ISIS growing stronger and more organised in Middle East

[Anthea]

ISIS WILL RISE AGAIN

SHAMIMA Begum's husband says ISIS' caliphate will rise again and that he hopes the couple can return to their "beautiful" life together

Yago Riedijk, 29, a jihadi fighter from the Netherlands, married the British fanatic, then aged just 15, shortly after she arrived in Syria.

He has been rotting in the Kurdish-run al-Roj prison in the north of the country since the fall of the so-called caliphate in 2019.

Speaking to Alan Duncan - the British filmmaker who has interviewed dozens of western jihadis - Yago admits that some ISIS terror attacks on the West were not "Islamicly responsible" because innocent women and children were killed.

Chillingly, when asked if ISIS was finished he replied "no" before adding he would like to see the caliphate rise again but that it should adhere to "Islamic traditions."

Speaking of his marriage to Shamima, he said: "There were some nice days with my wife and kids at home. Some beautiful memories."

'BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES'

Yago said he dreams of having a family with his wife and insists he would happily settle in any country with her.

He said: “If I cannot go home, any place with my wife would be my home.

“Start a family again.”

The ISIS fighter refused to condemn the group's use of underage Yazidis sex slaves replying with "no comment".

Nearly 3,000 Yazidi women and children are still missing after ISIS committed genocide in the Sinjar area of northern Iraq.

He was similarly non committal when asked about the beheadings of western charity workers and journalists by the group.

On the subject of terror attacks on the West, he said: "Personally, I don't agree with these attacks for a couple of reasons.

"The prohibition of killing innocent people in Islam, women and children.

"I see these attacks as not being Islamicly responsible [sic]."

'ISIS WILL RISE AGAIN'

In a 2019 interview, Shamima said the horrific attack on Manchester Arena was "justified" because of airstrikes on ISIS-held areas in Syria and Iraq.

Alan told The Sun Online that Yago was a "Jekyll and Hyde" character.

He said: "He was calm at some points but you can see he wants to explode at times

"He has no empathy, no sympathy for the victims

"But he was trying to hold back his hatred for anyone who is against ISIS."

Yago discussed first meeting his wife in war-torn Raqqa in 2015 when they agreed on the conditions of their arranged marriage.

The Dutch-born fighter agreed to let the Brit 15-year-old go shopping and see her friends before they tied the knot.

The pair had three children together however all of the babies died in the war zone.

Shamima, now aged 22, is being held in a camp in north-east Syria after being stripped of her British citizenship.

Alan Duncan spoke to Yago in October 2020 before his London-born wife lost her appeal to return to the UK at the Supreme Court earlier this year.

When asked what message he’d send to his wife, he says: “Stay strong, even though it’s very difficult all the things we’ve been through.

“I’d tell her to make use of your time, do whatever you can and learn whatever you can in order to build a future for yourself…for us.

“In terms of taking care of future children, in terms of being a future housewife.”

Yago, who grew up in the idyllic suburbs of Holland, is one of thousands of Western fanatics jailed in northern Syria and is desperate to come back to Europe.

The brainwashed extremist fought for ISIS in the city of Kobane near the Turkish border, where he was injured.

He told Alan – who battled ISIS for the Kurdish-led Peshmerga – that he would like to be sent back to the Netherlands where he could be jailed for as little as six years for joining the terror group.

Alan, a former British Army soldier from Scotland, rescued a Yazidi sex slave named Naveen in al-Hawl compound which was packed with extremists.

She has been reunited with her family and husband after years of abuse at the hands of ISIS

Ex-squaddie Alan has interviewed dozens of jailed ISIS militants on camera in camps in north-east Syria.

Link to Article - Photos:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/16680316/ ... aves-isis/

[Anthea]

Iraqi forces target ISIS

Iraqi forces on Wednesday launched another security operation north of Baghdad to clear out Islamic State (ISIS) remnants from a hotspot for the militant group

The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi in Arabic) pursued ISIS sleeper cells in a new operation in northeastern Diyala to the east of Hamrin Lake, state media reported as the security forces aim to search and secure the area from the terror group.

ISIS seized control of swathes of Iraq in 2014. The group was declared territorially defeated in 2017 but it continues to carry out bombings, hit-and-run attacks, and abductions across several provinces.

Two ISIS officials were arrested in Nineveh on Tuesday night, according to Security Media Cell.

Diyala, which is an area disputed between Erbil and Baghdad, sees frequent security operations where militant cells are destroyed and ISIS members are arrested.

On Sunday, Iraqi security forces concluded a two-day operation in the Hamrin mountain range where they destroyed 18 ISIS hideouts and seized rockets, equipment, and other explosives.

The PMF also conducted a large security operation in the mountain range earlier this month, which came a week after ISIS killed 15 people and injured 17 others in a bloody attack on Diyala's Miqdadiyah.

The incident was followed by another offensive on Kurdish forces in Kirkuk, another disputed area, where ISIS killed two members of the Peshmerga forces. The lack of coordination between Iraqi and Kurdish forces is blamed for leaving the troops vulnerable to attack.

In July, the Peshmerga ministry said they were working with their Iraqi counterparts on the formation of two joint brigades to counter ISIS remnants in these disputed areas. The deputy Peshmerga minister had said the brigade will be formed after Iraq's October 10 election.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/17112021

[Anthea]

ISIS financier arrested in Syria

Kurdish forces and the US-led global coalition against the Islamic State group (ISIS) arrested a suspected financier of the terror group in Syria’s eastern province of Deir ez-Zor, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Wednesday

“This morning has seen yet another successful #Asayish operation supported by the @Coalition,” read a tweet from the Kurdish-led SDF, referring to local security forces and their international allies. “An #ISIS financier has been captured in #DeirEzzour, stopping the funding of terror and protecting the people.”

Kurdish forces in northeast Syria (Rojava), in coordination with the coalition, have carried out a number of recent raids against ISIS. Two days ago, the SDF said they arrested 57 ISIS suspects in October, prevented two car bombs, and foiled ISIS prison breaks and “a new outbreak of terror.”

The increased military operations against ISIS signal a surge in the group’s activities in the region.

According to the latest Pentagon report on the fight against ISIS, the militants’ activities “significantly” decreased from July to September 2021, but, citing the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), it said “there were signs that the group is ‘poised to increase activity in the coming quarter after a period of recuperation and recovery.’”

“The DIA said that ISIS moved some of its fighters during the quarter from the Syrian desert back into Iraq and northeastern Syria, which ISIS perceives to be important operating environments,” added the report.

ISIS seized control of swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, declaring a so-called caliphate in 2014. The terror group was territorially defeated in Iraq in 2017 and Syria in two years later.

The SDF is the main ally of the US-led coalition in the fight against ISIS on the ground in Syria.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeas ... /241120211

[Anthea]

ISIS attack on Diyala

Four Peshmerga were injured in an Islamic State (ISIS) attack in Diyala province on Saturday, the ministry stated

Militants attacked the Peshmerga in the Kolajo sub-district at around 10:15pm, a commander of the 5th brigade told Rudaw. A Peshmerga vehicle bringing reinforcements hit a roadside bomb, he added.

The Peshmerga forces gained control of the situation after clashes with ISIS fighters, but four of their rank were injured, the ministry stated.

ISIS seized control of swaths of land in Iraq in 2014. It was declared territorially defeated in 2017, but continues to carry out bombings, hit-and-run attacks, and abductions across several provinces. It is especially active in parts of northern Iraq that are disputed by Erbil and Baghdad, including in the provinces of Kirkuk, Diyala, and Salahaddin.

Earlier this month, ISIS claimed responsibility for an October attack in which two Peshmerga were killed. ISIS also attacked Peshmerga forces on the Kifri-Garmaser border between Sulaimani and Diyala provinces earlier this month.

Iraqi security forces on November 3 launched an operation in northeastern Diyala province to clear out terror elements following an ISIS attack that left more than a dozen of the area’s residents dead and several others injured.

Peshmerga officials have blamed deadly ISIS attacks on a lack of coordination between them and Iraqi forces. Efforts to form joint brigades in the disputed areas began earlier this year, but have stalled. In September, Deputy Peshmerga Minister Sarbast Lazgin said brigades would be formed after Iraq’s October 10 election. Joint coordination centres established in the disputed areas earlier this year are “not functioning optimally due to a lack of clarity of the roles and responsibilities of the officers assigned to them,” the Pentagon stated in its latest report on anti-ISIS operations.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/271120213

[Anthea]

Deadly ISIS Attack

ISIS carried out deadly attack on villagers, Peshmerga in Makhmour

The Islamic State (ISIS) militants attacked civilians and Peshmerga forces in two villages of Makhmour town in Erbil province late Thursday, killing and injuring a number of them, according to locals and a military commander.

Sirwan Barzani, commander of Peshmerga forces in Makhmour, told Rudaw that ISIS attacked them and that they are currently responding to the attack. “There are martyrs and injuries among civilians and Peshmerga,” he said.

The Liheban and Khidirjija villages in Qarachogh area were attacked. A villager from the latter spoke to Rudaw on the condition of anonymity saying ISIS “attacked and hit a house with RPGs, causing martyrs and injuries.”

Villagers told Rudaw that they confronted ISIS militants while Peshmerga forces were on their way. A Peshmerga base in the area was attacked as well.

Hussein Jawad, a Peshmerga commander in Makhmour, told Rudaw that three villagers - all brothers - were killed in the attack, adding that "when Peshmerga forces were on their way to the battlefield, their vehicle experienced an accident which caused the martyrdom of a Peshmerga fighter" and the injury of a number of others.

ISIS has increased attacks against Peshmerga forces recently, especially this week, killing several fighters. ISIS has claimed responsibility for some of them.

ISIS seized control of swaths of land in Iraq in 2014. It was declared territorially defeated in 2017, but continues to carry out bombings, hit-and-run attacks, and abductions across several provinces. It is especially active in parts of northern Iraq that are disputed by Erbil and Baghdad, including in the provinces of Kirkuk, Diyala, and Salahaddin.

Peshmerga officials have blamed deadly ISIS attacks on a lack of coordination between them and Iraqi forces. Efforts to form joint brigades in the disputed areas began earlier this year, but have stalled.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/021220212

[Anthea]

Attacks on Peshmerga on the rise

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Fatal attacks by the Islamic State (ISIS) group against Kurdish Peshmerga forces have been on the rise, according to officials

“We’ve been warning that ISIS [militants] are reorganizing since 2018. They have now reorganized in all the areas,” says Mohammed Syasi, a Peshmerga commander on the Qaratapa-Hamrin front.

“They bring groups of gunmen from Syria every now and then. As we have learned, there was a group known as Jundullah [Army of God] that previously did not support ISIS. Now they are allied with ISIS,” he added. “It is said that 200 militants have been brought from Syria to Iraq.”

Several Peshmerga fighters and three civilians were also killed with others injured in another ISIS attack in Erbil’s Makhmour town late on Thursday night.

Peshmerga forces in Sulaimani's Garmiyan administration were last attacked by ISIS on November 11.

The attack resulted in the deaths of two Peshmerga and injuries to two others.

Similarly, on November 27th, ISIS killed six Peshmerga and injured four in an attack in Diyala province.

As a result of recent ISIS attacks on Peshmerga, the forces have strengthened their positions in the area.

Militants often take advantage of security gaps between Iraqi forces and the Peshmerga. Occasionally, they attack surrounding villages, bringing about chaos.

Ibrahim Ahmed, a Peshmerga commander on the Qaratapa-Hamrin front, says over 100-150 militants are present in the area.

“They make chaos. They destroy people's social stability. They are not a defending force. They attack and retreat. Their living quarters are in the Gharra area [near Kifri]. People definitely help them,” he said.

“I don’t want to disclose their ethnicity. They are a mix of different ethnicities. There are Kurds, Turks, Arabs, Shiites, and Sunnies among them. Their food comes from these [neighboring] countries,” the commander added.

ISIS seized control of swaths of land in Iraq in 2014. The group was declared territorially defeated in 2017, but continues to carry out bombings, hit-and-run attacks, and abductions across several provinces.

Link to Article - Video:

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/041220211

[Anthea]

Two soldiers killed in Kirkuk ISIS attack

Islamic State (ISIS) militants on Tuesday launched an attack on the Iraqi forces in Kirkuk province, killing two soldiers, a security official told Rudaw as the terror group’s resurgence threatens the stability of the country and terrorize civilians in disputed areas

A number ISIS militants attacked Dibis town in Kirkuk, killing two Iraqi soldiers, an officer from Kirkuk police told Rudaw on the condition of anonymity.

The terror group attacked the forces from “two sides,” the source noted.

ISIS attacks have been on the rise recently, especially in territories disputed between Erbil and Baghdad.

Hours before the Iraqi army was targeted, a number of Katyusha rockets believed to have been fired by ISIS militants landed near the bases of Peshmerga forces on the outskirts of Prde town in Kirkuk, Peshmerga commander Nuri Hama Ali told Rudaw.

Another commander said the rockets landed at around 7:00 pm. No casualties or injuries were reported.

No group has claimed responsibility for the recent two attacks.

Meanwhile sirens blared from the US consulate in Erbil, according to a Rudaw English reporter who was in the vicinity of the compound on Tuesday night.

ISIS seized control of swaths of land in Iraq in 2014. It was declared territorially defeated in 2017, but it remains a serious security threat, especially in areas where there is a security vacuum between Erbil and Baghdad. It has recently increased its attacks on the Kurdish forces.

The terror group on Tuesday claimed responsibility for an attack on Peshmerga in Kirkuk late on Sunday, killing four of them. The militant group also claimed responsibility for a Thursday attack on two villages in southwest Erbil near the disputed territory of Makhmour that left 10 Peshmerga fighters and three civilians dead.

Kurdish and Iraqi officials have blamed the attacks on the security vacuum between Erbil and Baghdad, holding a high-level security meeting to ramp up cooperation in these areas.

The deadly ISIS offensives come as America prepares to withdraw its combat troops by the end of the year, as the coalition formally shifts its mission focus to advising and assisting Iraqi forces. There are currently about 2,500 US troops in Iraq, including in the Kurdistan Region. It is not immediately clear whether the shift in roles will change the number of American soldiers in the country.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/071220214

[Anthea]

US reaffirms support for Peshmerga

The United States said it will continue to support the Peshmerga and Iraqi forces in their fight against terror in a letter received by the Kurdish prime minister on Tuesday as America’s mission in the country formally shifts away from combat into an advisory role

Sent by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, the letter comes at a time where Islamic State (ISIS) attacks on the Peshmerga forces are on the rise, especially in areas disputed between Erbil and Baghdad with 22 Kurdish soldiers killed in the past two weeks.

America will continue to assist the Peshmerga and Iraqi forces in confronting ISIS, particularly in the fields of “consulting, information exchange and intelligence,” read a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) that was sent to Rudaw.

Austin also emphasized the importance of maintaining the strong relation the Kurdistan Region and America share, as well as America’s cooperation in confronting ISIS, it added.

Washington has maintained a strong relationship with the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. The US has provided the Kurdish Peshmerga with several rounds of military aid over the years, namely in the fight against ISIS beginning in 2014. The coalition gave over 200 vehicles, including Humvees, water tankers and transport trucks to the Kurdish fighters in July and September.

The terror group was territorially defeated in 2017, but it remains a serious security threat, especially in areas where there is a security vacuum between Erbil and Baghdad. It has recently increased its attacks on the Kurdish forces.

ISIS attacked Peshmerga in Kirkuk late on Sunday, killing four of them. The militant group also claimed responsibility for a Thursday attack on two villages in southwest Erbil near the disputed territory of Makhmour that left 10 Peshmerga fighters and three civilians dead.

Austin and Barzani previously discussed the security of areas of Iraq and the Region that remain a hotspot for ISIS activities in November.

The deadly ISIS offensives come as the US prepares to withdraw its combat troops by the end of the year, as the coalition formally shifts its mission focus to advising and assisting Iraqi forces. There are currently about 2,500 US troops in Iraq, including in the Kurdistan Region. It is not immediately clear whether the shift in roles will change the number of American soldiers in the country.

The US is under pressure to withdraw from Iraq. However, several Iraqi and Kurdish officials have said Iraq still needs the assistance of the US-led coalition against ISIS.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/071220212

[Anthea]

US-Kurdish killed ISIS fighters

Kurdish counterterrorism forces and the global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) on Monday killed five members of a “dangerous” cell in a joint raid against the group in eastern Syria, according to a statement from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)

The Kurdish-led SDF said in the statement that a “dangerous” ISIS cell was hiding near al-Busayrah town in Deir ez-Zor province. “After investigations, information gathering, and careful follow-up of wanted persons during the last period, the cell’s whereabouts were raided with air support.”

The ISIS fighters fired at the raiding forces who responded and killed five members of the cell, “most of whom were wearing explosive belts,” according to the SDF which said in the statement that the raid followed recent ISIS activities against civil and service institutions in the town.

Al-Busayrah is located on the banks of the Euphrates where ISIS remains active despite the group’s territorial defeat in 2019. The SDF and coalition forces have conducted several raids in Deir ez-Zor recently. They have also conducted a number of joint patrols in the area this month.

An accurate Sec-operation targeted a dangerous #Daesh cell beside #Al_Busaira in #Deir_Ezzor, the operation conducted by #SDF & #Int_Coalition with air back-up.
The cell shoot with no obey for safe exit call.
Our forces shoot back on fire source which led to kill of 5 of them.
— Coordination & Military Ops Center - SDF (@cmoc_sdf) December 13, 2021

Four members of a family were also killed in the joint raid, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), including two who were targeted by coalition gunfire from a helicopter while trying to flee on a motorbike.

ISIS seized control of swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, declaring a so-called caliphate in 2014. The terror group was territorially defeated in Iraq in 2017 and Syria two years later.

The SDF is the main ally of the US-led coalition in the fight against ISIS on the ground in Syria.

The increased military operations against ISIS signal a surge in the group’s activities in the region.

According to the latest Pentagon report on the fight against ISIS, the militants’ activities “significantly” decreased from July to September 2021, but, citing the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), it said “there were signs that the group is ‘poised to increase activity in the coming quarter after a period of recuperation and recovery.’”

“The DIA said that ISIS moved some of its fighters during the quarter from the Syrian desert back into Iraq and northeastern Syria, which ISIS perceives to be important operating environments,” added the report.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/13122021

[Anthea]

Two ISIS arms smugglers arrested

Kurdish counterterrorism forces conducted operations against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Erbil province, arresting two arms smugglers of the group, the anti-ISIS global coalition said on Thursday

The Directorate General of Counter Terrorism] conducted operations in the Al Zaytun area of Erbil, Iraq which resulted in the capture of two Daesh arms smugglers. These operations deny Daesh the ability to smuggle, store and transport weapons," read a tweet from the Special Operations Joint Task Force-Levant.

This comes weeks after ISIS killed at least 20 members of Peshmerga forces and three civilians in areas disputed between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, especially areas which border Erbil city.

ISIS claimed on its propaganda channel on Telegram earlier this month that it has killed 23 members of Peshmerga and injured 14 others in the disputed areas in nine days.

ISIS seized control of swaths of land in Iraq in 2014. It was declared territorially defeated in 2017, but continues to carry out bombings, hit-and-run attacks, and abductions across several provinces.

Peshmerga officials have blamed the deadly ISIS attacks on a lack of coordination between them and Iraqi forces in the disputed areas.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/161220211

[Anthea]

ISIS-affiliated group arrested in Erbil

Security forces arrested a group affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) in Erbil. This group was responsible for the July explosion in Baghdad and was planning to carry out more terrorist acts, the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) said on Saturday

“This group bought weaponry and military equipment and were sending them to Baghdad,” KRSC wrote in a video confession of the group published on Facebook, adding that they were “planning to carry out more terrorist acts in the future.”

“They were a security group. They had set up checkpoints before in the city of Erbil and provided them with suicide bombers,” said the statement.

“One of the terrorist acts of this group is one of their suicide bombers, called Hidayat, blew himself up in Baghdad’s Sadr city” on July 19. That attack in Sadr City’s al-Wahilat market killed around 30 people.”

One of those arrested, Adam Sleman, known as Abu Islam from Erbil, said he got into “jihad” through ISIS-affiliated channels. “They trusted me; they knew my father who was in Ansar al-Islam before.”

He added that he sat down with a friend of his, Mohammed Shaaban known as Abu Hajar, who remains at large. “We sat down together to form a group inside Erbil that is affiliated with the Islamic State and works for the Islamic State.”

Multiple ISIS suspects have recently been arrested across the Kurdistan Region, including in Erbil. Last week, Kurdish counterterrorism forces conducted operations against ISIS in Erbil province, arresting two arms smugglers of the group.

The terror group seized control of swaths of land in Iraq in 2014. It was declared territorially defeated in 2017 but continues to carry out bombings, hit-and-run attacks, and abductions across several provinces.

ISIS has killed at least 20 members of Peshmerga forces and three civilians in areas disputed between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, especially areas that border Erbil city.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/181220212

[Anthea]

Iraqi foils ISIS attack

Iraqi security forces late Monday foiled an Islamic State (ISIS) attack in the northeast of Iraq, state media reported as the militant group continues to threaten the security of the country

The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi in Arabic) foiled an ISIS attack in Diyala’s village of al-Ma’adan on the outskirts of al-Sadiyah town.

The forces did not disclose further details on how the attack was conducted, but there are no reports of injuries or casualties.

ISIS seized control of swaths of land in Iraq in 2014. It was declared territorially defeated in 2017, but continues to carry out bombings, hit-and-run attacks, and abductions across several provinces.

Diyala is among the territories disputed by the Iraqi and Kurdish governments. Security forces frequently carry out operations against ISIS in these areas, but there is a lack of coordination between Iraqi and Kurdish forces that is blamed for leaving the troops vulnerable to attack.

The terror group launches frequent attacks in the province, targeting the Peshmerga forces. Seven Kurdish fighters were killed in two separate Diyala attacks late last month.

Iraqi security forces on November 3 launched an operation in northeastern Diyala province to clear out terror elements following an ISIS attack that left more than a dozen of the area’s residents dead and several others injured.

Peshmerga officials have blamed the deadly ISIS attacks on a lack of coordination between them and Iraqi forces in the disputed areas. Efforts to form joint brigades in the disputed areas began earlier this year, but have since stalled.

In it's propaganda magazine on Thursday, ISIS claimed to have conducted 9 attacks in Iraq from December 9 to December 15, killing and injuring 25 people.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/21122021

[Anthea]

ISIS attacks Hashd in Salahaddin

The Islamic State group (ISIS) militants attacked the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi) in Salahaddin province late Wednesday, killing two fighters, the pro-Iran Shiite group said in a statement

Hashd said in the statement that ISIS attacked their forces in al-Fathah district of Salahaddin, killing two of its fighters and injuring four others “during confrontations.”

“A force from the [Hashd] brigade carried out a security operation to pursue the terrorist organization's cells following its latest attack,” it added.

ISIS seized control of swathes of land in Iraq in 2014. It was declared territorially defeated in 2017, but continues to carry out bombings, hit-and-run attacks, and abductions across several provinces. It is especially active in parts of northern Iraq that are disputed by Erbil and Baghdad, including in the provinces of Kirkuk, Diyala, and Salahaddin.

The extremist group has increased its attacks against Iraqi Army, Hashd and Peshmerga recently - especially in the disputed areas. The increase in ISIS activities comes as the US-led coalition is formally shifting its combat role in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to focus on military advising and training.

In its propaganda magazine on Thursday, ISIS claimed to have conducted 9 attacks in Iraq from December 9 to December 15, killing and injuring 25 people.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/221220212

[Anthea]

Five ISIS arrested in Kirkuk

Iraqi forces arrested five Islamic State (ISIS), including a health worker that has admitted to treating ill and wounded members of the militant group, Iraqi Security Media Cell said on Thursday

Five people were arrested "for their affiliation with ISIS terrorists" in an operation carried out by the Federal Intelligence and Investigation Agency in the Ministry of Interior, read a statement from the cell, published on their Telegram channel.

Four of the suspects worked in the terror group's ranks in Kirkuk, partaking in several attacks while the fifth was an employee at the Iraqi health ministry.

The health worker admitted to treating sick and injured ISIS members, "as well as providing them with medicines and medical equipment, taking advantage of his position at the health ministry," noted the statement.

ISIS seized control of swaths of land in Iraq in 2014. It was declared territorially defeated in 2017, but it remains a serious security threat.

Multiple ISIS suspects have recently been arrested across Iraq.

Security forces arrested a group affiliated with ISIS in the Kurdish capital on Saturday. Two ISIS arms smugglers were also captured in Erbil last week.

The arrests followed a surge in ISIS attacks against the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, exploiting the security vacuum in territories disputed between Baghdad and Erbil.

Earlier this month, the group attacked the Peshmerga forces in Kirkuk, resulting in deaths and injuries. ISIS has killed 22 Kurdish fighters since November 27.

Two Iraqi soldiers were also killed in an ISIS attack in Kirkuk.

Kurdish and Iraqi officials held a high-level security meeting to ramp up cooperation in disputed areas.

In its propaganda magazine on Thursday, ISIS claimed to have conducted 9 attacks in Iraq from December 9 to December 15, killing and injuring 25 people.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/231220212

[Anthea]

Another ISIS leader arrested

One of the leaders of the Islamic State (ISIS) involved in the 2014 attack on the Kurdish town of Kobane in Western Kurdistan has been arrested by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)

Farhad Shami, the head of SDF Media Center, said in a tweet on Saturday that “our forces announce the arresting of one of the most dangerous Daesh’s emirs who had participated in the 2014 attack against Kobane & committed many massacres against our people in Western Kurdistan.”

Shami did not clarify when and where the ISIS leader was detained. However, he added that his “confessions” will be released soon.

The ISIS leader, named Mohammed Abd al-Awwad and known as Rashid, admitted to being the officer of terrorist operations in the militant group, the SDF said in a statement published along with his confession video.

He was tasked to arrange an operation to storm a prison holding ISIS members in Hasaka, as well as “securing weapons and ammunition and leading the ‘suicide bombers’ in the possible attack," the forces noted. Fourteen suicide bombers and two bombs were prepared for the attack.

ISIS seized control of swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, declaring a so-called caliphate in 2014. In mid-September that year, the group began laying siege to Kobane, in Syria’s Aleppo province, taking village after village as they slowly tightened a noose around the city. Thousands of civilians fled across the border to Turkey.

With the help of the coalition and Peshmerga forces, the YPG - backbone of the SDF - defeated ISIS militants in the city on January 26, 2015. This was the first major military defeat of ISIS, and Kobane made headlines around the world, becoming a symbol of victory over the terror group.

The weeks of battle to free Kobane left some 70 percent of the city destroyed. The local population and authorities have slowly brought life back to the city, reconstructing houses and roads and restoring basic services.

The terror group was territorially defeated in Iraq in 2017 and Syria two years later. However, it continues to carry out bombings, hit-and-run attacks, and abductions across both countries.

SDF, with aerial support from the anti-ISIS global coalition, have increased operations against the group in Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria where the extremists remain active.

Five “dangerous” members of ISIS were killed in a joint raid by the SDF and the coalition near al-Busayrah town in Deir ez-Zor.

According to the latest Pentagon report on the fight against ISIS, the militants’ activities “significantly” decreased from July to September 2021, but, citing the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), it said “there were signs that the group is ‘poised to increase activity in the coming quarter after a period of recuperation and recovery.’”

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/25122021