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Killing, Injuries, Arrests, and Persecution of Iraqi Sunni Muslim Arabs Continue, with 2.5 Million of them Still Refugees

February 22, 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. 

Iraq, continuous persecution of Sunni Muslim Arabs, February 21, 2018

 

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

Followed by more news in English:

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2.5 million Iraqis from Sunni Muslim areas are still refugees lack the basic necessities and are continuously subjected to mistreatment, arrest, and persecution from Iraqi government forces and militias. Persecution also continues in Anbar, Diyala, Tamim, Huwaija, and Mosul. More corpses of Iraqis are found under the rubble of Mosul buildings. ملخص لأهم الأحداث التي جرت في العراق يوم الأربعاء 21 فبراير 2018   منظمات: بعد انتهاء مؤتمر الكويت الدولي لإعادة إعمار العراق أفادت منظمة الأمم المتحدة للهجرة بأن هناك 2.5 مليون نازح بالعراق يعانون من غياب الأمن وانعدام الخدمات وتقلص فرص كسب العيش، الأمر الذي يتطلب ضرورة إعمار البلاد. نينوى: أقرت خلية الإعلام الحربي، اليوم الاربعاء ، بتعرض القوات المشتركة في غرب مدينة الموصل مركز محافظة نينوى، لهجوم عنيف من جانب مسلحين أتوا من الأراضي السورية، بما يؤكد فشل القوات المشتركة في بسط كامل سيطرتها على المناطق التي تنتشر بها. تواصل الميليشيات الطائفية المتنفذة في مدينة الموصل مركز محافظة نينوى ارتكاب جرائمها دون أي تدخل من الحكومة، وفي هذا السياق أقدمت ميليشيات مسلحة على اغتيال مختار حي دوميز شرق مدينة الموصل. لا تزال عمليات العثور على جثث لأشخاص لقوا مصارعهم تحت الأنقاض في مدينة الموصل مركز محافظة نينوى مستمرة، حيث عثرت القوات المشتركة، اليوم الأربعاء، على مقبرة جماعية في قرية الحاج التابعة لبلدة القيارة جنوبي الموصل، تضم رفات عشرات الجثث الذين لم تتبين حتى الآن هوياتهم. الأنبار : ناحية الكرمة شرق الفلوجة بمحافظة الأنبار ، يعاني أهلها أشد المعاناة من جرائم وانتهاكات الميليشيات المنفلتة والمدعومة حكوميا ، والتي تنتشر بكثافة في الناحية ، وفي هذا السياق ، واصلت ميليشيات الحشد الشعبي إغلاق معظم منافذ ومخارج مدن قضاء الكرمة والمناطق المحيطة بها، شمال شرق مدينة الفلوجة في محافظة الأنبار، وسط حملات اعتقال تعسفية واسعة طالت شبانا من القضاء، بذريعة البحث عن أشخاص ينتمون لـ(تنظيم الدولة). سياسة التضييق على المواطنين التي تتبعها الحكومة في محافظة ديالى ، لا تزال مستمرة ، من خلال الإجراءات التعسفية والعزل الأمني للعديد من مناطق المحافظة ، الأمر الذي يتسبب في مزيد من المعاناة لأهالي ديالى ، فعلى الرغم من إعلان القوات الحكومية عن استعادة السيطرة على كامل مدن ومناطق محافظة ديالى منذ نحو عامين ، إلا أن عدة مدن في المحافظة ما تزال تعاني من سياسة العزل الأمني ، التي تضيق على السكان المحليين وتصعّب سبل الحياة هناك. التأميم : عمليات الدهم والتفتيش ، التي تنفذها القوات المشتركة في كافة المحافظات ، وما يرافقها من اعتقالات عشوائية وتعسفية ، أصبحت مصدر قلق للمواطنين ، الذين باتوا عرضة للاعتقال أو الاختفاء القسري في أي وقت ، في غضون ذلك ، أفاد مصدر في شرطة التأميم ، بأن الشرطة الاتحادية قامت بعمليات تفتيش وتمشيط القرى المحيطة بالحويجة. ارتكبت الميليشيات الطائفية ولا تزال ، جرائم منظمة بحق المدنيين في مناطق بعينها ، بتواطؤ حكومي ، لأهداف خبيثة أبرزها تغيير ديمغرافية هذه المناطق خدمة للمشروع الإيراني في البلاد ، وفي هذا الصدد ، تشهد معظم المناطق والقرى المحيطة بقضاء الحويجة بمحافظة التأميم حملات عسكرية واسعة من قبل القوات المشتركة وميليشيا الحشد الشعبي منذ يومين عقب الكمين الذي تعرضت له قوة من ميليشيا الحشد وقتل فيه 27 عنصرا من الميليشيات ، وبعد هذا الكمين قام ذوي الضحايا من المحافظات الجنوبية إضافة إلى قيادات من ميليشيا الحشد بمطالبات واسعة للانتقام من أهالي القضاء ردا على هذه العملية ، حيث أكدت مصادر محلية أن الميليشيات ومنذ يومين لم يتوقفوا عن حملات الدهم والتفتيش والاختطافات التعسفية بحق الاهالي الابرياء في قضاء الحويجة. السليمانية: عثرت شرطة “ڕاپڕین” التابعة لمحافظة السليمانية، اليوم الأربعاء، على جثة رجل في نهاية العقد الثالث من عمره في جبال تابع لإحدى نواحي المنطقة. http://yaqein.net/iraq-news/90757

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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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Islamic State leaders killed in U.S.-Coalition airstrike, east of Diyala

by Nehal Mostafa Feb 20, 2018, 6:17 pm

Diyala (IraqiNews.com) --

Two Islamic State leaders, among others, were killed in an airstrike launched by the U.S.-led Coalition in east of Diyala, the military intelligence department announced.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the department said, “based on accurate information and in coordination with the Coalition, an airstrike targeted an IS rest house of the so-called Diyala State, north of Hamreen lake.”

The airstrike, according to the statement, “left several IS leaders killed including a leader who was in charge of the administrative affairs in the province and his deputy.”

Earlier this month, Sadeq al-Husseini, the security committee of Diyala provincial council, said in remarks that an IS military emir succumbed to death after he was injured in as an airstrike targeted a rest house in in al-Waqf basin, northeast of Baquba.

Thousands of IS 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.

In December, Abadi announced full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members. However, 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.

The war against IS has so far displaced at least five million people. Thousands of others fled toward neighboring countries including Syria, Turkey and other European countries, since IS emerged to proclaim its self-styled “caliphate”.

Islamic State claims responsibility for killing 20 Iraqi security personnel in Kirkuk

by Nehal Mostafa Feb 19, 2018, 3:04 pm

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) --

 Islamic State militant group has announced killing twenty Iraqi security personnel in an ambush in southwest of Kirkuk.

According to Amaq website, the group’s media arm, “IS members killed 20 Iraqi security personnel and burnt five vehicles in an ambush on Sunday evening, southwest of al-Riyad town in Kirkuk.”

In related news, Ali al-Husseini, commander of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) in the northern axis, said some PMFs are likely to be alive hiding.

Earlier today, the troops announced murder of 27 personnel in the wake of an attack by IS militants at al-Saadouniya village in Riyad.

“The region is completely cordoned. Searching efforts are ongoing. The accident took place while it was raining. It was in the dark. We need more hours to know if there are personnel still alive. Maybe some of them are captured or hiding,” Husseini told Shafaq News without giving details on the number.

Most of the signs, according to Husseini, “indicate that some elements are still hiding without being captured by IS.”

He also added that the militant group did not announce captivating any of them.

PMFs, along with Federal Police, launched on Monday an offensive near Kirkuk.

News reports said on Sunday evening that security troops lost communication with 24 paramilitary personnel in addition to losing track of eight vehicles in Hawija. Other reports indicated confrontations between PMFs and Islamic State members in southwest of the province.

Islamic State’s attack in Kirkuk leaves 21 paramilitary personnel killed: Source

by Nehal Mostafa Feb 19, 2018, 12:45 pm

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) --

Number of paramilitary personnel killed by Islamic State members in southwest of Kirkuk have reached 21 victims, sources were quoted saying on Monday.

Troops of the Federal Police and al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) raided, early today, al-Saadouniya village after combing the region, the sources told DPA. The forces then withdrew after finding more victims, reaching 21. Most of them were beheaded. Seven military vehicles were burnt.

Iraqi troops, according to the sources, are still looking for the militants in order to reach the abducted personnel in Hawija.

Speaking to Baghdad Today website, a security source said IS members disguised as Federal Police personnel in a fake checkpoint.

On Sunday evening, news reports said security troops lost communication with 24 paramilitary personnel in addition to losing track of eight vehicles in Hawija. Other reports indicated confrontations between PMFs and Islamic State members in southwest of the province.

Last week, Kirkuk Governor Rakan al-Jabouri warned that Islamic State still poses a serious threat to the security of the province, saying that the militants are still active in Kirkuk’s remote areas and farms around villages.

As many as 3,298 civilians were killed and 4,781 others were wounded in 2017, excluding Anbar civilian casualty figures for November and December, which are not available, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said in a report in December.

Seven Iraqi soldiers killed, injured in bomb blast, west of Anbar

by Nehal Mostafa Feb 18, 2018, 10:46 pm

Anbar (IraqiNews.com) --

Seven Iraqi soldiers were killed and injured as a bomb explosion took place in west of Anbar, the security media center said on Sunday.

In a statement, the center said that a bomb blast targeted security troops at al-Sadd region, south of Rutba. “The explosion left two soldiers killed and five others injured.”

Previously today, a security source said Islamic State members attacked army troops at Rutba and al-Fayda regions in west of Anbar.

Speaking to Alghad Press, the source said IS attack against Iraqi army at Rutba and Fayda “left five soldiers wounded.”

“There is another IS attack against two army checkpoints in Saba’in region,”the source said.

A total of 115 Iraqi civilians, excluding policemen, were killed and another 250 injured in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in Iraq in January 2018, according to casualty figures recorded by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

Baghdad was the worst affected governorate, with 323 civilian casualties (90 killed, 233 injured). Diyala followed, with 8 killed and 15 injured; and Nineveh, with 13 killed and 7 injured.

As many as 3,298 civilians were killed and 4,781 others were wounded in 2017, excluding Anbar civilian casualty figures for November and December, which are not available, UNAMI said in a report in December.

Six Islamic State militants killed in airstrike by int’l coalition on Mosul

by Mohammed Ebraheem Feb 11, 2018, 9:23 pm

Nineveh (Iraqinews.com) –

Six Islamic State militants were killed in an airstrike by the U.S-led international coalition warplanes on Mosul city, a security source was quote as saying Sunday.

Speaking to Baghdad Today news website, the source said, “The U.S.-led international coalition carried out an airstrike in coordination with the Nineveh Operations Command, targeting Islamic State remnants in Badush village in northwestern Mosul.”

“The air raid left six Islamic State militants dead and one of their tunnels completely destroyed,” the source pointed out.

On July 10, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced 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.

Since the city was declared free, security troops continue to comb western Mosul areas for hidden IS cells. Despite the victory over IS in the city, observers say Islamic State is believed to constitute a security threat even after the group’s defeat at its main havens across Iraqi provinces.

Mosul has always been an easy target for Islamic State militants, who seek to take revenge from Iraqi security forces after they lost the city earlier this year.

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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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US OIR Officials Report Details of Defeat-ISIS Strikes in Syria, Iraq

From a (US) Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Feb. 16, 2018 —

Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners continued to strike Islamic State of Iraq and Syria targets in designated parts of Syria and Iraq between Feb. 9-15, conducting 43 strikes consisting of 63 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Strikes in Syria

Yesterday in Syria, coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of five engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed an ISIS supply route, a staging area and a weapons cache.

-- Near Shadaddi, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS headquarters.

On Feb. 14, coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of two engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed an ISIS outpost.

On Feb. 13, coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of six engagements against ISIS targets near Abu Kamal. The strikes suppressed two ISIS maneuver elements and destroyed a fighting position, a heavy machine gun and an artillery system.

On Feb. 12, coalition military forces conducted 10 strikes consisting of 13 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, nine strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; suppressed an ISIS maneuver element; and destroyed two artillery systems, a tactical vehicle, a heavy machine gun, two ISIS supply routes, a fighting position and a command-and-control center.

-- Near Shadaddi, a strike destroyed two ISIS fighting positions.

On Feb. 11, coalition military forces conducted seven strikes consisting of 11 engagements against ISIS targets near Abu Kamal. The strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions, an ISIS-held building, a command-and-control center, three tactical vehicles and two ISIS-supply routes.

On Feb. 10, coalition military forces conducted nine strikes consisting of 11 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, eight strikes engaged six ISIS tactical units and destroyed two command and control centers, a fighting position, an ISIS-held building, a weapons cache, an ISIS motorcycle and a mortar tube.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike engaged two tactical units of hostile forces and destroyed a tank.

On Feb. 9, coalition military forces conducted three strikes consisting of seven engagements against ISIS targets near Abu Kamal. The strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and damaged an ISIS-held building.

Additional Strikes in Syria

On Feb. 8, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of one engagement near Raqqa, engaging an ISIS tactical unit.

On Jan. 31, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of one engagement near Shadaddi, destroying an ISIS rocket fighting position.

Strikes in Iraq

On Feb. 15, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of two engagements against ISIS targets near Rutbah. The strike destroyed an ISIS weapons cache.

On Feb. 14, coalition military forces conducted two strikes consisting of three engagements against ISIS targets near Beiji. The strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS facility.

There were no reported strikes in Iraq on Feb. 12-13.

On Feb. 11, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of one engagement against ISIS targets near Tal Afar. The strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS tunnel.

There were no reported strikes in Iraq on Feb. 9-10.

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