MESOPOTMIA NEWS INTEL BY MEIR AMIT INTELLIGENCE & TERRORISM INFORMATION CENTER / ISRAEL – Spotlight on Global Jihad (September 5-11, 2019)

Main events of the week

• With the exception of several local shooting incidents, as at September 10, 2019, the unilateral ceasefire announced by the Syrian army in the Idlib area is being maintained. The sides are apparently taking advantage of the lull in order to improve their positions and prepare for the next rounds of fighting.
• According to a report by the Turkish Ministry of Defense, as part of the first phase of the plan to establish the safe zone along the Syrian-Turkish border, joint patrols by US and Turkish army forces along the Syria-Turkey border have begun. The establishment of the safe zone was agreed upon by Turkey and the United States. Previously, Turkish President Erdoğan threatened that if a safe zone with the presence of Turkish soldiers was not established by the end of September 2019, Turkey would have no choice but to operate in the region alone. A Syrian Foreign Ministry official condemned the joint patrols and stressed that they constituted a flagrant violation of Syria’s sovereignty, and also expressed Syria’s opposition to the plan.
• ISIS’s terrorist and guerilla warfare activities continued in Syria and Iraq. In Iraq, ISIS planned to carry out a number of attacks against Shiite pilgrims and worshipers celebrating the Ashura holiday. Some of the attacks were thwarted by the Iraqi security forces. In Baghdad, several dozen Shiites were killed in IED attacks.
• ISIS’s provinces in Africa and Asia continued to carry out “routine” attacks. This week, attacks were reported in the Sinai Peninsula, Afghanistan, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Yemen.

Idlib region

• The unilateral ceasefire declared by the Syrian army in the Idlib region, which entered into effect on the morning of August 31, 2019, is being maintained as at September 10, 2019.^[1] Tense quiet is maintained in the region, except for sporadic shooting incidents. Following are a number of violations:
  • On September 9, 2019, the Syrian army fired artillery at positions of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham and its allies in the rural area south and southeast of Idlib. According to the Syrian army, this was a response to artillery fire of the “terrorist organizations” (i.e., the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham and its allies) at Syrian army positions in Khan Shaykhun (Al-Watan, affiliated with the Syrian regime, September 10, 2019).
  • On September 7, 2019, Syrian army forces and the militias supporting them fired several rockets at targets in the rural area south of Idlib (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, September 7, 2019).
  • On September 6, 2019, the Syrian army announced that its anti-aircraft units had shot down three UAVs of the “terrorist organizations” (i.e., rebel organizations) attempting to attack one of its positions in the Al-Ghab Plain, southwest of Idlib (SANA, September 7, 2019).

    
Right: One of the rebel organizations’ UAVs shot down by the Syrian army (SANA, September 7, 2019). Left: Four bombs attached to the wing of one of the aircraft (SANA, September 7, 2019)

• It seems that the sides are taking advantage of the lull in the fighting to improve their positions and prepare for the next rounds of fighting. As part of these preparations, the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham released photos showing its operatives deployed vis-à-vis the Syrian army and the militias supporting it on the Al-Qasabiya road, about 40 km northwest of Hama (Ibaa, September 8, 2019).

Summary of the losses since the beginning of the Syrian army’s ground attack

• Since the beginning of the Syrian army’s ground attack in early May 2019, a total of 4,128 people have been killed in the Idlib region. Fatalities included 1,671 rebel organization operatives, including 1,088 operatives of the jihadi organizations [bearing the brunt of the fighting]. Fatalities also included 1,406 soldiers and operatives of the Syrian army and the forces supporting it, and 1,051 civilians (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, September 7, 2019).

Northeastern Syria

Attacks against the SDF forces

• ISIS’s guerrilla and terrorist activities against SDF fighters continued in the Kurdish control zone in northeastern Syria. Following are a number of incidents (according to ISIS’s announcements):
  • On September 8, 2019, an SDF fighter was shot and killed in the Ghawiran neighborhood, in southern Al-Hasakah (Telegram, September 9, 2019).
  • On September 4, 2019, an SDF fighter was shot and killed in Al-Hasakah (Telegram, September 5, 2019).

SDF counterterrorism activity

• As part of the counterterrorism activities carried out by SDF forces against ISIS squads in the area, forces in Tel Ja’abi, in the area of Hajin (about 25 km north of Albukamal) captured an ISIS squad operative. Weapons and IEDs ready for use were found in his possession (SDF Press, September 9, 2019).

    
Right: ISIS operative captured by SDF forces. Left: The weapons found in his possession
(SDF Press, September 9, 2019)

Al-Raqqah area

• On September 4, 2019, an ISIS force ambushed and fired at SDF forces on the Al-Tabqa-al-Raqqah road (west of Al-Raqqah). Twelve SDF fighters were killed and wounded (Telegram, September 5, 2019).

ISIS’s activity in the Euphrates Valley

• ISIS’s activity in the area of Deir ez-Zor, Al-Mayadeen and Albukamal continues. Following are highlights of this activity:
  • On September 10, 2019, two SDF fighters were shot and killed in Diban, about 5 km east of Al-Mayadeen (Telegram, September 10, 2019).
  • On September 8, 2019, two SDF fighters were shot and killed in Al-Dahlah, about 12 km east of Deir ez-Zor (Telegram, September 9, 2019).
  • On September 7, 2019, machine gun fire hit and killed the head of the local council on behalf of the SDF in Al-Jaradi, about 20 km southeast of Al-Mayadeen (Telegram, September 7, 2019). A local Syrian source reported that unknown assailants riding a motorcycle attempted to kill Ahmad Mussa al-Saleh, the head of the local council of western Al-Jaradi (Deir ez-Zor 24, September 7, 2019).
  • On September 7, 2019, a motorcycle bomb was detonated, apparently against SDF fighters or another SDF target in Al-Basira, about 15 km north of Al-Mayadeen (Deir ez-Zor 24, September 7, 2019). No organization assumed responsibility so far, but it appears to be ISIS’s activity.
  • On September 6, 2019, machine guns were fired at Ramadan Zaki, an SDF commander, in Al-Jaradi, about 20 km southeast of Al-Mayadeen. The commander and one of his escorts were wounded, and another escort was killed (Telegram, September 7, 2019).
  • On September 4, 2019, the SDF official in charge of the archive in the Al-Basira area, about 15 km north of Al-Mayadeen, was shot and wounded, and his escort was killed (Telegram, September 5, 2019).

Creating a safe zone on the border between Syria and Turkey

• The Turkish Ministry of Defense reported that joint patrols of forces of the US army and the Turkish army started operating in the safe zone in northeastern Syria. Six armored vehicles with Turkish flags joined a US army convoy patrolling the Tell al-Abyad area, 25 km east of the Euphrates River in northern Syria, close to the Turkish border. The force was also joined by UAVs and helicopters. Patrolling was carried out as the first phase of the plan to establish a safe zone along the border. The Turkish Defense Ministry reported that on the next few days, additional joint patrols would take place (Anatolia, September 8, 2019). An official source in the Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the joint patrols and stressed that they constituted a flagrant violation of Syria’s sovereignty. He said that Syria was opposed to the plan (SANA, September 8, 2019).
• Turkey and the United States agreed on the establishment of the safe zone on August 7, 2019. It was mainly intended to alleviate the tension between Turkey and the Kurdish forces operating in the area under American sponsorship. It was also intended to create a safe corridor that will allow Syrian refugees who wish to do so to return to their country. For the time being, details of the plan such as the size of the area and how it will be controlled are unclear. As part of the agreement, a joint operations center was recently set up.
• Before the patrols began, Turkish President Erdoğan threatened that if the safe zone with the presence of Turkish soldiers was not established by the end of September 2019, Turkey would have no choice but to operate in the region alone (Anatolia, September 7, 2019). He also threatened that if Turkey did not receive support from the European Union in the establishment of the safe zone, it would open its borders and allow the Syrian refugees to move into Europe. According to the Turkish president, Turkey intends to settle at least a million Syrian refugees in the safe zone, but it needs the aid that it was promised in the refugee agreement with Europe. It should be recalled that there are about 3.5 million Syrian refugees on Turkish soil, and as part of the agreement, Turkey prevents them from moving to Europe (Anatolia, September 6, 2019).

Involvement of foreign forces in Syria

Denmark

• US Department of Defense Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Jonathan R. Hoffman said that the United States welcomes Denmark’s decision to send a military force to Syria in support of the US-led International Coalition’s Operation Inherent Resolve. According to the announcement, the Danish forces will operate in cooperation with the US forces in northeastern Syria (US Department of Defense website, September 7, 2019).

Russia

• During a discussion with high-ranking Russian army officers, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said that at present, the top priority of Russian military activity in Syria should be to protect weapons and additional technological means available to the forces and to maintain the operational fitness of these means. The minister also announced that he had ordered the development of various types of home front support for the force deployed in Syria (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, September 3, 2019). It should be noted that the base of the Russian force stationed at Hmeymim Airbase is often attacked by the rebel organizations.

Main developments in Iraq

ISIS’s terrorist and guerrilla activity

• ISIS’s terrorist and guerrilla activity continued throughout Iraq. This week, ISIS’s most noteworthy activity was carried out against Shiite worshipers in the Baghdad Province in the midst of Ashura. ISIS announced that its operatives had activated a series of IEDs against gatherings and processions of Shiites on the holiday and against vehicles transporting the Shiite worshipers to ceremonies in various areas throughout Baghdad. According to ISIS, a total of 95 people were killed and wounded in this series of events (Telegram, September 7, 2019). Iraqi sources confirmed the report, but played down the number of casualties, noting that several people were wounded in the explosions and property was damaged (Al-Wikala al-Wataniyya lil-Anba’, September 7, 2019).
• Following are ISIS’s additional terrorist and guerrilla operations throughout Iraq (according to ISIS’s claims of responsibility):
  • On September 9, 2019, an IED was activated in the Nineveh Province against a Tribal Mobilization vehicle in the Hamam al-Alil area, about 16 km south of Mosul. A Tribal Mobilization operative was killed and six others were wounded. In addition, several mortar shells were fired at forces of the Iraqi army and the Tribal Mobilization in the area. Damage was caused to property (Telegram, September 9, 2019).
  • On September 8, 2019, an IED was activated against a mine-sweeping vehicle of the Iraqi army in Al-Islah, in the Diyala Province, about 80 km northeast of Baqubah. Two soldiers were wounded (Telegram, September 8, 2019). In the Kirkuk Province, an IED was activated against a vehicle of a Tribal Mobilization operative about 40 km southwest of Kirkuk. The operative was wounded (Telegram, September 8, 2019).
  • On September 7, 2019, ISIS operatives blew up a building which they had booby-trapped in the Baaj area, in the Nineveh Province, about 130 km southwest of Mosul. Two sappers were killed in the explosion and two soldiers were wounded (Telegram, September 7, 2019). In the North Baghdad Province, ISIS operatives broke into the home of the mukhtar of Nahr al-Safi, in the Al-Taji area (about 20 km north of Baghdad). The mukhtar, who they claimed was an agent of the National Security Service and the Popular Mobilization in the area of Al-Taji, was detained, interrogated and then executed (Telegram, September 8, 2019).
  • On September 6, 2019, in the Diyala Province, an Iraqi army outpost was hit by sniper fire about 16 km northeast of Baqubah. Two soldiers were killed and another was wounded. A Popular Mobilization patrol arriving at the site was also shot at. The official in charge of the Popular Mobilization in the Abu Saida area, codenamed Abu Jandil, was killed and one of his aides was wounded (Telegram, September 6, 2019).
  • On September 5, 2019, in the Babel Province, an IED was activated against a Popular Mobilization vehicle about 40 km south of Baghdad. Popular Mobilization operatives were killed or wounded (Telegram, September 6, 2019).
  • On September 4, 2019, in the Salah al-Din Province, Iraqi army soldiers and Tribal Mobilization fighters northwest of Samarra were hit by machine gun fire. Five soldiers and Tribal Mobilization fighters were killed (Telegram, September 4, 2019). In the Diyala Province, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle on the Jalula road about 30 km northeast of Baqubah. Three soldiers were wounded (Telegram, September 4, 2019).

Counterterrorist activities by the Iraqi security forces

• After the August 27, 2019 announcement about the end of Operation The Will to Win to liberate northern and western Iraq from ISIS operatives, counterterrorist activity of the Iraqi security forces and the militias supporting them continued throughout Iraq. On September 8, 2019, Taleb al-Mussawi, commander in the Popular Mobilization forces, announced Operation Ashura, intended to act against ISIS squads and secure the Shiite pilgrims. According to Al-Mussawi, 20 villages were mopped up during the operation and four ISIS guest houses were found, as well as an explosive belt and a vehicle.
• Following are additional counterterrorist operations of the Iraqi security forces:
  • On September 9, 2019, a Coalition airstrike was carried out, based on intelligence, against an ISIS hideout in the Makhoul Mountains, about 15 km north of Baiji. Khattab Khalaf Mohammed Saleh al-Jawari, the ISIS operative in charge of coordination between the provinces of Tigris, Al-Jazeera, and Kirkuk, was killed in the airstrike, along with four other operatives (Al-Sumaria, September 9, 2019).
  • The Iraqi Counterterrorism Service, operating in collaboration with the International Coalition, landed forces from helicopters in the Mutaibija area, on the border between the Diyala and Salah al-Din provinces (about 70 km north of Baqubah). Fifteen ISIS operatives, including suicide bombers, were killed and nine others were detained. Coalition airstrikes in the area destroyed ISIS’s guest houses, caves, tunnels and a training camp (Al-Sumaria, September 9, 2019).
  • A force of the Emergency Response Division (ERD) subordinate to the Iraqi Interior Ministry found a stockpile of ISIS weapons about 50 km southeast of Baghdad. The stockpile was reportedly moved there in order to carry out attacks against Shiite pilgrims arriving at Imam Hussein’s Tomb on the Ashura Day (Al-Sumaria, September 9, 2019).
  • Coalition aircraft, acting on intelligence provided by the Nineveh Operations command post, carried out an airstrike against ISIS in Jazirat Hawi Aslan on the Tigris River, about 15 km south of Mosul. Eight ISIS operatives were killed (Al-Sumaria, September 8, 2019).
  • A Popular Mobilization force operating in the Makhoul Mountains, about 15 km north of Baiji, killed four ISIS operatives (al-hashed.net, September 8, 2019).
  • A Popular Mobilization force operating with Iraqi army air support in the Al-Dour area, about 17 km southeast of Tikrit, killed several ISIS operatives and destroyed their hideout (al-hashed.net, September 5, 2019).