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

 

New US Military Base in Northern Iraq, Dozens Killed in Fighting, 1000 Bodies Found in Old City of Mosul

June 3, 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.

 

US soldiers in Iraq, file, June 3, 2018 yaqein	Four Iraqi soldiers were killed in Al-Shirqat in an explosion, June 2, 2018

 

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

***

A US military base is being built in Sinjar mountains, north west of Mosul, on the border between Iraq and Syria, to be used in the fighting against ISIS.  إنشاء قاعدة عسكرية أمريكية في جبال سنجار 02 يونيو 2018 في استمرار للاحتلال الأمريكي للعراق والذي عاد بذريعة محاربة مسلحي (تنظيم الدولة)، أقر نائب قائممقام سنجار بمحافظة نينوى “جلال خلّو” ، اليوم السبت، بأن القوات الأمريكية بدأت في بناء قاعدة عسكرية في قمة جبل سنجار شمال غرب مدينة الموصل مركز محافظة نينوى. وقال خلّو في تصريح صحفي  إن “15 مركبة عسكرية يُعتقد انها تابعة للقوات الامريكية وصلت يوم الجمعة لجبل سنجار وتمركزت في قمة الجبل”. وأضاف خلو أن “هذه القوات تستعد لبناء قاعدة عسكرية على الجبل الذي يعد واحدا من أهم المواقع الاستراتيجية في العراق ويبعد عن الموصل بنحو 125 كيلومترا عند الحدود مع سوريا”. وكان العقيد في قيادة عمليات نينوى “أحمد الجبوري”، قد أقر في وقت سابق، اليوم السبت، بأن قوة من الجيش في الفرقة 15 ولواء 37 في الفرقة المدرعة التاسعة ومستشارين أمريكيين تسلموا الشريط الحدودي بين العراق وسوريا غرب نينوى، وأنه من المؤمل أن تنشئ القوة لها قاعدة عسكرية ثابتة على جبل سنجار. https://yaqein.net/politics/114311

***

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:

***

Iraqi, U.S.-backed troops take hold of Nineveh borders with Syria

by Mohamed Mostafa Jun 1, 2018, 7:15 pm

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi troops backed by U.S. advisers have taken hold of the borderline between Syria and Iraq’s Nineveh province, a police commander was quoted saying.

Hamad al-Names, commander of Nineveh police, told BasNews website that Iraqi army forces have entered three villages to secure the borderline extending from Sinjar desert to Baaj desert, west of Mosul.

The forces will establish a permanent military base at sinjar mountain, according to Names.

Iraq declared last December its victory over Islamic State militants and the recapture of all territories that were under the extremist group’s control besides the border regions. But IS militants have occasionally breached security at the borderline.

But militants have occasionally launched attacks and engaged in encounters with Iraqi security forces since then, which prompted Iraq to carry out strikes on IS locations inside Syrian territories.

A U.S.-led coalition backed Iraqi forces’ operations against IS in 2014, but declared last April the end of its land operations and shifting to training and consultancy missions.

Four Iraqi soldiers killed in bomb blast, north of Salahuddin

by Nehal Mostafa Jun 2, 2018, 1:27 pm

Salahuddin (IraqiNews.com) --

Four Iraqi soldiers were killed in a bomb blast, north of Salahuddin province,a security source said on Saturday.

Speaking to Baghdad Today website, the source said “a bomb went off, today, targeting a vehicle carrying four conscripts on board as they were trying to repel the attack against al-Hakna village in Shirqat, which left all the personnel killed.”

The victims, according to the source, “were transferred to forensic medicine department.”

A report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) said 94 Iraqis were killed, while 163 others were wounded due to Violence and armed conflicts during the month of May

Thousands of Islamic State 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, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June 2014.

In December, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced gaining control on all the territories that were captured by Islamic State, since 2014. However, the group still has dormant cells, through which it carries out attacks, across Iraq like it used to do before 2014.

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. 

More than 1,000 bodies of Islamic State, civilians, found in Mosul’s Old City

by Nehal Mostafa May 31, 2018, 5:55 pm

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) --

Over 1,000 bodies were found in a campaign launched to search for bodies in the Old City of Mosul and the banks of Tigris River, a security source from the civil defense department said on Thursday.

“The search and rescue teams of the civil defense started today a new campaign to search for bodies in the Old City under the rubble and the banks on Tigris River,” the soure told Almaalomah website.

“At least 1,468 decayed bodies were found. Some of them were for civilians, while others were believed to be for Islamic State members as heavy machines were found next to the bodies,” he added.

On Monday, security sources were quoted saying that over forty bodies were found under the rubble in west Mosul, near Iraqi borders.

Earlier this month, the governor of Nineveh province announced that the Old City in Mosul has been declared to be empty of bodies under the rubble.

The total number of recovered bodies since end of war in Mosul against Islamic State, that ended more than ten months ago, reached 9,000, according to municipal sources.

Thousands of Islamic State 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, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June 2014.

Four paramilitary personnel killed, injured in bomb blast in Salahuddin

by Nehal Mostafa May 30, 2018, 11:19 pm

Salahuddin (IraqiNews.com) --

Four paramilitary personnel were killed and injured in a bomb blast in Tuz Khurmatu town, in Salahuddin, a security source from the province said on Wednesday.

Speaking to AlSumaria News, the source said “one of the personnel of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) was killed, while three others were wounded, in the evening, as a bomb went off in Hamreen region, on Tuz Khurmatu-Tikrit road.”

The bomb, according to the source, “was placed on the side of a road and exploded as the patrol was passing.”

The victim was transferred to forensic medicine department, while the injured were taken to hospital for treatment, the source, who preferred anonymity, added.

Thousands of Islamic State 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, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June 2014.

In December, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced gaining control on all the territories that were captured by Islamic State, since 2014. However, the group still has dormant cells, through which it carries out attacks, across Iraq like it used to do before 2014.

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.

Four Islamic State members killed as troops repel attack, north of Salahuddin

by Nehal Mostafa May 30, 2018, 5:12 pm

Salahuddin (IraqiNews.com) --

The pro-government paramilitary troops have killed four Islamic State members while repelling an attack, north of Salahuddin, a security source from the province said on Wednesday.

“Troops of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) managed, today, to repulse an attack by Islamic State near Sedeira village in Shirqat town, north of Salahuddin,” the source told Almaalomah website. “The forces managed to kill four IS members while thwarting the attack.”

Villages of Shirqat witness attacks every now and then by Islamic State members in an attempt to infiltrate into the region, the source added.

Thousands of Islamic State 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, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June 2014.

In December, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced gaining control on all the territories that were captured by Islamic State, since 2014. However, the group still has dormant cells, through which it carries out attacks, across Iraq like it used to do before 2014.

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.

The war against IS has displaced at least five million people.

Security personnel, 3 Islamic State members killed in repelled attack, south of Mosul

by Nehal Mostafa May 26, 2018, 11:45 pm

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) --

Three Islamic State members were killed in an attack repelled by the pro-government paramilitary troops, south of Mosul, a security source said on Saturday.

Speaking to Alghad Press, the source said “three Islamic State members carried out an attack against Sharia village, south of Mosul.”

Meanwhile, “troops of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) repulsed the attack, leaving one personnel and three militants killed,” the source added.

The attack, according to the source, “is the third in 24 hours by Islamic State against south of Mosul.”

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.

Thousands of Islamic State 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, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June 2014.

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.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced, in December, full liberation of Iraqi lands, declaring end of war against IS members.

***

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

***

Operation Roundup Hits ISIS Remnants in Iraq, Syria

SOUTHWEST ASIA --

Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners increased offensive activity against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria targets in designated parts of Iraq and Syria throughout May.

Since the May 1 start of Operation Roundup, Syrian Democratic Forces resumed major offensive operations in the middle Euphrates River valley. Since then, the SDF has continued to gain ground through offensive operations, coupled with precision coalition strike support.

During May, the coalition has conducted 225 strikes with 280 engagements. This demonstrates a 304 percent increase over the 74 strikes conducted in March, and a 123 percent increase over the 183 strikes recorded in April.

Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve and its partner forces continue to exert pressure on ISIS senior leaders and associates to degrade, disrupt and dismantle ISIS structures and remove them throughout Iraq and Syria. ISIS morale is sinking on the front lines as privileged ISIS leaders increasingly abandon their own fighters on the battlefield, taking resources with them as they flee, task force officials said.

Over the coming weeks, Operation Roundup will continue to build momentum against ISIS remnants remaining in the Iraq-Syria border region and the middle Euphrates River valley.

Coalition military forces conducted 41 strikes May 25-31, consisting of 49 engagements in Iraq and Syria:

May 31 Strikes

On May 31 in Syria, coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of seven engagements against ISIS targets. Near Abu Kamal, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit, destroying three ISIS vehicles, an ISIS command-and-control center and an ISIS fighting position. Near Shadaddi, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two ISIS command-and-control centers.

On May 31 near Basheer in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of one engagement against an ISIS tactical unit.

May 30 Strikes

On May 30 in Syria, coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of six engagements against ISIS targets. Near Abu Kamal, three strikes destroyed an ISIS fighting position. Near Shafah, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two ISIS vehicles. Near Hajin, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two ISIS fighting positions.

There were no reported strikes in Iraq on May 30.

May 29 Strikes

On May 29 near Abu Kamal in Syria, coalition military forces conducted a strike engaging an ISIS tactical unit, destroying an ISIS vehicle.

There were no reported strikes in Iraq on May 29.

May 28 Strikes

There were no reported strikes in Syria on May 28.

On May 28 near Qayyarah in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of two engagements against ISIS targets.

May 27 Strikes

On May 27 in Syria, coalition military forces conducted five strikes consisting of five engagements against ISIS targets. Near Abu Kamal, four strikes destroyed three ISIS fighting positions. Near Shadaddi, a strike engaged an ISIS unit and destroyed an ISIS vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.

On May 27 near Baghdad, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of one engagement against ISIS targets, destroying an ISIS-held building.

May 26 Strikes

On May 26 in Syria, coalition military forces conducted 11 strikes consisting of 12 engagements against ISIS targets. Near Abu Kamal, 11 strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit, destroying two ISIS logistics hubs and two ISIS vehicles.

There were no reported strikes in Iraq on May 26.

May 25 Strikes

On May 25 in Syria, coalition military forces conducted eight strikes consisting of 11 engagements against ISIS targets. Near Abu Kamal, seven strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed three ISIS fighting positions. Near Shadaddi, a strike destroyed six ISIS fighting systems and three ISIS logistics hubs.

On May 25 near Kirkuk in Iraq, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of three engagements against ISIS targets, destroying two ISIS-held buildings.

***

Share the link of this article with your facebook friends