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

 

Scores of Iraqis Killed in the North by Iraqi Forces, US Air Strikes, Turkish Raids

June 17, 2018

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 forces in Western Anbar, June 2018

 

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

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Turkish air raids on the Kurdish Workers Party (KWP) in Qandil Mountain, in Northern Iraq. The air strikes killed and injured many leaders, who were meeting in that area, near the Iraqi-Iranian border. Turkish land forces are now occupying an area about 30 kilometers deep inside Iraq, in its combat against the KWP. غارات تركية تستهدف اجتماعا لحزب العمال شمال العراق 17 يونيو 2018  كشف الرئيس التركي “رجب طيب إردوغان” ، اليوم الاحد، إن طائرات حربية تركية قصفت ، خلال الساعات الماضية ،  اجتماعا لحزب العمال الكردستاني في جبال قنديل بشمال العراق ، مااسفرت عملية القصف عن وقوع قتلى ومصابين وان من بينهم عناصر قيادية في الحزب المذكور . وقال إردوغان في مقابلة تلفزيونة إن ” طائرات حربية قصفت نقطة لقاء في جبال قنديل التي يُعتقد أن قياديين من حزب العمال الكردستاني يتمركزون فيها “، مضيفا أن ” الجيش سيعلن نتيجة الهجمات الجوية خلال الساعات المقبلة “. واضاف إردوغان في تصريحه اننا ” وبأحدث العمليات نكون قد ضربنا نقطة تجمع مهمة جدا لهم ، ولم نتلق النتائج بعد ولكن من المؤكد أنهم تلقوا ضربة“. من جانب اخر اكدت مصادر صحفية مطلعة في تصريح لها ان ” الجيش التركي كثف غاراته الجوية على على شمال العراق مستهدفا قواعد حزب العمال الكردستاني في جبال قنديل القريبة من الحدود العراقية الإيرانية ، حيث تشتبه أنقرة بوجود قياديين من حزب العمال الكردستاني هناك “. كما قالت الحكومة التركية أيضا في بيان لها  إن ” القوات التركية انتشرت على عمق نحو 30 كيلومترا داخل شمال العراق في منطقة ليست بعيدة عن جبال قنديل “. وصعدت أنقرة في الآونة الأخيرة من تهديداتها باحتمال شن هجوم بري في منطقة جبال قنديلالتي تقع بشمال العراق وبالقرب من الحدود العراقية مع إيران ، بالتزامن مع قيام القوات التركية بتطهير مساحات شاسعة من الأراضي على طول حدودها الجنوبية الشرقية في إطار عملياتها العسكرية في سوريا. https://yaqein.net/politics/117331 Iraqi government forces launch a wide military operation in Western Anbar (Sunni Muslim Arab) Province, which has led to crime and human rights violations against the Province residents. عملية عسكرية واسعة تطلقها القوات المشتركة غرب الأنبار 16 يونيو 2018  تستمر العمليات العسكرية التي تشنها القوات المشتركة وميليشياتها والمصحوبة بجرائم وانتهاكات في مناطق متفرقة من البلاد بذريعة إرساء الأمن والبحث عن مطلوبين ، حيث أعلنت وزارة الدفاع انطلاق عملية موسعة لقيادة فرقة المشاة الأولى في صحراء الرطبة غربي محافظة الأنبار. وقالت الوزارة في بيان إن ” قيادة فرقة المشاة الأولى نفذت عملية موسعة في صحراء الرطبة ومطار سعد وبحيرة وادي حوران بقيادة نائب قائد الفرقة، لمطاردة الخلايا النائمة وللبحث عن المخلفات الحربية لـ(تنظيم الدولة)، ولتنظيف الصحراء من أي محاولة اختراق”. وتابعت الوزارة أن “هذه العملية تأتي في إطار العمليات الاستباقية التي تنفذها قطعات قواتنا المسلحة لسد الثغرات ومنع تسلل الإرهابيين إلى داخل المدن لزعزعة أمنها الداخلي”. وبعد 3 سنوات، وبدعم من التحالف الدولي بقيادة الولايات المتحدة، أعلنت حكومة بغداد في ديسمبر/ كانون الأول 2017، استعادة كامل الأراضي من قبضة (تنظيم الدولة) الذي كان يسيطر على ثلث مساحة البلاد. https://yaqein.net/politics/117277

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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:

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Four Islamic State members killed in an operation, northeast of Baquba

by Nehal Mostafa Jun 16, 2018, 5:58 pm

Diyala (IraqiNews.com) --

Four Islamic State members were killed in an operation carried out by the pro-government paramilitary troops, northeast of Baquba, the security committee of Diyala provincial council said on Saturday.

“Al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) carried out an operation in the depth of Wadi Thelab region, northeast of Baquba, leaving four militants, including a leader, killed,” Sadeq al-Husseini, head of the committee, told AlSumaria News.

On Friday, a PMFs personnel was killed, while another was injured in an Islamic State attack against a patrol in the same region, a security source was quoted saying. PMFs killed, on Thursday, six Islamic State members and destroyed four vehicles in a checkpoint in Imam Wees region in Diyala.”

Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks across Iraq against troops. Security reports indicate that the militant group still poses threat against stability in the country.

Thousands of Islamic State militants as well as Iraqi civilians were killed since the government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and the coalition was launched in October 2016 to fight the militant group, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June, 2014. Many IS members were detained during liberation battles that freed cities, which were recaptured by the militant group in 2014.

In December, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced gaining control on all the territories that were captured by Islamic State, since 2014. However, the group still has dormant cells, through which it carries out attacks, across Iraq like it used to do before 2014.

Federal Police personnel wounded in bomb blasts, southwest of Kirkuk

by Nehal Mostafa Jun 16, 2018, 4:44 pm

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) --

Several Federal Police personnel were wounded as two bomb blasts took place, southwest of Kirkuk, a security source said on Saturday.

Speaking to AlSumaria News, the source said, the source said, “two bombs went off targeting a Federal Police patrol near Hawija, southwest of Kirkuk, leaving several police personnel wounded.”

“Security troops transferred the wounded personnel to neaby hospital for treatment,” the source, who preferred anonymity, added.

A report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) said 94 Iraqis were killed, while 163 others were wounded due to Violence and armed conflicts during the month of May.

Thousands of Islamic State militants as well as Iraqi civilians were killed since the government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and the coalition was launched in October 2016 to fight the militant group, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June, 2014. Many IS members were detained during liberation battles that freed cities, which were recaptured by the militant group in 2014.

In December, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced gaining control on all the territories that were captured by Islamic State, since 2014. However, the group still has dormant cells, through which it carries out attacks, across Iraq like it used to do before 2014.

Six Islamic State members killed in checkpoint in Diyala

by Nehal Mostafa Jun 14, 2018, 11:46 pm

Diyala (IraqiNews.com) --

The pro-government paramilitary troops announced killing six Islamic State members in a checkpoint in Diyala province, the media service reported.

In a statement on Thursday night, al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) “managed to kill six Islamic State members and destroy four vehicles in a checkpoint in Diyala.”

The statement also added that troops managed to “set up a checkpoint killing six Islamic State members and destroy four vehicles in Imam Wees region.”

Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks across Iraq against troops. Security reports indicate that the militant group still poses threat against stability in the country.

Thousands of Islamic State militants as well as Iraqi civilians were killed since the government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and the coalition was launched in October 2016 to fight the militant group, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June, 2014. Many IS members were detained during liberation battles that freed cities, which were recaptured by the militant group in 2014.

In December, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced gaining control on all the territories that were captured by Islamic State, since 2014. However, the group still has dormant cells, through which it carries out attacks, across Iraq like it used to do before 2014.

Policeman killed, seven Islamic State member arrested in attack, northwest of Mosul

by Nehal Mostafa Jun 14, 2018, 4:34 pm

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) --

A policeman was killed, while seven Islamic State members were arrested during an attack by the militant group, northwest of Mosul, a security source from Nineveh said on Thursday.

“Islamic State members attacked a checkpoint for Federal Police and managed to kill a policeman,” Cap. Mortada Ahmed told BasNews. “Seven militants were arrested before running away.”

Security troops cordoned off Mafraq al-Kesk region, where the attack took place and carried out an operation in search for the remnants of Islamic State members.

In related news, another security source from Nineveh police said Moyasser Rashid, mayor of Oyounat village was killed in an armed attack.

“Unidentified gunmen opened fire against him, leaving him killed before running away,” Cap. Amir Wathiq told BasNews.

Thousands of Islamic State militants as well as Iraqi civilians were killed since the government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and the coalition was launched in October 2016 to fight the militant group, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June 2014.

In December, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced gaining control on all the territories that were captured by Islamic State, since 2014. However, the group still has dormant cells, through which it carries out attacks, across Iraq like it used to do before 2014.

Bodies of more than 30 Islamic State members recovered from Euphrates

by Nehal Mostafa Jun 14, 2018, 2:16 pm

Anbar (IraqiNews.com) --

More than thirty bodies of Islamic State members were recovered from Euphrates River, west of Anbar, a security source from the province was quoted saying on Thursday.

Speaking to Almaalomah website, the source said, “security troops, along with residents of Qaim town, managed to recover more than thirty bodies of Islamic State members, who were executed and thrown in Euphrates River, following conflicts in Hegeen region in Syria, located 40 kilometers away from Qaim.”

Troops and the residents, according to the source, “recovered the bodies fearing pollution of the river after bad odours came out of the bodies.”

The bodies “were shot in the heads and chests,” he added.

On Wednesday, Qutri al-Obeidi, a leader with the mobilization forces in Anbar, said Hegeen saw the biggest mass executions among Islamic State after the leaders killed around 90 members and threw their bodies in Euphrates river, as they were reluctant about the defense battles against Syrian army, which carries out operations to liberate regions near the borders.

Iraqi warplanes launched, last month, a new wave of air raids against outposts of the Islamic State group in Syria.

In April, Abadi denied intentions to intervene within Syrian affairs, saying airstrikes against Islamic State will continue.

Iraq had previously announced launching airstrikes against IS locations in Syria. This came after Abadi said security troops will follow IS militants in the whole region, not only in Iraq.

Iraqi forces kill Islamic State’s “man in black” in Kirkuk raid

by Mohamed Mostafa Jun 14, 2018, 10:47 am

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) --

A notorious Islamic State militant was killed in an operation by Iraqi security forces in Kirkuk, an intelligence source was quoted saying on Thursday.

The source told Alsumaria News that “security forces, in a special operation, managed to kill “the black-dressed”, a senior leader of Daesh terrorist gangs, along with six of his companions, having received accurate intelligence information about their presence at a home in Dibis, Kirkuk”.

According to the source, who asked not to be named, “the black terrorist is one of Daesh’s most dangerous leaders, and had been responsible for the recent explosions that took place in the city”. He added that “maps of targets of attacks were found in his possession”.

The source labelled the death of that militant as “paralyzing to the dormant cells in Kirkuk”.

Iraqi forces recaptured Islamic State’s strongholds in Kirkuk province last September as part of a wide-scale military operation to retake areas occupied by IS militants since 2014. The government said last December it had seized back all territories held by the group in Iraq. But Kirkuk, and other recaptured areas, have seen occasional attacks by the militants against security forces., sparking fears that the group might still represent a security threat through hiding cells.

Two civilians killed, four soldiers wounded in bomb blasts, northeast of Diyala

by Nehal Mostafa Jun 13, 2018, 12:06 pm

Diyala (IraqiNews.com) --

Two civilians were killed, while four soldiers were wounded by mortar missiles and bomb blasts, northeast of Diyala, local officials were quoted saying on Wednesday.

Speaking to Alghad Press, Wasfi al-Tamimi, head of Qurret Tabah region, said “five mortar missiles fell, late in the night, near a military checkpoint at the outskirts of Sari Tabah village, northeast of Diyala, leaving one soldier injured.”

Moreover, “a bomb went off at the outskirts of the same village after the mortar missiles were shot, which left three soldiers injured,” he added. “The wounded were taken to hospital. Situation is under control.”

In related news, the municipal council of Khanqeen said a man and his wife were killed in a bomb blast, northeast of the province.

“A bomb exploded late on Tuesday while a vehicle, carrying a man and his wife, was passing at the outskirts of Khanqeen, northeast of the province,” Samir Mohamed Nour, head of the council, told Alghad Press.

The blast, according to Nour, “left the man and his wife immediately killed.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over the militant group, previously in December, however, observers warn that the group still poses a security threat with sleeper cells.

A report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) said 94 Iraqis were killed, while 163 others were wounded due to Violence and armed conflicts during the month of May.

18 civilians, mostly Iraqi refugees, killed in U.S. coalition airstrike on Syria

by Mohammed Ebraheem Jun 11, 2018, 4:34 pm

Baghdad (Iraqinews.com) –

About 18 civilians, mostly Iraqi refugees, were killed Monday in an airstrike launched by warplanes of the U.S.-led international coalition on Khoibra village in the southern countryside of Hasaka, Syria.

Local sources told Syria’s SANA news agency that the warplanes of the international coalition raided a school in the village of Khoibra, southeast of al-Shadadi, claiming the lives of 18 civilians, most of them are Iraqi refugees who fled from criminal acts of Islamic State and the coalition’s bombing.

In April, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi denied intentions to interfere in the domestic affairs of Syria, saying airstrikes against Islamic State will continue.

Iraq had previously announced launching airstrikes against IS locations in Syria. This came after Abadi said security troops will follow IS militants in the whole region, not only in Iraq.

The Iraqi-Syrian borders are under the control of joint troops of military and border guards.

Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks across Iraq against troops. Security reports indicate that the militant group still poses threat against stability in the country.

Abadi announced, in December, full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.

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

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Operation Roundup in Syria Continues to Target ISIS

By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, June 5, 2018 —

In Syria, Operation Roundup is in its 36th day of targeting and destroying remnants of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, Army Col. Thomas Veale, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman, told Pentagon reporters today via teleconference from Baghdad.

As a nonpermanent force, the coalition aims to enable the Iraqi security forces to be self-sufficient. Army photo by Spc. Zakia Gray “The increased operational tempo under Operation Roundup includes 225 coalition partner strikes in May,” the spokesman said. “That's a 304 percent increase over March and a 123 percent increase over April strikes. We and our partners have pounded ISIS remnants from the ground and air in relentless pursuit of their leaders and fighters.”

Sagging ISIS Morale

ISIS’ morale is low and its leaders are scurrying for their lives, he said, noting that thanks to increased coalition and partner pressure, quite a bit of ISIS traffic is now flowing west toward Syrian regime-held territory.

Veale also announced the removal of a key ISIS operative from the battlefield in Syria. Amed al-Hamdouni, a courier for ISIS senior leadership, was killed during a coalition operation May 17 near Dashisha, Syria, he said.

Al-Hamdouni carried messages among high-level ISIS leaders throughout Syria and Iraq. His death hurts ISIS leadership's ability to communicate securely and increases their risk of public exposure or further isolation, Veale said.

Turning to Iraq, Iraqi security force partners continue to provide excellent internal security and border security to protect Iraq's sovereign soil and citizens, Veale said.

Iraq’s citizens are increasingly coming home, and to date, more than 3.7 million Iraqis have returned, he said.

The spokesman emphasized Iraqi security forces’ key role in securing the Iraqi side of the border with Syria in Operation Roundup. “Iraqi border guard forces and the Iraqi army have covered the western border as our partners' ground defenses attack ISIS remnants in Syria,” he said.

Operation Reliable Partnership

The coalition also continues support to Iraq through Operation Reliable Partnership, which will enhance Iraqi forces' ability to train and equip themselves, Veale said, adding, “Reliable Partnership will build resilience and security and sustainment capabilities, as well as the growing air enterprise, security policy and operations, intelligence and counterterrorism.”

The United States views Operation Reliable Partnership as an investment in Iraq's future security and, as the successful defeat-ISIS operations have shown, is also an investment in global security, Veale said.

“We look forward to continuing the successes of this partnership,” he added.

“Our mission remains unchanged: to defeat ISIS in designated parts of Iraq and Syria, and to help set conditions for follow-on operations to increase regional stability,” the spokesman said.

 “We, the military arm of the global coalition, work by, with and through our partners to achieve and help sustain security that enables stabilization activities,” he said. “Military action will only take us so far by providing a safer environment in which to work. We now encourage the international community to take advantage of the space, time and opportunities military successes have bought.”

Veale said the coalition and its partners have dealt severe blows to ISIS. However, he added, the enemy is adaptable and determined to rise again.

“There is no doubt momentum is on our side, but we're facing a determined enemy and there is much work to do,” the spokesman said. “We're grateful for the support of the global coalition of 71 nations and four international organizations, and we are ever mindful of the sacrifices our predecessors and our partners have made.”

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