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

 

Continuous US-Led Air Strikes, Iraqi Government Forces Bombardment on Mosul Results in Continuous Death and Destruction

June 14, 2017 

Editor's Note:

The coalition which fights the Islamic State and other Sunni groups in Syria consists of US-led NATO forces, Russian forces, Syrian Alewite government forces, Iranian-backed Shi'i militias, and Kurdish peshmerga forces. The coalition's continuous attacks have resulted in the killing of thousands of Iraqi and Syrian Sunni Muslim Arabs and the eviction of millions of them as a result of the destruction of their cities and villages.

The end outcome is going to be the weakening and possible dismantling of Iraqi and Syrian states as well as the eviction (ethnic cleansing of) Sunni Muslim Arabs, particularly from the upper Euphrates region of northwestern Iraq and northeastern Syria. 

The larger context for understanding the Syrian war (and other wars in the Middle East) is that it contributes to the implementation of the Zionist-Israeli plan of destroying the Arab Middle Eastern states in preparation for the establishment of the greater Israeli empire, from the Nile of Egypt to the Euphrates of Iraq.  

For a background, read: 

Zionist Creative Destruction of the Middle East for the Benefit of the Apartheid Israeli Regime

 

Aftermath of an airstrike by U.S.-led coalition jets in Mosul, June 2017	US-Led air strike on al-Mishlab district at Raqqa’s southeastern outskirts, Syria June 7, 2017

 

English News stories follow this Arabic news story:

 

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

***

Western Mosul Streets Full of Corpses of Dead People, Death Threaten Children, a Humanitarian Disaster  http://yaqein.net/reports/40584   شبح الموت يخيم على أيمن الموصل الذي أصبح مأزق الجميع 10 يونيو 2017 16 الشهر يمر تلو الشهر ، وتعجز القوات المشتركة وميليشياتها عن اقتحام الجانب الأيمن من مدينة الموصل مركز محافظة نينوى ، الا ان هذا العجز كانت نتائجه وخيمة على المدنيين، حيث تحول الجانب الايمن الى اطلال تمتلاء ببركة من الدماء وكومة من الأشلاء وسط بيوت مدمرة وشوارع موحشة ، يندر فيها الماء والغذاء ويواجه المحاصرون داخل احياء هذا الجانب شبح الموت جوعا وعطشا. جثث القتلى تتناثر في الشوارع حي الزنجيلي احد احياء الجانب الايمن من المدينة تناثرت فيه العشرات من الجثث التي ملاءت شوارعه جراء استهداف المدنيين الفارين من الحي من قبل القوات المشتركة وميليشياتها الطائفية فيما انتشرت حقائب كانوا يضعون فيها متعلقاتهم في الشارع المؤدي إلى خارج الحي بعد ان تم إطلاق النار على الفارين من هذه المنطقة على مدى يومين، حيث تاكد وجود اكثر من 100 جثة لمواطنين في الشوارع ماتزال ملقاة على الأرض في الحي. اشتداد المعارك في جانب الايمن من الموصل ووجود الاف المدنيين العالقين في الأحياء والازقة جعل من حجم الدمار في البنى التحتية بالمدينة كبير جدا بينما تزداد باضطراد الخسائر في صفوف المدنيين بعد اشارة مكتب حقوق الإنسان التابع للأمم المتحدة ، الى ان تقارير موثوق بها تبين مقتل أكثر من 231 مدنياً أثناء محاولتهم الفرار من غرب الموصل منذ 26 أيار مايو الماضي ، من بينهم 204 على الأقل خلال ثلاثة أيام في الأسبوع الماضي وحده، فضلا عن سقوط ما بين 50 و80 قتيلاً في ضربة جوية لمنطقة الزنجيلي في 31 أيار. خطر الموت يهدد حياة الأطفال انتشار القتلى في الشوارع كان مجرد صورة من صور المشهد المأساوي لجانب الموصل الايمن في وقت يهدد خطر الموت حياة 100 ألف طفل في هذا الجانب بسبب العمليات العسكرية واحتدام المعارك حسبما كشفت منظمة الأمم المتحدة للطفولة (اليونسيف). ممثل المنظمة بالعراق “بيتر هوكينز” اكد في بيان ان المنظمة تتلقى تقارير مقلقة عن تعرّض مدنيّين ومن ضمنهم العديد من الأطفال في غرب الموصل للقتل ، مشيرا الى انه تم قُتل بعضهم أثناء محاولتهم اليائسة للهرب من القتال الذي يزداد بين ساعة وأخرى، ويتعرّضون للإصابات، ويستخدمون كدروع بشرية ، مبينا ان الأطفال يشاهدون عنفاً فظيعاً لا يجدر بإنسان أن يشهده، كما ان بعض الاطفال أجبروا في بعض الحالات على المشاركة في القتال والعنف، ، لافتا الى ان العديد من هؤلاء عالقون بين إطلاق النار المتبادل. نائب رئيس الجمهورية “إياد علاوي” اقر بأن التقارير الأممية التي كشفت عن معاناة عشرات الآلاف من الاطفال غربي الموصل تهدد بحصول كارثة انسانية واجتماعية هناك، معترفا بأن أطفال الموصل يرزحون تحت ظل نكبة كبرى وتجارب مروعة. الموصل أكبر الكوارث الإنسانية الوضع المأساوي المتفاقم في الموصل اضطر عضو البرلمان عن تحالف القوى “عادل المحلاوي” للإقرار بأن الوضع في مدينة الموصل يعد من أكبر الكوارث التي حلت بالإنسانية في العصر الحديث لان هناك عشرات الالاف من المدنيين ما زالوا محاصرين في الموصل ، ويعانون من انعدام الغذاء والدواء بشكل كامل فضلا عن وضعهم المميت تحت نيران الحرب، الامر الذي يجعل ما يتعرض له المدنيون كارثة حقيقية يصعب وصفها والتعبير عنها من خلال بيان او تصريح . الكارثة الكبرى التي حلت بالموصل بسبب عمليات العمليات العسكرية والحصار المطبق والنزوح المستمر والإهمال المطبق كل هذا واكثر يجري وسط تعتيم اعلامي عالمي غير مسبوق وصمت دولي لافت يثبت بما لا يدع مجالا للشك ان ثمة ضوء اخضر من القوى الكبرى يهدف لتصفية العراق وتمزيق نسيجه الاجتماعي وتفريغه من حواضره التاريخية والجغرافية بغية تركيع هذه البقعة التي ظلت لاعبا رئيسيا في المنطقة لمئات السنين قبل ان تجور عليها الاطماع الاقليمية والمؤامرات العالمية .  http://yaqein.net/reports/40584

***

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:

***

‘Staggering’ civilian deaths from U.S.-led air strikes in Raqqa Syria: U.N.

by Nehal Mostafa Jun 14, 2017, 2:12 pm

(Reuters), Iraqi News --

 United Nations war crimes investigators said on Wednesday that intensified coalition air strikes supporting an assault by U.S.-backed forces on Islamic State’s stronghold of Raqqa in Syria were causing a “staggering loss of civilian life”.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a group of Kurdish and Arab militias supported by a U.S.-led coalition, began to attack Raqqa a week ago with the aim of taking it from the jihadists. The SDF, supported by heavy coalition air strikes, have taken territory to the west, east and north of the city.

Paulo Pinheiro, chairman of the U.N. Commission of Inquiry also told the Human Rights Council that 10 agreements between the Syrian government and armed groups to evacuate fighters and civilians from besieged areas, including eastern Aleppo, “in some cases amount to war crimes” as civilians had “no choice”.

Unidentified airstrike leaves 50 civilians under debris in Old Mosul: Activist

by Nehal Mostafa Jun 14, 2017, 1:42 pm

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) --

An airstrike launched on Wednesday left a house in Mosul’s Old City destroyed with 50 civilians under debris, an activist was quoted as saying.

“Urgent calls were made by besieged residents in the Old City that 50 civilians were under debris of an old house in an al-Borsa (stock market) region,” Mohamed Hussein al-Hayali, an activist based in western Mosul, told Anadolu Agency.

“The house collapsed after a nearby location was targeted by an airstrike,” Hayali added without identifying the jets that carried out the strikes.

Those besieged under the debris, according to Hayali, included women and children.”We do not rule out that there could be victims due to the high explosion, as we were notified, amid absence of efforts to save them.”

Mosul battles are covered by the international coalition led by the U.S. and the Iraqi fighter jets.

In related news, Iraqi troops arrested an Islamic State militant after swimming along with group of civilians crossing Tigris River.

Cap. Haidar Ali al-Waeli, of the Iraqi army, said group of civilians were able to cross Tigris River swimming near Sheikh Mohamed village.

“Once they were assisted to get out of the water, one of them indicated that an Islamic State militant accompanied them,” he said adding that the member was arrested.

On Tuesday, Iraqi troops reported progress and announced recapturing of al-Zanjili district, located north of the Old City, which is home to the Grand Nuri al-Kabeer mosque, from which IS Supreme Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared establishing caliphate in 2014.

HRW tells U.S. coalition not to use white phosphorus in Mosul as assault weapon

by Mohamed Mostafa Jun 14, 2017, 10:08 am

Mosul (IraqiNews.com)--

 The U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State militants in Mosul should not use the banned white phosphorus in its artillery strikes on the extremist groups locations in the city as an assault weapon, according to Human Rights Watch.

“No matter how white phosphorus is used, it poses a high risk of horrific and long-lasting harm in crowded cities like Raqqa and Mosul and any other areas with concentrations of civilians,” said Steve Goose, arms director at Human Rights Watch. “US-led forces should take all feasible precautions to minimize civilian harm when using white phosphorus in Iraq and Syria.”

Though the group said the substance can also be used as an obscurant or a smoke screen, it can also serve as an incendiary weapon, HRW said in a report on Wednesday. It, however, noted that the rationale behind its use by the coalition in Syria and Iraq remained unclear.

“This multipurpose munition should never be used as an incendiary weapon to attack personnel or materiel in populated areas, even when delivered from the ground,” said the report.

“On contact, white phosphorus can also burn people, thermally and chemically, down to the bone as it is highly soluble in fat, and therefore in human flesh. White phosphorus fragments can exacerbate wounds even after treatment and can enter the bloodstream and cause multiple organ failure. Already dressed wounds can reignite when dressings are removed and they are re-exposed to oxygen. Even relatively minor burns are often fatal.,” the organization explained.

HRW, however, said it could not verify whether there were civilian injuries resulting from the use of the substance.

The Iraqi Joint Operations Command had said earlier this month that videos showing white pillows of smoke during Mosul battles were smoke screens used to blur vision for IS snipers and secure fleeing civilians.

The seven-month-old campaign in Mosul to drive out IS militants has so far displaced at least 800.000 civilians, with hundreds others sniped by IS militants or killed by mistake in Iraqi and coalition operations.

More than 1200 IS militants killed in western Mosul since February

by Nehal Mostafa Jun 14, 2017, 12:14 am

Mosul (IraqiNews.com)--

 More than 1200 Islamic State militants, including snipers and leaders, have been killed since launch of offensives in western Mosul, Federal Police declared.

In a statement on Tuesday, Lt.Gen. Shaker Jawdat said 27 leaders and 214 snipers were killed, while 300 square kilometers were retaken since operations began in western side of Mosul.

Federal Police troops, according to Jawdat, killed more than 1000 militants, destroyed 865 booby-trapped vehicles and defused 780 landmines since February.

He indicated progress by the troops in al-Shifa district, north of the Old City, trying to reach to the Tigris River bank.

Earlier on Tuesday, Iraqi troops reported progress and announced recapturing of al-Zanjili district, located north of the Old City, which is home to the Grand Nuri al-Kabeer mosque, from which IS Supreme Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared establishing caliphate in 2014.

IS enclave has shrunk to two districts along the western banks of the Tigris river -the Old City center and the Medical City.

Less than 1000 fighters are believed to be remaining in the Old City, according to commanders from the Iraqi leadership and the allied U.S.-led coalition.

In January, the eastern side of Mosul was retaken after three months of battles. Another offensive was launched in February to retake the western side of the city.

***

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

***

US Inherent Resolve Air Strikes Target ISIS in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, June 14, 2017 —

U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday.

Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 28 strikes consisting of 32 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, three strikes destroyed three ISIS wellheads, three ISIS oil storage tanks and an ISIS oil separation tank.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, five strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed nine ISIS oil storage tanks, two ISIS wellheads and a vehicle.

-- Near Raqqa, 20 strikes engaged 14 ISIS tactical units; destroyed 12 fighting positions, five vehicles, five ISIS boats, two vehicle-borne bombs, a recoilless rifle, a command-and-control node and a tunnel; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted three strikes consisting of 18 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Kisik, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed 12 fighting positions, a supply cache, a mortar system and a command-and-control node; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

-- Near Mosul, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit, destroyed a fighting position and a command-and-control node and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

-- Near Tuz, a strike damaged a fighting position.

June 11-12 Strikes

Additionally, 12 strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on June 111-12 that closed within the last 24 hours.

-- On June 11, near Raqqa, Syria, two strikes destroyed two fighting positions.

-- On June 12, near Raqqa, Syria, nine strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed seven fighting positions, an improvised explosive device factory, an ISIS staging area, an ammo cache and a command-and-control node.

-- On June 12, near Mosul, Iraq, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a command-and-control node, a fighting positon and a supply cache.

SOUTHWEST ASIA, June 13, 2017 —

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 29 strikes consisting of 32 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, seven strikes destroyed five ISIS oil tanks, three ISIS wellheads, a tactical vehicle and an ISIS tank.

-- Near Raqqa, 22 strikes engaged 20 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 21 fighting positions and four vehicles.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted eight strikes consisting of 33 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Beiji, a strike destroyed a tactical vehicle and an ISIS front-end loader.

-- Near Kisik, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and three vehicle-borne bombs.

-- Near Mosul, five strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units and destroyed 14 fighting positions, six mortar systems, two sniper positions, a weapons cache and a tactical vehicle.

-- Near Samarra, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three ISIS-held buildings, three vehicle-borne bombs and a vehicle.

June 11 Strikes

Additionally, seven strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on June 11 that closed within the last 24 hours.

-- Near Raqqa, Syria, six strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit, destroyed three fighting positions and suppressed a sniper team.

-- Near Mosul, Iraq, a strike destroyed three barriers and an ISIS staging area and damaged eight ISIS supply routes.

SOUTHWEST ASIA, June 12, 2017 —

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 29 strikes consisting of 37 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, six strikes destroyed four ISIS tanks, six ISIS oil tanks, two ISIS wellheads, an ISIS oil separation tank, an ISIS oil refinery, an ISIS oil truck and an ISIS oil still.

-- Near Raqqa, 23 strikes engaged 20 ISIS tactical units; destroyed 16 fighting positions, two vehicles and two ISIS boats; damaged five ISIS supply routes; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted seven strikes consisting of 27 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Fallujah, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position.

-- Near Kisik, a strike destroyed a mortar system.

-- Near Mosul, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed five fighting positions, two supply caches, a mortar system, a command-and-control node, an artillery system and a vehicle; and damaged two fighting positions.

-- Near Tal Afar, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a tunnel.

June 10 Strikes

Additionally, 12 strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on June 10 that closed within the last 24 hours.

-- Near Raqqa, Syria, 11 strikes engaged nine ISIS tactical units; destroyed eight fighting positions, a tunnel, a weapons storage facility, and a command-and-control node; damaged an ISIS factory; and suppressed a sniper.

-- Near Mosul, Iraq, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed four barriers, a command-and-control node, a vehicle-borne-bomb facility and a fuel storage facility; and damaged seven ISIS supply routes.

SOUTHWEST ASIA, June 11, 2017 —

Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 27 strikes consisting of 35 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, two strikes destroyed three ISIS oil storage tanks.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, eight strikes destroyed 23 ISIS oil tanks, three ISIS separation tanks, two ISIS well heads, an ISIS-held building and an ISIS refinery.

-- Near Raqqah, 17 strikes engaged 15 ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, four vehicles, two ISIS front-end loaders, two ISIS headquarters, an ISIS unmanned aerial vehicle and an ISIS barge.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted seven strikes consisting of 35 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Bayji, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed three vehicles, two tactical vehicles, two ISIS-held buildings, an anti-air artillery system and an ISIS staging area.

-- Near Kisik, a strike engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, four car bombs, two mortar systems, a medium machine gun, and an ISIS staging area.

-- Near Mosul, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed five fighting positions, two mortar systems, two car bombs, a supply cache, and an explosives cache; and suppressed a mortar team.

-- Near Tal Afar, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.

Previously Unreported

Additionally, 11 previously unreported strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on June 8-9.

-- On June 8, near Raqqah, Syria, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.

-- On June 9, near Raqqah, Syria, nine strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, two car bombs, two weapons caches, and an ISIS staging area.

-- On June 9, near Mosul, Iraq, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed an artillery system, an ISIS staging area, a fighting position, and a tunnel; and damaged two ISIS supply routes.

SOUTHWEST ASIA, June 10, 2017 —

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 21 strikes consisting of 30 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed an ISIS oil refinery.

-- Near Raqqah, 20 strikes engaged 12 ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven fighting positions, four vehicles, three ISIS headquarters, a car bomb, and an ISIS-held building; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of 40 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Al Huwayjah, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three ISIS-held buildings, a supply cache and an ISIS headquarters.

-- Near Bayji, a strike destroyed three car bombs, two car-bomb staging areas and a tactical vehicle.

-- Near Kisik, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed five fighting positions and a car bomb, and damaged two fighting positions.

-- Near Mosul, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven fighting positions, three ISIS-held buildings, a command and control node, a car bomb, and a car-bomb staging area; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit and a mortar system.

Previously Unreported

Additionally, seven previously unreported strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on June 7-8.

-- On June 7, near Raqqah, Syria, a strike destroyed an ISIS minefield.

-- On June 8, near Raqqah, Syria, three strikes destroyed four fighting positions and a car bomb.

-- On June 8, near Mosul, Iraq, two strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed three front-end loaders, a car-bomb facility, a fighting position, a rocket-propelled grenade system, an excavator, and a command and control node; damaged 12 ISIS supply routes and a fighting position; and suppressed two ISIS tactical units.

-- On June 8, near Rawah, Iraq, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed four ISIS-held buildings.

***

Share the link of this article with your facebook friends