, 2020, a Popular Mobilization vehicle was targeted by machine gun fire about 40 km south of Baghdad. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 18, 2020).

Counterterrorist activities by the Iraqi security forces

The provinces of Al-Anbar, Nineveh and Salah al-Din

• On May 17, 2020, the Iraqi army announced the start of the Lions of Al-Jazeera campaign. The campaign, which is being carried out by the Iraqi security forces, with air support, is intended to mop up northern and western Iraq (up to the Iraq-Syria border) from the presence of ISIS operatives (Facebook page of the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office, May 17, 2020).
• On May 18, 2020, the initial results of the campaign were reported: In the Salah al-Din Province, three ISIS operatives were killed, including a terrorist who activated his explosive belt after being surrounded by Iraqi security forces. In addition, seven ISIS hiding places, five tunnels and 14 IEDs were found. A headquarters formerly used by ISIS operatives was destroyed (al-hashed.net, May 18, 2020).

Salah al-Din Province

• On May 16, 2020, a Popular Mobilization force fired artillery at a concentration of ISIS operatives about 60 km east of Tikrit. Six ISIS operatives were killed (al-hashed.net, May 16, 2020).

Diyala Province

• On May 17, 2020, Iraqi security forces carried out an operation to locate ISIS operatives about 20 km northeast of Baqubah. They discovered an ISIS hiding place. They also found two IEDs (Facebook page of the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office, May 17, 2020).

    
Right: Iraqi army force on patrol. Left: ISIS IEDs found during the patrols
(Facebook page of the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office, May 17, 2020)

• On May 16, 2020, a Popular Mobilization force thwarted an infiltration attempt by ISIS operatives in the area of Khanaqin. The ISIS operatives were forced to flee. The force shot down a quadcopter used by ISIS during the infiltration attempt (al-hashed.net, May 16, 2020).

Nineveh Province

• On May 15, 2020, the Iraqi army announced that International Coalition forces had attacked a cave used by ISIS operatives in the Nineveh Province. Seven ISIS operatives were killed (Sky News, May 16, 2020).