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Scores of Civilians Killed in US-Led Air Strikes on Mosul, Hundreds Killed in Fighting Between Iraqi Forces and Islamic State

March 21, 2016 

 

US-led air strike on Mosul, Iraqi Islamic State City, March 2016

Dramatic footage shows 'US airstrike' on ISIS stronghold of Mosul which reports claim killed more than 25 civilians and dozens of ISIS fighters

Iraqi media reports at least 25 civilians were killed in the attack on Mosul The footage was released by ISIS-linked news agency Al-Amaq It shows dramatic moment university is pummeled by airstrikes   Initial reports say carbomb workshop and ISIS intelligence office was hit US-led coalition told MailOnline they are 'looking into' the reports  

By Isabel Hunter For Mailonline

Daily Mail, 19:34 EST, 20 March 2016 |

Updated: 02:55 EST, 21 March 2016

The dramatic moments of an airstrike on ISIS's Iraqi hub of Mosul has been released by a news agency of the group.

Clouds of dust and debris billow through the streets as the camera man falls to the ground in what appears to be a second attack.

The huge explosion rocks the buildings and dust engulfs the screen amid a series of cracks and swoosh of an aircraft.

From below the footage pans upwards to apocalyptic scenes of the grey mushrooming clouds. 

The footage shows a destroyed market place with products strewn across the street.

An elderly man with his grey beard spattered with dust and blood points to the sky with his hand, which is also smeared in bright red blood as he calls out for God.

The hastily edited video also shows the corpses of burnt men lying amid the carnage. It is unclear whether they are ISIS militants or civilians.

'ISIL is exhausting all Mosul's capabilities and resources to manufacture ammunition', the group posted on its Facebook group.

ISIS took control of Mosul in June 2014 and has taken advantage of the city's abundant resources and relative security to build its arsenal.

Mosul University is in the north of the city, which is occupied by ISIL with approximately 1.5 million civilians believed to remain in the city.

MailOnline has reached out to the Coalition's Operation Inherent Resolve central command for comment on the attack, who said it was 'looking into' the reports. 

Centcom announced it had made 16 strikes on Iraq on March 19th, but described four of them as 'near Mosul'. 

‘In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 16 strikes coordinated with and in support of the Government of Iraq using rocket artillery and attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL targets,' it said using an alternative acronym for the group.

'Four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and an ISIL headquarters and destroyed two ISIL assembly areas and suppressed an ISIL mortar position,' said the CJTF statement published as part of the daily reports on operations against the terror group in Iraq and Syria.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3502002/Dramatic-footage-airstrike-ISIS-stronghold-Mosul-reportedly-kills-25-civilians-dozens-ISIS-fighters.html

Airstrikes targeting ISIS hit Mosul University

By Muhammad Jambaz and Joshua Berlinger, CNN

Updated 7:08 AM ET, Mon March 21, 2016

Irbil, Iraq (CNN)--

Airstrikes targeting ISIS fighters struck Mosul and surrounding areas over the weekend, sources tell CNN.

CNN could not immediately independently verify the specifics of the claims, as the strikes hit inside ISIS-held territory.

Seven airstrikes were conducted near Mosul over the weekend, according to news releases from the Combined Joint Task Force carrying out coalition airstrikes.

Reports surfaced that Mosul University -- considered a base for ISIS fighters -- was hit.

CNN confirmed the strikes with two sources: someone inside Mosul University and with Athil Al Nujayfi, the former governor of Nineveh province, where Mosul is located.

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Nujayfi, who says he maintains a network of contacts and a militia loyal to him inside Mosul, said 17 senior ISIS fighters and numerous local leaders were killed in the strikes, which he called a "blow" to the group.

CNN has not been able to independently confirm how many ISIS fighters or civilians were killed in the strikes.

Amaq, a media wing of the group, published images of what it called "bombings" in Mosul. Videos showed massive and dense plumes of smoke and dust rising toward the sky, bodies of the dead and injured and the rubble after the explosion.

Clarification: An earlier version of this story reported the number of people killed in the strikes. CNN cannot independently confirm those numbers.

CNN's Merieme Arif and Jennifer Deaton contributed to this report.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/20/middleeast/mosul-iraq-airstrikes-isis/index.html

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Coalition Strikes Target ISIL in Syria, Iraq

US Department of Defense, SOUTHWEST ASIA, March 21, 2016 —

U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

Attack aircraft conducted four strikes in Syria:

-- Near Ayn Isa, a strike destroyed an ISIL mortar position.

-- Near Kobani, a strike destroyed an ISIL excavator.

-- Near Manbij, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun position and an ISIL fighting position.

-- Near Mara, a strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position.

Strikes in Iraq

Fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted seven strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq’s government:

-- Near Hit, a strike produced inconclusive results.

-- Near Kisik, a strike suppressed an ISIL tactical unit.

-- Near Mosul, three strikes struck an ISIL headquarters and destroyed an ISIL mortar position and two ISIL fighting positions.

-- Near Ramadi, a strike struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.

-- Near Sinjar, a strike destroyed three ISIL supply caches.

http://www.defense.gov/News-Article-View/Article/698631/coalition-strikes-target-isil-terrorists-in-syria-iraq

Strikes Hit ISIL in Iraq

US Department of Defense, SOUTHWEST ASIA, March 20, 2016 —

U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Iraq

Rocket artillery, attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 16 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq’s government:

-- Near Al Baghdadi, two strikes destroyed an ISIL vehicle and suppressed two ISIL tactical units.

-- Near Habbaniyah, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units, and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL bunker.

-- Near Hit, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL tactical vehicles, an ISIL car bomb, two ISIL rocket rails and an ISIL vehicle.

-- Near Kisik, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL supply cache, and three ISIL rocket rails and suppressed an ISIL sniper position.

-- Near Mosul, four strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and an ISIL headquarters and destroyed two ISIL assembly areas and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

-- Near Qayyarah, a strike destroyed two ISIL supply caches and an ISIL headquarters.

-- Near Sinjar, a strike destroyed an ISIL supply cache and suppressed an ISIL rocket position.

http://www.defense.gov/News-Article-View/Article/698399/strikes-hit-isil-in-iraq

Military Strikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq

US Department of Defense, SOUTHWEST ASIA, March 19, 2016 —

U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

Fighter aircraft conducted one strike in Syria:

-- Near Ayn Isa, a strike destroyed an ISIL rocket position and an ISIL mortar position.

Strikes in Iraq

Rocket artillery, ground attack, bomber and fighter aircraft conducted 25 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq’s government:

-- Near Al Baghdadi, four strikes struck two ISIL bed-down locations and two ISIL staging areas.

-- Near Al Huwayja, a strike destroyed an ISIL anti-air artillery piece.

-- Near Fallujah, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units.

-- Near Hit, seven strikes struck an ISIL training camp, two ISIL car bomb factories, an ISIL bomb factory, two ISIL tactical units, destroyed an ISIL tunnel, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL supply cache, and an ISIL car bomb.

-- Near Kisik, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL bunker and two ISIL assembly areas.

-- Near Mosul, six strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL assembly area, an ISIL supply cache, and three ISIL vehicles, and damaged an ISIL-used bridge section and suppressed an ISIL fighting position.

-- Near Qayyarah, a strike destroyed an ISIL mortar position and an ISIL vehicle.

-- Near Sinjar, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and suppressed an ISIL fighting position.

http://www.defense.gov/News-Article-View/Article/698331/military-strikes-continue-against-isil-in-syria-iraq

Counter-ISIL Fight Enters Second Phase to Dismantle Terrorist Group

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2016 —

As U.S-led coalition forces enter the second phase in Iraq and Syria to degrade and ultimately defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command today discussed operations to dismantle the group.

In a teleconference with Pentagon reporters, Air Force Col. Patrick Ryder gave an overview of this year’s three operational approaches: coalition-enabled pressure on ISIL to isolate Raqqah, Syria; isolating and eventually seizing Mosul, Iraq; and stabilizing Iraq’s Anbar province.

ISIL’s ‘Last Route’

In Syria, the Manbij pocket near the Mara line comprises complex terrain and large numbers of mixed groups of people to whom the territory is important, Ryder said, but he added that the area is the final route available to ISIL.

“[That] is ISIL’s last route to move people, money and supplies into Syria and Iraq, and the territory continues to go back and forth,” Ryder said. “This will be one of the most difficult fights going forward,” he said.

Farther east, the Syrian Democratic Forces’ forward line of troops continues to move closer and apply pressure on ISIL fighters who hold Raqqah, Ryder said.

The SDF also has made “fairly good progress” in northeastern Syria to liberate ISIL-held territory near Shaddadi, he said.

ISIL Movement Narrows

“Operations are working to isolate Raqqah from Mosul and deny ISIL freedom of movement between the two important cities,” Ryder said.

In the Hit and Hadithah corridor, Iraqi security forces are working with local tribes to clear the Euphrates River Valley and hold liberated territory, which will help to set conditions to stabilize the province in the future, he added.

Particularly encouraging is the progress Iraqi security forces have made, Ryder said, noting that they are becoming better at holding terrain they’ve taken back from ISIL, “even against an occasional complex ISIL attack.”

(Follow Terri Moon Cronk on Twitter: @MoonCronkDoD)

http://www.defense.gov/News-Article-View/Article/698258/counter-isil-fight-enters-second-phase-to-dismantle-terrorist-group

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Hundreds of Iraqi soldiers and militiamen were killed today, Monday, March 21, 2016, during attacks by Islamic State fighters in Al-Anbar Province

http://www.yaqen.net/news.php?action=view&id=39796

ملخص لأهم و أبرز المجريات الأمنية والسياسية التي جرت في العراق حتى مساء الاثنين

تاريخ النشر : الإثنين 21-03-2016 10:01 مساء

الأنبار : قتل وأصيب نحو 60 من أفراد الجيش الحكومي والصحوات وأصيب عشرات آخرون ، اليوم الاثنين ، في هجوم لمسلحي ( التنظيم ) شرقي ناحية البغدادي بمحافظة الأنبار. 

كما قتل وأصيب أكثر من 30 من أفراد الجيش الحكومي ، اليوم الاثنين ، بهجوم لمسلحي ( التنظيم ) استهدف مواقع لهم شمال شرقي الرمادي بمحافظة الأنبار. 

في السياق نفسه قتل وأصيب 25 من أفراد الجيش الحكومي ، اليوم الاثنين ، بهجوم ، شنه مسلحو ( التنظيم ) بعجلتين ملغمتين غرب مدينة كبيسة بمحافظة الأنبار. 

وقتل وأصيب عدد من أفراد الجيش الحكومي ، فجر اليوم الاثنين ، في هجوم شنه مسلحو ( التنظيم ) شمالي مدينة ‫‏الفلوجة بمحافظة الأنبار. 

فيما قتل ستة من ميليشيات مايسمى سرايا السلام التابعة لزعيم التيار الصدري "مقتدى الصدر" في هجوم لمسلحي ( التنظيم ) شمال شرقي الفلوجة بمحافظة الأنبار. 

بغداد : قتل وأصيب نحو 15 شخصا ، اليوم الاثنين ، بتفجيرين منفصلين أحدهما في قضاء ابو غريب غربي بغداد ، والآخر في منطقة سويب ، جنوب غربي العاصمة. 

كما قتل وأصيب 14 شخصا ، اليوم الاثنين ، بتفجيرين منفصلين أحدهما ، في منطقة اللطيفية جنوبي بغداد ، والآخر في منطقة الطوبجي ، غربي العاصمة. 

وقتل وأصيب 11 شخصا ، اليوم الاثنين ، بتفجيرين منفصلين ، أحدهما بمنطقة الكريعات ، شمالي بغداد ، والآخر في منطقة البلديات ، شرقي العاصمة. 

بينما قتل وأصيب خمسة من أفراد الشرطة الحكومية ، اليوم الاثنين ، بانفجار عبوة ناسفة استهدفت دوريتهم في قرية هورجب التابعة لمنطقة الدورة ، جنوبي العاصمة بغداد. 

فيما اقتحمت ميليشيات طائفية حكومية ، اليوم الاثنين ، منزلا جنوب غربي بغداد ، وقاموا بطعن امرأة ما إدى إلى إصابتها ، كما قاموا بسرقة مبالغ مالية من المنزل ، فيما اصيب مدني بتفجير جنوبي العاصمة. 

واغتالت ميليشيات طائفية حكومية مدنيا ، يوم أمس الأحد ، بهجوم مسلح في منطقة حي طارق بمدينة الصدر شرقي العاصمة بغداد. 

صلاح الدين : تعرضت ثكنات الجيش الحكومي ، اليوم الاثنين ، لهجوم كبير شنه مسلحو ( التنظيم ) غربي مدينة بيجي بمحافظة صلاح الدين. 

نينوى : قتل وأصيب ثلاثة من أفراد الجيش الحكومي ، اليوم الاثنين ، في هجوم بحزام ناسف استهدف مقرا عسكريا ، في قضاء مخمور ، جنوبي الموصل بمحافظة نينوى. 

ديالى : قتل اثنان من ميليشيا ما يعرف بالحشد الشعبي ، اليوم الاثنين ، بهجوم مسلح ، استهدف تجمعا لهم ، شمال شرقي بعقوبة بمحافظة ديالى.

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