Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses. Share the link of this article with your facebook friends

 

Hundreds of Iraqis Killed Daily, Destruction of Sunni Areas Continues, Kurdish Front Reopened

October 21, 2017

Editor's Note:

The following are just examples of news stories about the continuous Iraq war. Daily news stories can be accessed from the news sources listed below and others in the internet.

 

Iraqi government soldiers in Diyala, October 2017	Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers, October 2017

 

The following are news stories from the independent Iraqi Arabic news agency, Yaqein ( http://yaqein.net/ ):

***

Sectarian Iraq government continues destruction and war crimes against opposition (Sunni) provinces Yaqein, October 21, 2017      هيئة علماء المسلمين: حكومات الاحتلال تعتم على جرائم التدمير والإبادة الطائفية تجاه المحافظات المعارضة لسياسته 21 أكتوبر 2017 - يقين اعتبرت هيئة علماء المسلمين في العراق في بيانها المرقم (1285)، والصادر، اليوم السبت، أن حكومات الاحتلال ماضية في استعمال كل الأساليب التي تؤدي إلى فرض حالة الإخضاع والتبعية الطائفية ضد المحافظات التي تبدي معارضةً لسياساتها التدميرية، مع استخدام التضليل الإعلامي وتزوير وقلب الحقائق، والتعتيم على جرائم الإبادة التي يتعرض لها أهالي هذه المحافظات. وقالت الهيئة في بيانها، الذي تلقت وكالة يقين للأنباء نسخة منه، إن “هيئة علماء المسلمين تابعت على مدى الأسبوع المنصرم؛ الأحداث التي جرت وما زالت تجري في محافظة التأميم، ورصدت التطورات الحاصلة في مدينة كركوك وما جاورها من مناطق ولاسيما مدينة (طوزخورماتو) بمحافظة صلاح الدين المتاخمة لها”. وأضافت الهيئة في بيانها أنه “ومما ثبت وقوعه في الأيام القليلة الماضية أن القوّات الحكومية ومعها ميليشيات (الحشد الشعبي) المحلية والوافدة؛ عمدت إلى ممارسة منهجيتها المعتادة في كل مدينة تقتحمها؛ إذ تحدثت تقارير ميدانية وصحفية، وشهادات موثقة؛ عن حصول جرائم سرقة وتسليب وحرق طالت منازل وممتلكات العائلات الكردية التي نزحت من تلك المناطق وتوجهت صوب محافظتي أربيل والسليمانية؛ خوفًا من تداعيات اجتياح تلك القوّات لها، علاوة على سقوط عشرات المدنيين بين قتيل وجريح في الساعات الأولى من المواجهات في باكورة الأزمة، ولم تتوفر حتى الآن حصيلة عدد الضحايا بسبب الأحداث المتسارعة التي أخذت تمتد نحو محافظة أربيل نفسها وأجزاء واسعة من محافظة ديالى”. وأوضحت الهيئة في بيانها أنه “وتأكيدًا على ذلك؛ كشفت منظمة (هيومن رايتس ووتش) أن إطلاق النار العشوائي الذي حدث في المواجهات بين قوات البيشمركة، والقوّات الحكومية في مدينة (طوزخورماتو) تسبب بمقتل خمسة مدنيين وجرح ما يقرب من (51) آخرين؛ وأن القوّات التي سيطرت على المدينة سمحت بوقوع أعمال نهب الممتلكات دون عوائق طوال يوم كامل، وهو ما أشارت إليه بعثة الأمم المتحدة في العراق؛ فضلًا عن التقارير وشهادات حكومية أشارت إلى أن قوات إيرانية شاركت القوات الحكومية وميليشيات (الحشد الشعبي) في السيطرة على مدينة كركوك؛ التي شهدت بروز جرائم اغتيال منظمة طالت ضباطًا في الجيش العراقي السابق وبعض الشخصيات”. وتابع البيان ان “هيئة علماء المسلمين تؤكد بأن حكومات الاحتلال ماضية في استعمال كل الأساليب التي تؤدي إلى فرض حالة الإخضاع والتبعية الطائفية ضد المحافظات التي تبدي معارضةً لسياساتها التدميرية، مع استخدام التضليل الإعلامي وتزوير وقلب الحقائق، والتعتيم على جرائم الإبادة التي يتعرض لها أهالي هذه المحافظات”. واختتمت الهيئة بيانها بأنها “تذكر بأن موقفها الرافض للعملية السياسية إنما يأتي في إطار استشرافها المبكر لمآلات هذه العملية التي بنيت على أساس معوج، وعادت بأصحابها ليس إلى المربع الأول الذي يحذرون منه، وإنما إلى نقطة الصفر بعدما كانوا يتبجحون بقوة مبدأ (الشراكة السياسية) الذي ذهب أدراج الرياح”. http://yaqein.net/politics/65123

***

The following are news stories from a pro-Iraqi government website (http://www.iraqinews.com/), which usually reports those who are killed by Iraqi government attacks as Islamic State fighters, implying no civilians were killed by bombing residential neighborhoods:

***

At least 150 paramilitary personnel killed, injured during clashes in Kirkuk

by Nehal Mostafa Oct 20, 2017, 11:36 pm

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) --

At least 150 paramilitary personnel were killed and injured during clashes that occurred between Kurdish troops against Iraqi troops in Kirkuk.

A statement by the command of Kurdish Peshmerga troops in western Kirkuk axis said, “al-Hashd al-Shaabi [Popular Mobilization Forces] attacked our troops using U.S.-made weapons”

“The confrontations left two U.S. tanks and an armored vehicle destroyed,” the statement said adding “more than 150 armed PMFs personnel were killed and injured.”

Earlier on Friday, Iraqi government forces approached the southern borders of Erbil, capital of semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, shortly after engaging in clashes with the region’s forces in Qushtapa, a region extending along the southern borders of Erbil, and Altun Kupri in northern Kirkuk.

Iraqi troops, backed by PMFs, took over Kirkuk province from Kurdish Peshmerga fighters rarlier this week, fulfilling instructions previously made by Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi to retake areas where sovereignty is disputed with Kurdistan Region’s Government.

The Iraqi military command said it became in control over all of the province’s oil fields, military bases and government facilities. The military takeover came after Kurdistan voted in September to secede from Iraq.

A medical official in Sulaymaniyah was quoted last week saying that Peshmerga deaths since the Iraqi incursion in Kirkuk stood at 84, with more than 160 wounded.

Coalition jets kill 40 Islamic State members west of Anbar

by Mohamed Mostafa Oct 20, 2017, 6:14 pm

Qaim (IraqiNews.com) --

Warplanes from the United States-led coalition killed 40 Islamic State militants west of Anbar as operations approach for the recapture of the group’s last havens in Iraq.

Alghad Press quoted a security source saying that the fighter jets pounded militants’ locations near the “phosphate company” in the town of Qaim, killing 40 members.

More  than 15 vehicles belonging to the militants were destroyed in the raid, according to the source.

Since Islamic State militants took over large areas of Iraq and Syria to establish a self-styled “caliphate” in 2014, Iraqi government forces, backed paramilitary troops and U.S.-led coalition, launched a wide-scale campaign to retake those regions.

So far, the offensives managed to retake Mosul, the group’s former capital, the town of Tal Afar, Kirkuk’s Hawija and Anbar’s Annah. Only Qaim and neighboring Rawa currently remain in IS grip.

Local authorities and human rights agencies believe Islamic State members are holding tens of thousands of civilians in western Anbar as future human shields, having killed hundreds for attempting to escape.

A monthly count by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), which excludes security members deaths, said 196 civilians were killed, while 381 others were wounded due to violence and armed conflicts during the month of September.

24 protesters killed, injured in attempt to break into police station in Diyala

by Nehal Mostafa Oct 19, 2017, 7:28 pm

Diyala (IraqiNews.com) ---

 Twenty-four protesters were killed and injured in Khanaqin during shootout by security troops, as members of Kurdistan Democratic Party were attempting to break into Federal Police station, an informed source said on Thursday.

“Several members of the KDP gathered in Khanaqin in a protest outside a police station to voice demands of handing over security to Peshmerga,” the source told Alghad Press on Thursday. “The shooting started as the members attempted breaking into police station.”

“Number of wounded protesters has reached up to 23 wounded, in addition to a victim killed during the confrontations,” the source added.

On Tuesday, Iraqi government forces recaptured Khanaqin within wide-scale operations to regain areas disputed with Kurdistan Region.

Baghdad had declared intentions to reclaim control over regions disputed with Erbil in response to Kurdistan’s independence vote in September.

Violence in the country has surged further with the emergence of Islamic State Sunni extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

A monthly count by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), which excludes security members deaths, said 196 civilians were killed, while 381 others were wounded due to violence and armed conflicts during the month of September. The fatalities included 10 foreign nationals. Baghdad was the most affected province with 37 deaths and 157 injuries. Dhi Qar province came in the second place with 82 killed and 93 injured. Anbar came in the third place with 20 killed and 46 injured.

The Iraqi capital has seen almost daily bombings and armed attacks against security members, paramilitary troops and civilians since the Iraqi government launched a wide-scale campaign to retake Islamic State-occupied areas in 2016. 

***

The following are news stories from the US Department of Defense website (http://www.defense.gov/News) :

***

US Officials Provide Details of Latest Strikes Against ISIS

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Oct. 21, 2017 —

U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 11 strikes consisting of 11 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted five strikes consisting of five engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed an ISIS-held oil wellhead.

-- Near Dayr Az Zwar, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three logistics nodes and a fighting position.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of six engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Qaim, six strikes destroyed an ISIS weapons cache, two ISIS-held buildings, an improvised explosive device factory, a weapons storage facility and an ISIS petroleum, oil, and lubricants site.

Military Strikes Target ISIS in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Oct. 14, 2017 —

U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting four strikes consisting of four engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve. DoD Graphic Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve logo Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve.

Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted three strikes consisting of three engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed an ISIS headquarters building.

-- Near Shadaddi, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two fighting positions and a logistics node.

Strikes in Iraq

Near Qaim, Iraq, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of one engagement, which destroyed a piece of ISIS communications infrastructure.

Previous Strikes

Additionally, seven strikes consisting of 10 engagements were conducted Oct. 12 in Syria and Iraq that closed within the last 24 hours.

-- Near Qaim, Iraq, two strikes destroyed an ISIS vehicle-borne-bomb factory and a headquarters building.

-- Near Ramadi, Iraq, a strike destroyed an ISIS camp.

-- Near Raqqa, Syria, four strikes destroyed three ISIS lines of communication and a fighting position.

U.S., Coalition Continue Strikes to Defeat ISIS in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Oct. 13, 2017 —

U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 29 strikes consisting of 29 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 27 strikes consisting of 27 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.

-- Near Raqqa, 25 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units, suppressed a fighting position; destroyed two communications nodes, 10 fighting positions, a vehicle and an ISIS supply road.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of two engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Qaim, a strike destroyed a vehicle-borne-bomb factory.

-- Near Haditha, a strike engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed a vehicle and a heavy machine gun.

Oct. 10-11 Strikes

Additionally, 12 strikes consisting of 13 engagements were conducted in Syria and Iraq on Oct. 10-11 for which the information was not previously available:

-- On Oct. 11 near Raqqa, eight strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed four ISIS communication lines, two communications nodes and a fighting position.

-- On Oct. 11 near Rawa, Iraq, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and an ISIS-held building.

-- On Oct. 10 near Rawa, two strikes destroyed four ISIS supply routes, a command-and-control node and an ISIS-held building.

***

Share the link of this article with your facebook friends