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

 

Dozens of Iraqis Killed in Attacks by Forces of Government, Peshmerga, ISIS, and US Air Strikes

June 28, 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 government militiamen, file, June 2018

 

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

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Iraqi government army, police, and Kurdish Peshmerga launch attacks against residents of Diyala and Salahuddin (Sunni Muslim Arab) provinces, using the excuse of fighting against ISIS fighters. These attacks involved various kinds of violations against the civilian residents of both provinces.  عمليات عسكرية مشتركة بمناطق عدة في ديالى 28 يونيو 2018   تشن القوات المشتركة عمليات عسكرية في مختلف المحافظات العراقية بذريعة ملاحقة مسلحي (تنظيم الدولة)، وتشهد تلك العمليات انتهاكات متنوعة بحق المواطنين، وفي هذا السياق أقرت شرطة ديالى، اليوم الخميس، بشنها حملة عسكرية في المحافظة بالتنسيق مع قوات البيشمركة في كردستان العراق. وقال قائد شرطة ديالى الفريق “مزهر العزاوي” في بيان له، إن “حملة ستنطلق ضد مسلحي (تنظيم الدولة) في المحافظة”. وأضاف العزاوي أن “قوات بيشمركة كردستان ستشارك في الحملة التي تشمل مناطق بمحافظتي ديالى وصلاح الدين”. يشار إلى أن أهالي قضاء خانقين أقاموا مؤخراً إضراباً ، احتجاجاً على تردي الأوضاع الأمنية في القضاء ومحافظة ديالى”. https://yaqein.net/politics/119948

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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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Six pro-gov’t fighters killed, wounded in Islamic State attack in Kirkuk

by Mohammed Ebraheem Jun 27, 2018, 2:02 pm

Kirkuk (Iraqinews.com) –

Six Iraqi pro-government fighters were killed and wounded Wednesday in an attack launched by Islamic State on a village in Kirkuk.

A security source told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper that “IS militants stormed al-Bashir village in southern Kirkuk, and clashed with the security forces and al-Hashd al-Shaabi fighters deployed there for two hours.”

“The fierce clashes between the two sides left a member of al-Hashd al-Shaabi dead and five others wounded,” according to the source.

The source added that the IS militants “fled the scene immediately after the attack.”

Kirkuk officials always urge reinforcing military troops in the south and west of the province, as the region still has Islamic State members who escaped during liberation of Hawija to remote areas.

The Islamic State group appeared on the international scene in 2014 when it seized large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, declaring the establishment of an Islamic “caliphate” from Mosul city.

Later on, the group has become notorious for its brutality, including mass killings, abductions and beheadings, prompting the U.S. to lead an international coalition to destroy it.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced In December full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring the end of war against IS members.

Despite the group’s crushing defeat at its main havens across Iraq, Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks against troops with security reports warning that the militant group still poses a threat against stability in the country.

Islamic State’s videographer killed in operation in Kirkuk

by Nehal Mostafa Jun 27, 2018, 1:51 pm

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) --

Iraqi security troops have killed an Islamic State member, in charge of shooting videos for the group in Kirkuk, intelligence sources from the province said on Wednesday.

Speaking to Shafaq News, the sources said security troops managed in an operation to kill a militant tasked with shooting videos for Islamic State, known as Abu Mariam al-Iraqi, who is the group’s media official in Kirkuk. The operation was carried out, based on accurate intelligence information about his presence in one of the villages in Kirkuk.

Security troops confiscated several computers and videos for Islamic State at the place, where abu Mariam was killed, according to the sources.

On Tuesday, residents of a village, south of Kirkuk, managed to blow up one of the prominent Islamic State leaders, known as Mulla Nuzad al-Jawali, as they were cooperating with mobilization forces. He was one of the leaders of the front line at the group’s military council. He worked along with other leaders who carry out abduction and attacks against villages and roads.

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.

Islamic State’s military council leader killed in confrontations, south of Kirkuk

by Nehal Mostafa Jun 26, 2018, 2:52 pm

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) --

A prominent Islamic State leader has been killed during confrontations, south of Kirkuk, a security source from the province said on Tuesday.

Speaking to AlSumaria News, the source said “residents of al-Doksh village, located between Taza and al-Rashad towns managed to blow up one of the prominent Islamic State leaders, known as Mulla Nuzad al-Jawali, as they were cooperating with mobilization forces.”

Jawali, according to the source, who preferred anonymity, “is one of the leaders of the front line at the group’s military council. He works along with other leaders who carry out abduction and attacks against villages and roads.”

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.

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.

Seven Iraqi security personnel killed, injured in Islamic State attack, east of Salahuddin

by Nehal Mostafa Jun 25, 2018, 2:52 pm

Salahuddin (IraqiNews.com) --

Seven Iraqi security personnel were killed and injured in an attack, launched by Islamic State, east of Salahuddin, the Kuwaiti Al-Watan newspaper quoted a military source as saying on Monday.

“A group of Islamic State members attacked, after midnight, several checkpoints of police and Tribal Mobilization Fighters in Mutaibija, east of Samarra,” the source from Salahuddin police command said. “Confrontations occurred between the two sides, leaving a policeman killed and six others wounded.”

Earlier this month, two PMFs personnel were killed and four others injured in an armed confrontation with Islamic State militants in al-Farhatia district, southwest of Samarra. Scores of Islamic State militants were killed and wounded.

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.

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.

Islamic State militants, civilians killed, injured in U.S.-Coalition airstrikes, east of Dair Ez-Zoa

by Nehal Mostafa Jun 21, 2018, 5:10 pm

Dair Ez-Zoa (IraqiNews.com) --

The U.S.-led Coalition has carried out four airstrikes against al-Shaafa village, near Iraqi-Syrian borders, east of Dair Ez-Zoar, leaving more than twenty Islamic State members killed, while some other civilians wounded, local sources from east of Euphrates said on Thursday.

Speaking to BasNews, the sources said the first airstrike targeted militants in the village, killing 11 militants, and injuring others, including four civilians.

The second airstrike, according to the sources, targeted a house in al-Hasya region, leaving four others, believed to be civilians, killed.

The third airstrike targeted an Islamic State vehicle on al-Ramtha road, leaving four militants killed, while two other militants were killed as the fourth airstrike targeted a vehicle.

The number of the killed people due to the airstrikes could increase as result of the serious injuries.

Islamic State controls small region, east of Deir az-Zour at the south of Hasaka near Iraqi borders, where the Syrian Democratic Forces carry out operations, backed by the U.S. coalition to get the militants out of it.

In May, SDF, backed by Washington, announced resuming the battles to retake the last pockets of IS in east of Syria, after suspending the operations when Turkey started in January attack against Efrin, controlled by the U.S.-led Coalition in northwest of Syria.

The troops announced in September launching the Operation al-Jazeera Storm to liberate the eastern countryside of Dair Ez-Zoa province.

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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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Coalition, Partners Continue Progress Against ISIS in Iraq, Syria

By Lisa Ferdinando DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, June 19, 2018 —

The coalition and its partners in Syria and Iraq are continuing to make progress in defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve said today.

The fight continues both in the Middle Euphrates River Valley in Syria as well as in Iraq, Army Col. Sean Ryan told Pentagon reporters via teleconference from Baghdad.

A coalition strike May 26 in the Middle Euphrates River Valley killed ISIS leader Abu Khattab al-Iraqi, who oversaw revenue generation for the organization through the illicit sale of oil and gas, Ryan said.

U.S. soldiers and Iraqi forces fire a howitzer at Islamic State of Iraq and Syria positions near the Iraqi-Syrian border during Operation Roundup, June 5, 2018. The soldiers are assigned to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment. Army photo by Spc. Anthony Zendejas IV

“The death of al-Iraqi degrades ISIS's ability to finance operations in Syria and Iraq and further dismantles their long-term access to reliable funding," he said.

Three other ISIS fighters affiliated with the group’s oil and gas network were killed in that strike, he added.

Iraqi Forces Focused on ISIS Defeat

Despite a significant reduction in operations during Ramadan, the Iraqis continued to identify, locate and destroy ISIS remnants throughout the country, Ryan said.

The progress includes the seizure by Iraqi forces of a large cache of weapons and explosives and the capture of a number of suspected terrorists during a raid in a village in Ninevah, the colonel said.

Additionally, Iraqi forces continue to complete vital training programs, he said. He noted coalition-led training sites throughout Iraq saw more than 8,000 trainees during Ramadan, with the sites operating at more than 100 percent capacity.

“This clearly demonstrates their commitment to providing security and stability for the country," Ryan said.

The colonel highlighted the graduation of more than 400 trainees from the counterterrorism service basic training course near Baghdad, as well as 20 sharpshooters who are recent graduates of a SWAT-designated marksman course in Mosul.

Highlighting Progress in Syria

Today is the 50th day of Operation Roundup, the effort by Syrian Democratic Forces to accelerate the defeat of ISIS in the Middle Euphrates River Valley and along the Syrian-Iraqi border, Ryan said.

"The SDF are focused on clearing the town of Dashisha near the Iraqi border where they continue to gain ground against ISIS, this week clearing more than [77 square miles] of territory since the beginning of Phase 2 of Operation Roundup," he said.

Operation Roundup began May 1. The first phase ended with the clearance of Baghuz on May 15, Ryan said.

In addition, coalition-supported forces confiscated more than $1.4 million worth of illicit drugs intended to fund ISIS activities in the region, he said.

The drugs were seized May 31 by the coalition's Maghawir al-Thowra partners during operations within the deconfliction zone near Tanf, Syria, according to a coalition news release.

Further, an Iraqi strike in the vicinity of Hajin, Syria, June 7, destroyed an ISIS command facility used to coordinate terror activities in both Iraq and Syria, Ryan said.

"We cannot emphasize enough the contributions of the [Iraqi forces] in halting the movement of fighters from the battlefield and destroying targets in Syria," he said.

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