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Scores of Iraqis Killed in Northern Provinces, as Alleged ISIS Members, in Iraqi Government Attacks, US Air Strikes

March 4, 2019

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.

 

US forces training Iraqis, file, March 3, 2019

 

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

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US forces have been training and arming Anbar tribal fighters Iraqi Member of Parliament, Muhammed Al-Bildawi, announced that US forces have been training and arming Anbar tribal fighters in Assad military base, wester Iraq. He added that this is copying the model of the (predominantly Kurdish) Syrian Democratic Forces. He objected to these efforts, saying that such task should be done by the Iraqi government, and that the Iraqi prime minister should interfere and stop it immediately, as it is an encroachment on the Iraqi sovereignty.  نائب: الأمريكان يقومون بأدوار هي من اختصاص الحكومة 03 مارس 2019  ، يقين كشف النائب في البرلمان “محمد البلداوي” ، عن معلومات تفيد بتدريب وتسليح مقاتلين من عشائر الأنبار، من قبل قوات أمريكية في قاعدة عين الأسد العسكرية غرب العراق. وأفاد “البلداوي” في لقاء صحفي أن “القوات الأمريكية في الأنبار تسعى إلى استنساخ تجربة ميليشيا “قوات سورية الديمقراطية” (قسد) المدعومة من قبلها، في العراق، من خلال استدعاء مقاتلين وزعماء قبائل محليين، لتدريبهم وتجهيزهم بالأسلحة في “عين الأسد”، متسائلاً عن وجهة هؤلاء المقاتلين الذين يتلقون التدريب على يد الأمريكيين”. وأضاف أنه “لا يوجد انتهاك للسيادة العراقية أكثر من ذلك ، وأن الأمريكيين يقومون بأدوار هي من اختصاص الحكومة العراقية المنتخبة من قبل الشعب” . وأوضح أن “الأمريكيين يريدون العودة بمناطق غرب العراق الى العام 2006، حين قاموا بتشكيل “الصحوات” العشائرية التي قاتلت تنظيم “القاعدة”، مؤكداً أن واشنطن لن تدع العراق يستقر أبدا من خلال إصرارها على التدخل في شؤونه، كما تتدخل في شؤون دول أخرى مجاورة، كإيران وسورية”. وطالب “البلداوي” رئيس الحكومة “عادل عبد المهدي” “بايقاف التدخلات الأمريكية، داعياً إلى ضمّ مقاتلي العشائر من غير المتورطين بمخالفات قانونية إلى المنظومة الأمنية ، لعزلهم عن الأمريكيين”. https://yaqein.net/politics/180670

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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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3 (alleged) Islamic State members killed while trying to infiltrate into Iraq

by Mohammed Ebraheem Mar 3, 2019, 7:40 pm

Anbar (IraqiNews.com) –

Three (alleged) Islamic State members were killed Sunday while trying to infiltrate from Syria into the western Iraqi province of Anbar, a security source was quoted as saying.

Speaking to Almaalomah news website, the source said that security forces managed to kill the trio before sneaking from the Syrian city of Al-Baghuz into Anbar province.

The arrest was made based on accurate intelligence reports, added the source.

Iraq declared the collapse of Islamic State’s territorial influence in November 2017 with the recapture of Rawa, a city on Anbar’s western borders with Syria, which was the group’s last bastion in Iraq.

IS declared a self-styled “caliphate” in a third of Iraq and neighboring Syria in 2014. A government campaign, backed by a U.S.-led international coalition and paramilitary forces, was launched in 2016 to retake IS-held regions, managing to retake all havens, most notably the city of Mosul, the group’s previously proclaimed capital.

International coalition kills seven (alleged) Islamic State fighters in Iraq

by Mohammed Ebraheem Feb 27, 2019, 9:30 pm

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) –

(Alleged) Seven Islamic State militants were killed Wednesday in an airstrike that targeted their hotbed in al-Siniya Island in the Iraqi province of Salahuddin.

“Jet fighters of the U.S.-led international coalition targeted an underground hotbed of Islamic State in the town of Tal Aswad in Salahuddin province, leaving seven terrorists killed,” Mawazin News quoted the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service as saying in a statement.

“The troops also found a large cache of explosive charges inside the hotbed,” the statement read, adding that all the explosives have been successfully detonated inside one of the buildings, which was used by IS militants as a hideout.

Iraq declared the collapse of Islamic State’s territorial influence in November 2017 with the recapture of Rawa, a city on Anbar’s western borders with Syria, which was the group’s last bastion in Iraq.

IS declared a self-styled “caliphate” in a third of Iraq and neighboring Syria in 2014. A government campaign, backed by a U.S.-led international coalition and paramilitary forces, was launched in 2016 to retake IS-held regions, managing to retake all havens, most notably the city of Mosul, the group’s previously proclaimed capital.

Mortar attack kills two Iraqi civilians in Baqubah city

by Mohammed Ebraheem Feb 27, 2019, 7:46 pm

Diyala (IraqiNews.com) –

Two Iraqi civilians were killed and three others wounded in a mortal attack on a village in the Iraqi city of Baqubah, a security source said.

In statements to the Palestinian Wattan news agency, the source said that several mortar shells fell on a village on the outskirts of Buhrez district, south of Baqubah, killing two people and wounding three others.

All the wounded were moved to a nearby hospital for treatment, added the source.

In January 2015, Iraqi forces announced liberation of Diyala province from Islamic State extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

The province has seen months of fighting between Iraqi troops and IS militants especially in the Jalawla and Saadiyah areas in the province’s north and areas near the town of Muqdadiyah.

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.

Bomb attack wounds three Iraqi mobilization forces in Anbar

by Mohammed Ebraheem Feb 25, 2019, 1:29 pm

Anbar (IraqiNews.com) –

Three members of the paramilitary Popular Mobilization Forces were wounded Monday as a bomb blast targeted their security patrol vehicle in the western Iraqi province of Anbar, a security source was quoted as saying.

Speaking to Almaalomah news website, the source said that an explosive charge left by Islamic State militants went off when a security patrol vehicle of the Popular Mobilization Forces was passing by al-Tharthar area in northern Ramadi.

“The bomb attack left three PMF members wounded,” the source said, adding that the trio were moved to a nearby hospital for treatment.

“The security forces cordoned off the blast site and started a search for any other explosives at the scene,” the source added.

Iraq declared the collapse of Islamic State’s territorial influence in November 2017 with the recapture of Rawa, a city on Anbar’s western borders with Syria, which was the group’s last bastion in Iraq.

Islamic State declared a self-styled “caliphate” in a third of Iraq and neighboring Syria in 2014. A government campaign, backed by a U.S.-led international coalition and paramilitary forces, was launched in 2016 to retake IS-held regions, managing to retake all havens, most notably the city of Mosul, the group’s previously proclaimed capital.

5 (alleged) Islamic State militants killed in clashes with tribal fighters in western Iraq

by Mohammed Ebraheem Feb 20, 2019, 8:14 pm

Anbar (IraqiNews.com) –

Five (alleged) Islamic State members were killed Wednesday in clashes with Iraqi tribal fighters in the western province of Anbar, a military commander was quoted as saying.

The clashes, which erupted in Wadi Huraan, west of Anbar, left two of the paramilitary Tribal Mobilization Forces wounded, the commander told Al Ekhbaria TV channel.

The commander gave no further details about the clashes.

Iraq declared the collapse of Islamic State’s territorial influence in November 2017 with the recapture of Rawa, a city on Anbar’s western borders with Syria, which was the group’s last bastion in Iraq. IS declared a self-styled “caliphate” in a third of Iraq and neighboring Syria in 2014. A government campaign, backed by a U.S.-led international coalition and paramilitary forces, was launched in 2016 to retake IS-held regions, managing to retake all havens, most notably the city of Mosul, the group’s previously proclaimed capital.

Iraqi troops kill seven (alleged) Islamic State militants in Ninawah

by Mohammed Ebraheem Feb 18, 2019, 12:11 pm

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) –

Seven (alleged) Islamic State militants were killed and three others were arrested as they tried to launch an armed attack on security forces in the Iraqi province of Ninawah.

“Security forces repelled an attack launched by Islamic State militants in Shaikh Ibrahim desert town in Tel Afar district, west of Mosul, killing seven IS attackers and arresting three others,” a security source told German Press Agency (DPA).

It’s not known if there were casualties among the security forces, the source added.

In December 2017, former Iraqi prime minister Haidar al-Abadi announced full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring the end of war against IS members.

Isolated cells believed to be linked to the Islamic State group remain active in some parts of the country. In recent weeks, suspected Islamic State insurgents have carried out several attacks targeting security forces in different parts of Iraq.

Iraqi security forces kill four (alleged) suicide bombers in Mosul

by Mohammed Ebraheem Feb 17, 2019, 10:42 pm

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) –

Iraqi security forces killed on Sunday four (alleged) suicide bombers, who planned to carry out separate terrorist attacks in Mosul city, a security source said.

Speaking to Al Madar news website, the source said that three suicide bombers wearing explosive belts were killed before they could blow themselves up near a security checkpoint in Badush city, west of Mosul.

The source added that another suicide bomber driving a booby-trapped vehicle was also killed in the city as he planned to target the security forces stationed there.

Former Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi announced in July 2017 liberation of the second largest Iraqi city of Mosul from IS militants, who had captured it in 2014.

More than 25,000 militants were killed throughout the campaign, which started in October 2016.

The campaign was backed by paramilitary troops and a U.S.-led international coalition.

Iraq declared the collapse of Islamic State’s territorial influence in Iraq in November 2017 with the recapture of Rawa, a city on Anbar’s western borders with Syria, which was the group’s last bastion in Iraq.

Iraqi airstrike kills four (alleged) Islamic State militants in Diyala

by Mohammed Ebraheem Feb 16, 2019, 7:00 pm

Diyala (IraqiNews.com) –

Four (alleged) members of Islamic State (IS) were killed Saturday in an airstrike that targeted a hotbed in the Iraqi province of Diyala, a security source was quoted as saying.

Speaking to Baghdad Today news website, the source said that the Iraqi Air Force targeted a hotbed of Islamic State on the outskirts of al-Waqf basin, northeast of Baqubah, leaving four IS terrorists killed.

The source added that the air raid is the third to be launched against Islamic State militants in al-Waqf basin since the start of 2019.

In January 2015, Iraqi forces announced liberation of Diyala province from Islamic State extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

The province has seen months of fighting between Iraqi troops and IS militants especially in the Jalawla and Saadiyah areas in the province’s north and areas near the town of Muqdadiyah.

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.

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

and US Centcom Press releases (http://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/):

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CJTF-OIR Strike Summary Feb. 10 - 23, 2019

Release No: 19-012 Feb. 28, 2019
February 27, 2019
Release # 20190227-01
 
SOUTHWEST ASIA – Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners continue to target and pursue the enduring defeat of Daesh.
 
CJTF-OIR and its partner forces' operations are exerting pressure on Daesh senior leaders and associates, as well as degrading, disrupting and dismantling Daesh organizational structures throughout Iraq and Syria.
 
CJTF-OIR remains committed to the enduring defeat of Daesh to improve conditions for peace and stability in the region, and to protect all our homelands from Daesh's terrorist threat.
 
Strike Summary
 
Between Feb. 10 - 23, 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted 211 strikes consisting of 451 engagements against Daesh targets in Syria and Iraq.
 
In Syria, CJTF-OIR conducted 186 strikes consisting of 426 engagements, engaged 285 Daesh tactical units, and destroyed 189 fighting positions, 50 supply routes, 22 staging areas, 16 boats, 15 vehicles, six tankers for petroleum oil and lubricants, six aircraft operations areas, six vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, four command and control nodes, three weapons caches, three heavy machine guns, three pieces of engineering equipment, two buildings, two tunnels, one cave, one improvised explosive devices facility and one petroleum oil and lubricant storage facility.          
 
In Iraq, CJTF-OIR conducted 25 strikes consisting of 25 engagements, engaged 19 Daesh tactical units, and destroyed 18 tunnels and caves.
 
Between Feb. 10 - 23, 2019, CJTF-OIR detected 342 strikes from other actors that crossed the Euphrates River Valley. CJTF-OIR is committed to avoiding and in every case minimizing civilian casualties; CJTF-OIR calls on all other actors in the area to observe the same precautions. 

CJTF-OIR Strike Summary Jan. 27 - Feb. 9, 2019

Release No: 19-010 Feb. 13, 2019
February 13, 2019
Release # 20190213-01
 
SOUTHWEST ASIA – Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners continue to target and pursue the enduring defeat of ISIS.
 
CJTF-OIR and its partner forces' operations are exerting pressure on ISIS senior leaders and associates, as well as degrading, disrupting and dismantling ISIS organizational structures throughout Iraq and Syria.
 
CJTF-OIR remains committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS to improve conditions for peace and stability in the region, and to protect all our homelands from ISIS's terrorist threat.
 
Strike Summary
 
Between Jan. 27 - Feb. 9, 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted 199 strikes consisting of 326 engagements against ISIS targets in Syria and Iraq.
 
In Syria, CJTF-OIR conducted 179 strikes consisting of 303 engagements, engaged 146 ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 131 supply routes, 53 fighting positions, 31 staging areas, 14 vehicle borne improvised explosive devices, 13 engineering equipment, 11 explosive belts, nine tankers for petroleum oil and lubricants, eight tactical vehicles, five command and control nodes, four buildings, three aircrafts operations areas, three tunnels, two petroleum oil and lubricant storage facilities, two manufacturing facilities for improvised explosive devices, two artilleries, two weapons caches and one armored vehicle.
 
In Iraq, CJTF-OIR conducted 20 strikes consisting of 23 engagements, engaged four ISIS tactical units, and destroyed 14 supply routes, three buildings, one weapon cache, one tunnel and one fighting position.
 
Between Jan. 27 - Feb. 9, 2019, CJTF-OIR detected 262 strikes from other actors that crossed the Euphrates River Valley. CJTF-OIR is committed to avoiding and in every case minimizing civilian casualties; CJTF-OIR calls on all other actors in the area to observe the same precautions.
 
This Coalition strike release contains all strikes conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing, or remotely piloted aircraft, rocket propelled artillery and ground-based tactical artillery.

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