Iraq

angelburst29 · Sep 29, 2017

Footage of coalition airstrikes against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) in Iraq has been removed and restricted by YouTube, sparking a furious censorship row for the video sharing site.

Conflict censorship? YouTube deletes footage of coalition airstrikes Sept. 28, 2017 (Video)
https://www.rt.com/uk/404873-youtube-deletes-syria-videos/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3romujusQY (0:14 min.)

Footage of coalition airstrikes against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) in Iraq has been removed and restricted by YouTube, sparking a furious censorship row for the video sharing site.

Videos allowing the world to see the devastation of the war have been deleted by YouTube – videos which offer press and public alike a rare window of transparency on the behavior of coalition forces.

This is in spite of jihadist propaganda remaining rife on the web.

Official coalition videos, released by the US Central Command and International Coalition for Operation Inherent Resolve, have been taken off the sharing platform or had age restrictions applied.

As the Ministry of Defense (MoD) in Britain denies civilian casualties in Syria and Iraq while bragging over the death of 3,000 jihadists, the importance placed on the videos as official documents of war is paramount.

Activists and monitoring groups have called on YouTube owner Google to act swiftly, accusing the tech giant of censoring war footage.

“We’re back to square one with @Youtube censoring conflict videos,” Airwars said on Twitter, Thursday morning.

“These are officially released videos of conflict against ISIS - permanently archived by us as a record of war, with original descriptions.

“There’s an urgent need for @Youtube @TeamYouTube to get their counter-extremism AI sorted. Legitimate conflict archives are being censored.”

The two videos in question, from 2015, relate to air strikes on IS. One video, which was age restricted, shows a VBIED (car bomb) being taken out in Fallujah, Iraq. Another, which was removed, shows an attack on an IS “finance distribution center” in Mosul, Iraq.

“Though other sites have experienced significant ongoing problems with YouTube’s AI, this is our first problem since August 10. YouTube has now deleted one further archived Coalition video from our channel and has age restricted another,” Chris Woods, director of Airwars, told RT.

Both videos were originally run on the Coalition’s own channel with no issue. We can see no logical reason for these videos - among hundreds archived by Airwars - to be affected.

“Whatever YouTube’s aim here, in reality it is censoring key conflict videos which should instead be permanently archived for posterity.”

Google claims its auto-checking system, which flags content which may be suspicious, has removed videos automatically in the past.

Earlier this year activists were left reeling when evidence of war crimes in Syria were deleted.

Experts said the practice harms the UN’s ability to monitor the war and bring criminals to justice.

Human rights specialist Keith Hiatt said UN teams may “need to draw on social media and open source information when it’s building cases that it will pass to prosecutorial teams.”

“Things just got a lot harder now the videos that were on YouTube are no longer around,” he told the New York Times.

Another war crimes specialist said evidence of war in Syria, and crimes committed, is “disappearing in front of our eyes.”

Videos have previously been restored by YouTube after complaints from campaigners.

A spokesperson for YouTube told RT that uploaded videos are monitored by new “machine learning” technology, which focuses on spotting potentially problematic content, from graphic videos to the promotion of propaganda.

The videos picked up are then checked by YouTube staff.

According to the video sharing site, which receives 400 videos per minute, every single one must comply with their rules. The uploader must “make clear their purpose” and giving sufficient warning if they cover events during war.

Any video that does not comply will be removed.

YouTube admitted “mistakes have been made” but insisted any videos taken down in error will be re-posted.

Iraqi Kurdistan adamantly refuses to place any border crossing from Erbil to Baghdad to the Iraqi federal government.

Iraqi Kurdistan Refuses to Place Border Crossings Under Baghdad's Control
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201709291057815562-iraqi-kurdistan-border-crossings/

Iraqi Kurdistan will not give control over its border crossings to the Iraqi federal government, local media reported citing sources on Friday.

"Not a single border crossing will be placed under control of the Iraqi side," a source told the Rudaw television channel.

Earlier in the day, Baghdad said that three military convoys would be sent to Iraqi Kurdistan in order to establish control over the border crossings located in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The Iraqi demand to transfer the control over the border crossings from Erbil to Baghdad followed the Monday independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan. On Wednesday, the Iraqi authorities also ordered to stop all international flights through the airports of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah.

Office of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced on Thursday Turkey has agreed to deal only with the Iraqi government on crude oil exports.

Turkey Says Not to Buy Oil from Iraqi Kurdistan Region Anymore
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960706000823

In a phone call with Abadi, Turkish Prime Minister Binali “Yildirim confirmed the support of his country to all decisions” taken or sought by the Iraqi government after the independence referendum held in Iraqi Kurdistan on Monday, Abadi’s office said in a statement, Al Waght reported.

Among these measures, the statement quoted by Reuters mentioned “restricting oil export operations to the Iraqi government.”

Despite claims to stay the 'eternal friend of Kurds', Iran reportedly temporarily banned its companies transporting oil products from Iraqi Kurdistan.

Iran Bans Its Companies Transporting Oil Products From Iraqi Kurdistan
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201709291057809775-iran-ban-iraqi-kurdistan-petroleum/

"The organization of transport and traffic management temporarily prohibited the loading and transportation of fuel from Iran to Iraqi Kurdistan and from it in connection with the latest developments in this region," the Iranian Tasnim news agency reports.

Earlier in the week, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated that Iran would remain an eternal friend of Kurds despite their recent vote to split from Iraq.

Iran is the only country with a large proportion of Kurdish population which manages to cultivate decent relations with them. With Iraqi Kurds Tehran has a long-standing relationship which has deepened after 2014 when Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps started to back Kurdish Peshmerga's efforts to counter Daesh.

The Iraqi military command announced the second phase of the Hawija offensive this morning after successfully liberating a large chunk of territory in the districts to the North of this area.

Iraqi Forces Begin Second Phase of Hawija Military Operation
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960707000112

Led by the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), locally known as Hashd al-Shaabi, the Iraqi Armed Forces will attempt to liberate the remaining areas in Al-Shirqat, while also securing the Eastern bank of the Euphrates River, Iraqi News reported.

Hawija is the ISIL’s last stronghold in central Iraq; its proximity to the oil rich city of Baiji makes this operation a top priority for the Iraqi military command.

angelburst29 · Oct 3, 2017

Kurdish officials said former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has died in a Berlin hospital at the age of 83.

Iraqi Ex-President Jalal Talabani Dies
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960711001522

A close family friend and a senior Kurdish official in Irbil say Talabani died after his condition rapidly deteriorated on Tuesday. He had suffered a stroke in 2012 and was moved to a German hospital later that year for treatment.

Talabani led one of Iraq's main Kurdish factions and went on to become the country's president after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein.

He was often seen as a unifying elder statesman who could soothe tempers among Iraq's Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds.

One American soldier from the US-led coalition has been killed and another injured in a roadside bomb explosion in Iraq.

Bomb Blast Kills US Soldier in Iraq
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960711001032

Major Adrian Rankine-Galloway, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement that the incident took place on Sunday when an improvised explosive device (IED) struck their vehicle, without providing further details, Shafaqna reported.

The statement said the names and nationalities of the casualties would be released once their families were notified.

The Pentagon also claimed that seven American servicemen had been killed in Iraq in the fight against the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group since 2014, including two in the battle to retake the northern city of Mosul.

Reports said a French soldier was also killed while reportedly advising local forces in the fight against Daesh last month, but it is not known if he died in Iraq or Syria.

Iraqi Army and Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) captured an air base from ISIL terrorists on Monday, gaining a strategic foothold in the North of the country as they push toward the town of Hawija.

Iraqi Forces Advance Towards Hawija, Seize Air Base from ISIL
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960711000646

Iraq launched an offensive on September 21 to eject ISIL troops from Hawija, which lies West of the oil city of Kirkuk and is one of two areas of the country still under the control of the terror group, Al Waght reported.

Iraqi army commanders said the Rashad air base, which is around 30 km (20 miles) South of Hawija, was used by the terrorists as a training camp and logistic base.

ISIL took control of the air base after the Iraqi army collapsed in 2014 as the Takfiri group occupied swathes of the country's territory

“After quick rehabilitation works, the air base will play a key role for Iraqi forces by allowing helicopters to transport soldiers and arms in any future operation to maintain security in the North,” said army Lieutenant Colonel Salih Yaseen.

“The air base will help to put an end to the terrorists’ pockets hiding in mountainous areas near Kirkuk and remove any possible threat to the energy facilities and oilfields.”

Hawija, North of Baghdad, and a stretch of land along the Syrian border, West of the Iraqi capital, are the last patches of territory in Iraq still occupied by ISIL.

Iraqi paramilitary troops said Tuesday they killed eleven ISIL members near the Iraqi borders with Syria as military operations prepare to retake the last group holdouts there.

Iraqi Mobilization Kill 11 ISIL Militants near Syrian Borders
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960711001328

The Popular Mobilization Forces’ media service said troops repelled an attack by the group at al-Hamadaniya Triangle, which links the city of Ramadi to Syria’s Hassaka, Iraqi News reported. The attackers were trying to make use of a sandstorm that hit the area, according to the statement. It said eleven militants, including five suicide bombers, were killed.

The Iraqi government declared late September an offensive to retake ISIL-held towns of Annah, Rawa and Qaim, west of Anbar, which the militants have held since 2014. Operations have, so far, recaptured Annah, and preparations are reportedly underway to invade Rawa.

Iraqi troops, backed by PMF, are also in parallel operations to recapture Islamic State-held town of Hawija, southwest of Kirkuk. Ending the simultaneous operations successfully would mean a complete elimination of ISIL’s territorial influence in Iraq.

Iraq regained control over ISIL’s former capital, Mosul, early July and shortly later took over the town of Tal Afar, marking the strongest blows to the militant’s self-proclaimed “rule”.

angelburst29 · Oct 5, 2017

Iraq’s military command announced on Wednesday the launch of a new phase of operations on Kirkuk’s ISIL-held town of Hawija, this time targeting the town’s center.

Iraqi Command Launches Awaited Offensive Targeting Central Hawija
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960712000830

The Joint Operations Command’s chief, Abdul-Amir Yarallah, said army, Federal Police, Rapid Response and the Popular Mobilization Forces began an operation targeting the center of Hawija, al-Riyad region and surrounding villages, Iraqi News reported.

On Monday, the Joint Operations Command said government and PMF forces recaptured up to 45 villages during a second phase of operations launched last Friday to retake Hawija, a town southwest of Kirkuk which the militants have held since 2014.

The first phase of operations launched on September 24th, and managed to retake Eastern Shirqat, an ISIL haven in neighboring Salahuddin province.

Parallel operations were launched late September targeting ISIL havens in Western Anbar.

Iraqi government, coalition and paramilitary forces recaptured Mosul, the group’s former capital, and the neighboring town of Tal Afar early July and late August.

Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces announced liberation of another region in Southeast of Hawija, Kirkuk, media reports said.

Iraq's Mobilization Forces Liberate Another ISIL-Held Region in Kirkuk
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960713000823

The media service of Popular Mobilization Forces, locally known as al-Hashd al-Shaabi said in a statement “the 26th brigade, backed by army jets, liberated on Thursday al-Riyad region, southeast of Hawija, and started combing it,” Iraqi News reported.

Earlier on the day, PMF liberated other villages in North of Hawija.

Joint Operations Command’s top general, Abdul-Amir Yarallah, said army, Federal Police, Rapid Response Forces and the Popular Mobilization forces announced on Thursday taking over the town of Hawija. 98 villages were seized back, while 196 militants were killed.

Iran has recently announced an indefinite ban on the transport of oil and energy products to and from Iraqi Kurdistan and has held joint military exercises with Iraq near the border with the autonomous region. Iranian political analyst Mosayeb Naimi explained that this is how Tehran vowed to stand by Baghdad following the vote for independence.

Oil Embargo and Military Fist: How Iraq and Iran Resist Iraqi Kurds Independence
https://sputniknews.com/analysis/201710051057976541-iraq-iran-kurdistan-independence/

"All the measures which Iran has undertaken against Iraqi Kurdistan come at the request of, and in agreement with, the Iraqi central government," Iraqi-born Iranian political analyst Mosayeb Naimi, an expert on Middle Eastern affairs and managing director of Iranian Arabic language Al Vefagh newspaper told Sputnik Persian.

The official position of Iran and a number of other UN member states, he went on to say, is that it is the Baghdad-based government which holds sovereignly over the territorial integrity of the country, while the Kurdish region remains merely an autonomous part of a unified and integral Iraq.

That is why, he said, if Iran suspends flights to and from this region and other trade and economic activity it is not a unilateral initiative but an action which had been coordinated with the country's central government in Baghdad.

Last week, Iran banned the transportation of refined crude oil products by Iranian companies to and from Iraq’s Kurdistan region and halted its flights to and from the autonomy. Turkey and Qatar and a number of other countries offering flights to Erbil, the capital city of the Iraqi Kurds, have made the same decision.

On Monday, Iranian and Iraqi forces staged joint military exercises near the border of the autonomous region, which involved armor and artillery units, as well as drones and other aircraft.

"Iran has always advocated the unity and territorial integrity of Iraq and has always denounced any manifestation of separatism, particularly by Iraqi Kurdistan, as it will have the most negative consequences for the whole of the Middle East and will serve a bad example for other regional groups,"
Mosayeb Naimi told Sputnik.

He further explained that these measures should not be perceived as directed against the Kurdish people. It is only a response to the request of the Baghdad-based government and a certain message to Masoud Barzani, the President of Iraqi Kurdistan, who acted solely of his own ambitions and in spite of the protest of its regional neighbors Iran, Turkey, Syria and other large countries.

Commenting on the Iran-Iraq military drills, the expert said that taking into account the escalating regional tensions and the so-called "sensitivity" of border areas, this is a necessary measure.

Earlier Iran has been holding its own military drill in this area, aimed at offering better control on its borders. It has been training the mechanisms and the tactics of prompt response to potential threats to its security.

"We are urging Baghdad and the Barzani government to find a compromise and a peaceful solution to their internal conflict. However if there is no peace, military confrontation becomes inevitable," Mosayeb Naimi said.

Turkey, he noted, has also been repeatedly notifying Masoud Barzani about its actions and its position. And forceful developments will plunge the whole region into chaos. Hence Iran, he said, is acting legally and logically, trying to prevent such an undesirable development.

"In such a situation Iran is forced to demonstrate its strong military peace, for the sake of peace and stability in the region,: the expert concluded.

TASS exclusive interview with Iraqi Ambassador to Russia Haidar Mansour Hadi

Baghdad is ready to talk with Kurds — Iraqi ambassador to Russia
http://tass.com/world/969229

On the 25th of September Kurdistan region of Iraq held referendum on independence. Federal government of Iraq considers it illegal. In the interview for TASS Ambassador of Iraq to Russia Haidar Mansour Hadi told how Baghdad going to manage resulting situation. Among the other themes were fighting against terrorism and the perspectives of cooperation between Moscow and Baghdad in rebuilding of Iraq after the imminent defeat of ISIS (terrorist organization, prohibited in Russia).

— Mr. Ambassador, my first question - maybe it is a little straightforward, a little provocative - is there any possibility of open conflict between central government of Iraq and Kurdistan?

You mean military conflict?

— Yes.

I don't think so. It is unlikely, because there is high level of coordination between Iraqi forces and peshmerga in fighting terrorism, in fighting ISIS (terrorist organization, prohibited in Russia - TASS). And I think both sides know that such conflict will not be good for both sides. Plus both sides are Iraqi, it will mean Iraqi - Iraqi conflict. We hope it will not reach that level. So I would say no.

— Could you say that this completely out of the question?

I mean, for now that is out of the question. Iraqi government has every means to force the stability and unity of Iraq. And Iraqi Parliament actually authorizes the Iraqi government to use every means necessary including military measures, but that's out of the question.

— But there are some territories which cause some concern. What about Kirkuk?

Yes, Kirkuk is very sensitive issue. I think the Constitution made it clear about Kirkuk and other territories that have to be agreed by the Federal government and Kurdistan government to have a shared power in them. And that will be up to the Federal government to make sure that happens. And that is one of the points that Parliament of Iraq authorized the government to do, authorize Prime Minister to do, which is to send troops to Kirkuk to stop any military movement there. And that's what will happen.

— But all that will happen, as I can understand, will happen within the framework of the Constitution?

Of course. Everything, all the government measures will take in accordance with Constitution and legal frames set by Iraqi government.

— My next question concerns territories which are held by the Kurdish forces after the recapture of Mosul. They liberated some territories that are not part of Kurdistan during the fighting with ISIS. Do they withdraw from them?

Yes. I mean that Prime Minister made it very clear to the leadership of Kurdistan that they need to withdraw from these areas that were captured after the invasion of ISIS to these parts. As I said, the government will use all measures under Constitution, all legal measures to make sure it will happen.

— But the Kurds - are they agree with the withdrawal? Do you have any problems with them withdrawing?

They need to obey by the Constitution. They were part of writing of Constitution back in 2005. When there was the referendum in 2005 to see what Iraqi think of the Constitution, the provinces of Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Dohuk voted 'yes' with the percentage of about 99%. This percentage was much higher than in any other Iraqi province. That means they themselves wrote the Constitution and they need to obey by it. The referendum we witnessed on the 25th of September was the clear violation of the Constitution in writing of which they participated. That's what the Iraqi government is trying to say: we have to go back to the Constitution, then we can sit down and talk to resolve any issues we have. There are few major issues that need to be resolved and they never are resolved unilaterally just like what happened at the referendum. Both sides need to sit down and agree on resolving these issues.

— And are those major issues from your point of view?

They are the issues of Kirkuk and the other areas that were captured after the invasion of ISIS. It's the oil export, the Kurdistan leadership export around 900 000 barrels a day without the approval of Iraqi government. The Iraqi government doesn't know where the revenues of these exports go. They are not going to the people of Kurdistan. So the Iraqi government needs to know it because all revenues have to be distributed equally and the beneficiary should be the Iraqi people. When you export 900 000 barrels a day and you don't know whether the revenues go to the Iraqi people - and by the way, Kurdish people are Iraqi people, Prime Minister made it clear that the Kurds are part of Iraq, they are Iraqi, they will be treated as such and the Federal government has the constitutional and the moral obligations to the Kurdish people. And the tensions now - they are not between the government and the Kurdish people, no, they are between the government of Iraq and the Kurdish leadership.

— As of now, are there any changes to the scheme of oil purchases and oil transportation from Kurdish territories to the central part of Iraq and other countries?

Iraqi government has made steps to get control over of all oil exports and also of the borders with other countries like Syria, Turkey and Iran. This is responsibility of the Federal government, it needs to control them in coordination with the Kurdistan region. In the past unfortunately the Federal government was not involved in oil exports from the region and export of goods through borders. But now Prime Minister made it clear that Federal Government will have a say in these areas, on these and other borders, airports. That's also under the Constitution.

— Has this situation caused drops in oil export or are you expecting such drops?

Iraqi government’s exports - it is business as usual. There are no drops. There are also some talks... To be honest I read interview that the Sputnik did with the Deputy Head of Parliament of Kurdistan region. Unfortunately there were a lot of false accusations against the Iraqi government. One of the things he said is that the Iraqi Government is punishing the Kurdish people and that is not true. The Prime Minister Heidar al-Abadi made it clear: the Kurdish people are Iraqi people. There are free movements of goods, domestic flights are still open for operation and there were no stoppage to domestic flights. There are flights from Baghdad, Erbil, Baghdad - Sulaymaniyah, Basra, Najaf, Sulaymaniyah So there is no stoppage to that.

Only suspension - and this is temporary - is to the international flights until transition of control to the Federal government. Then the flights will resume. So there is no blockage, there is no siege of any kind. The Iraqi government has obligation to the Kurdish people. So the problem, the tension we have is with the Kurdish leadership. Not with the Kurdish people, not even with the Kurdish political parties, because according to our information there is a division between Kurdish parties. Some political parties are sceptic about what's happening, they are sceptic about the referendum and the things that behind it. They have fears of control by one party after the referendum. So there is a problem in Kurdish political process. This proves that not everyone in Kurdistan wants to be separated.

I have talked to a few friends from Erbil and Sulaymaniyah and they were totally against it. Some political parties publicly said that they are against it. There is also a movement in Kurdistan, I think it is called "No to the referendum movement", and they were publicly opposed to the referendum.

— There is a lot of talk by (Head of Iraqi Kurdistan) Masud Barzani about some kind of negotiations with central government of Iraq. Recently I have read about plan by Vice President Ayad Allawi which was presented to the Prime Minister of Iraq Heidar al-Abadi about negotiations. Are they the same talks that Barzani proposes or do you see them differently?

Mr. Masoud Barzani proposing to go to Baghdad and engage to the negotiations with results of the referendum, and that is totally opposed by the Iraqi government. Prime Minister Doctor al-Abadi is ready and opened to the negotiations but first they have to announce that referendum is against the Constitution, that it is illegal, that there is a problem with the legitimacy of the referendum. And not only Iraq said that: most of the countries, the major countries including Russia, United States, Turkey, Iran, United Kingdom, France, Germany - they all want the unity of Iraq. I had the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and he made it clear to me that position of the Russian government lies with the unity of Iraq, unity of its territories and engaging in direct negotiations to resolve all issues. Unfortunately some Kurdish media trying to present the position of Russian government as supporting referendum, but no, it's not true. That's from Russian officials, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. They were opposing of what was happening in Iraq. They were always strongly announcing they with the unity of Iraq and it is clear to us that they are against the referendum. So all this countries, the international community is against the referendum. So only way to resolve those issues is by going back to the Constitution. We don't want any conditions and the negotiations have to be without any preconditions.

— But as I can understand you want Masoud Barzani to say that the referendum was illegal?

Yes, because it is illegal, the referendum is against the Constitution, the Constitution they wrote themselves including Mr. Masoud Barzani. We are not against the wishes of the Kurdish people, we are with them, but there is way to do it. It means you have to go through the Parliament, and there are Kurdish representatives there. All they need to do is submit the official request: we have to do the referendum, and then it will be discussed in the Iraqi parliament. The referendum they did was only in the three provinces. What about the other provinces? Iraq consists of 18 of them. Any referendum in Iraq has to include all Iraqis, not only three provinces. And without any observers from international community, from the Iraqi Federal government we are not sure if the percentages of the votes are true, because there is nobody to verify the results. The said 93% (in support of independence - TASS), but is that true?

So it has to go according to the Constitution, through the Parliament. There are steps to be discussed before any referendum could take place in Iraq.

— How do you see the resolution of this whole situation? What are the aims of Baghdad in this crisis?

Now we are fighting the vicious war, we are fighting terrorism. We have international support in this. We are fighting terrorism - Kurdish forces with the Federal government forces together. In some parts they fought together, in some parts federal forces fought. The referendum is clear violation of the government efforts and danger to the war against terrorism that is creating unstable situation. That is what we don't want to happen. So Baghdad position is very clear - we want the things to be done legally. Unfortunately the referendum was illegal, it was unilateral decision, not bilateral, plus there is international rejection of the referendum, of the separation of Iraq. Every country, even Arab League voted unanimously against the separation of Iraq. UN Security Council voted unanimously against the separation of Iraq. You have al-Azhar in Egypt, the religious authority, religious authority in Najaf in Iraq which also against separation of Iraq. So the whole world is against the separation, any illegal and unilateral actions. We hope that this message will get through and the Kurdish leadership will accept to engage in negotiations with Baghdad without preconditions to resolve all issues.

— Do you see any international help in negotiations as useful? I saw the USA proposed help as mediators in those talks.

The USA made their position very clear. Foreign Secretary Rex Tillerson few says ago said at the press-conference said that the United States don't accept the results of referendum which happened in Kurdistan and they against any separation and support the unity. He had even said that the referendum was clear violation of the efforts against terrorism, that it can slow down the pace of fighting in Iraq, so the United States totally against it. Russian Federation is totally against it. Other countries are against it. They are with the unity of Iraq. If they had a choice between Baghdad and referendum, I think everyone would choose Baghdad. That is a clear message from international community for the unity of Iraq. The same is with Iraqi government - we are for the unity of Iraq and the Federal government will take all measures necessary to keep Iraq united.

Plus one of the things the Kurdish leadership said that they were unfairly treated by the Iraqi government and that is why they went for the referendum - I would argue against this. They are an important part of Iraqi political process since 2003. Unfortunately yesterday we witnessed the passing of the former President Jalal Talabani, and he was Kurd, even current president (Fuad Masum) is the Kurdish. We had Foreign Minister from 2003 until 2014 from Kurdistan. We have ministers, we have ambassadors, deputy ministers, members of Parliament from Kurdistan. 17% of the federal budget goes to Kurdistan. So I don't see where they were unfairly treated. They are very important part of the political process, the real partners. So there is no base to these allegations.

— Do you need any international help for the negotiations between central government and the Kurds?

No, we don't need international help. It is an internal issue and we are capable of resolving it. Any international support would be appreciated but we believe it is an internal issue and we are capable of resolving it. The Kurdish leadership has to go before the 25th of September, before the referendum, so we can go and have real and objective and positive negotiations.

— I saw announcement about the stoppage of the financial operations between central government and Kurdish regions. What does this mean?

This mean that the Federal government will take its responsibilities to the Kurdish people. The Iraqi government job will be to provide salaries for them, to provide everything because these seems to be a problem when money given to the regional government. So the government now will take it's responsibilities and have control over the borders, goods going in and out and have control over the airports and the financial support. As i said before, the Kurdish people are Iraqi and the Prime Minister is the minister of whole Iraq. So he will be responsible for looking after Kurdish people. So there is no fight, no blockade between, no problem between the central government and the Kurdish people. There is a problem between central government and the Kurdish leadership. They made it very difficult be going to the referendum.

— Just to be clear - people of the Kurdish region will not stay without salaries and pensions?

No. The Iraqi government has been paying regional government, so it is a moral responsibility even towards the Kurdish leadership to make sure that the Kurdish people get paid. So now Iraqi government is stepping forward to take this responsibility because unfortunately this did not happen previously.

— I want to ask few questions which are not directly concern the Kurdish referendum. The fight against terrorism - how is it going after the liberation of Mosul? What are the main goals now?

Our Prime Minister recently had press-conference where he pinpointed the main developments in the war against terrorism. It is going very well. Now we are at the last stages of fighting, of liberating Hawija, the last stronghold of ISIS fighters. Once we liberated Hawija hopefully whole Iraq will be ISIS-free. There is high coordination between different Iraqi forces, the military, federal police, peshmerga and the popular mobilization units. Everyone is working together to win the war against ISIS.

We won the war against ISIS, now we are hopefully within days when in a very short time the Prime Minister will declare that the war against the terrorism has been won by Iraqis. We managed to win the very difficult war and that proves the determination of Iraqi people, proves the will of Iraqi people for the stable country. We are looking forward for stable, united Iraq.

And while us talking about the victory I have to mention the Russian part in this victory. To be honest the Russian Federation played big part in winning the war against terrorism as well as the international community. As the Iraqi ambassador to the Russian Federation I have to say that Russia was the vital partner to us with the information center in Baghdad, also through the military supplies, military training. So Iraq and Russia are the strategic partners in the war against terrorism.

— My congratulations with this great victory. But now that the war is almost over i guess Iraq will not need any direct Russian help in this fight?

Of course we will need Russian help. After we win the war we will have to rebuild Iraq. We will have to rebuild all the areas destroyed by the ISIS, by the war. Iraq will need the expertise of the Russian companies. I had the meeting last week with Iraqi-Russian business council. We discussed the cooperation between Russian companies and Embassy to support Russian companies to play a big part at the Iraqi market. There's going to be a lot of business opportunities, especially in the areas destroyed by the ISIS. So we will continue to need Russian support and so it will not stop.

— To continue the theme - recently we have witnessed reopening of direct flights between Moscow and Baghdad. What do you think it could bring to both countries?

It was a great achievement in Iraqi - Russian bilateral relations. The last direct flight between Baghdad and Moscow was in July 1990. After 27 years we managed to reopen direct line. Today probably in about 15 minutes the plane will arrive, as every Wednesday. Hopefully in future it will be twice a week. This will open the doors towards more business opportunities. This - direct flights - proves that the relationship between Russia and Iraq is strong. So having direct flights brings not only the economic benefits. It will also benefit Iraqi students - we have 5 000 Iraqi students studying in the Russian Federation. It is also good news for them.

— When Vice President Nuri al-Maliki visited Russia recently he said something about purchases of Russian military vehicles, even something about Russian military presence in Iraq. Was there any continuation to these ideas?

No, no. There is military support for Iraq from Russia through military supplies, through training. But on the ground there were only Iraqi fighting the war against the terrorism, and the Prime Minister made it clear. But we are open to any kind of air support, any kind of support that will help us. But in the war on the ground there are only Iraqi forces.

— But even for air support you need to invite...

We are issuing visas to military personnel, they are going to Iraq to train Iraqi forces, Iraqi pilots how to use Sukhoi and other equipment. So there is coordination and working relationships between two countries.

— If you inviting Russian personnel for training you are buying Russian vehicles?

Exactly, we are buying them as I said. We have military attaché here and he is in charge of all military deals. Former Prime Minister al-Maliki, I think back in 2014, signed 4,2 billion (dollars) military deal with Russia. So we buying weaponry, buying tanks and everything... so there is military cooperation between the two countries

— Are there plans for any new military deals?

That’s continuous meetings, continuous work. Current contracts are still being executed. Hopefully in the future there will be more contracts because the relationship between our countries goes back more than 73 years and most of the weaponry we have is Russian. So there will be continuous support as long as we have military attaché here in Moscow and embassy in Moscow and Baghdad there will be business relationship.

angelburst29 · Oct 8, 2017

Speaker of Iraq's parliament Salim Jabouri is visiting the city of Erbil to discuss the current crisis between Baghdad and the autonomous region.

Iraqi Parliament Speaker Travels to Iraqi Kurdistan - Reports
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201710081058046462-iraq-kurdistan-crisis/

Speaker of Iraq's parliament Salim Jabouri is headed to the city of Erbil to meet with the leader of Iraqi Kurdistan Masoud Barzani, media reported Sunday.

On Thursday, Jabouri told Sputnik that he was likely to meet with leaders of Iraqi Kurdistan to discuss the current crisis between Baghdad and the autonomous region. The meeting scheduled between Barzani and Jabouri was reported by the Rudaw broadcaster.

The day before Kurdish Regional Government President Masoud Barzani and Iraqi Vice Presidents Osama Nujaify and Ayad Allawi agreed to de-escalate the tensions over the recent Kurdish autonomy independence referendum. The parties decided Saturday to engage in a dialogue and hold meetings between Iraqi political parties in the near future.

On September 25, more than 90 percent of voters taking part in the referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan backed the region's independence from Baghdad. Iraqi authorities declared the referendum illegal, and stressed that they would not engage in negotiations with the local authorities following the announcement of the vote's results, while the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority suspended all international flights to and from Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports.

The Kurdish Regional Government and Baghdad have agreed to de-escalate the tensions over the recent Kurdish autonomy independence referendum and engage in a dialogue.

Erbil, Baghdad Agree on Lifting Anti-Kurdish Sanctions
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201710081058043951-baghdad-kurdistan-agree-dialogue/

Kurdish Regional Government President Masoud Barzani and Iraqi Vice Presidents Osama Nujaify and Ayad Allawi agreed to de-escalate the tensions over the recent Kurdish autonomy independence referendum, local media reported.

The parties decided Saturday to engage in a dialogue and hold meetings between Iraqi political parties in the near future, the Kurdistan 24 broadcaster reported, citing Fuad Hussein, the Chief of Staff to the Kurdistan Region Presidency.

Hussein added that three politicians had also agreed on "lifting all sanctions on the Kurdistan Region."

More than 100 European ISIL terrorists will be prosecuted in Iraq, with most facing the death penalty, the country’s ambassador to Belgium said.

Over 100 European ISIL Terrorists Face Death Penalty in Iraq
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960716001367

Jawad al-Chlaihawi said Belgians were among those detained, along with terrorists from Russia, Chechnya and Central Asia, Al Waght reported.

Militants from around the world joined ISIL’s call to arms when the group established its self-proclaimed "rule" across Iraq and Syria in 2014.

Chlaihawi told Belgium’s RTPF there were around 1,400 family members of foreign terrorists of suspected ISIL members, including children, being held near Mosul. Many are reportedly from Turkey, and former Soviet countries in Central Asia, but there are also believed to be some French and Germans among them.

Chlaihawi told the broadcaster that Iraq was working with European governments to determine what should happen to them, but some did not want to receive them.

The fight against ISIL is believed to be entering its closing stages in both Iraq and Syria.

Nine ISIL suicide attackers were killed in Northern Salahuddin, Iraqi Interior Ministry said.

Iraqi Police Kill Nine ISIL Suicide Attackers in Northern Salahuddin
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960716000489

“Nine ISIL suicide bombers were killed by police of the Eastern side of Shirqat, North of Salahuddin, while combing Shatei’ al-Jadar village,” ,” Maj. Gen. Saad Maan, Interior Ministry’s spokesperson, said in a statement, Iraqi News reported.

Iraqi's Federal Police announced, late September, liberation of Eastern Shirqat, the group’s holdout in North of the province. 225 militants had been killed since the launch of operations in Shirqat.

Over 300 ISIL militants were killed as the Hawija Operations Command announced accomplishing targets of the second phase of operations, Iraqi media said.

Iraqi Commander: Over 300 ISIL Militants Killed in Hawija Offensive
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960716000767

“Federal Police, the rapid Response forces, the third and fourth brigades of Popular Mobilization Forces accomplished its targets of the second phase of operations in Hawija,” Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah, commander of Hawija Operations, said in a statement, Iraqi News reported.

In another statement by the Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell, Yarallah said, “troops killed 385 ISIL members, including five snipers, and arrested six others. 95 booby-trapped vehicles and 422 explosives were defused. 20 rest houses were destroyed.

150 villages in Hawija were freed, in addition to al-Abbassi region and the Northern side of Hawija, the statement said. Huge amounts of weapons were found, 10 tunnels and five telecommunications centers were destroyed. 240 civilians were evacuated.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi declared on Thursday liberation of Hawija. The second phase of the offensive was launched in late September.

According to Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell, 557 ISIL militants were killed, while more than 100 villages and regions were liberated during the first phase, which launched on September 24th.

Having recaptured Hawija, Iraqi troops still have only western Anbar’s towns of Rawa and Qaim remain under the militant’s control.

A U.S. Soldier killed and another injured Sunday in Iraq after an improvised explosive struck their vehicle, according to the U.S. military-led coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

U.S. Soldier killed and another injured by improvised explosive blast in Iraq Tuesday October 3, 2017 
https://globaldefensenews.com/us-soldier-killed-another-injured-improvised-explosive-blast-iraq/

The U.S. soldier killed in a roadside bomb blast Sunday in Iraq was a 20-year-old transport driver less than a month into his first overseas deployment, according to the Pentagon.

Army Spc. Alexander W. Missildine died Sunday of wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in northern Iraq, according to a Pentagon statement released Tuesday. He was assigned to the 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division from Fort Polk in Louisiana.

One other American soldier was injured in the attack on a U.S. convoy traveling in Salaheddin province in northern central Iraq, which includes Shirqat, one of a few remaining Iraqi towns where Islamic State militants control territory. No other details of the attack were released.

At least 13 U.S. troops have now been killed while fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

In July, Iraqi forces, aided by the U.S.-led coalition, liberated Mosul, the country’s second-largest city, from ISIS control. The forces are now attempting to remove the group from other cities in northern Iraq including Hawijah, north of Baghdad.

Also, in August a Utah Army National Guardsman Staff Sgt. Aaron R. Butler, 27, was supporting Operation Freedom’s Sentinel when an explosive device detonated during combat operations in eastern Afghanistan, Pentagon officials said.

Other U.S. and Afghan soldiers suffered “various degrees of injury” while clearing a booby-trapped building in Nangarhar Province, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said at a news conference Thursday.

More than 5,000 U.S. troops are in the country but are not directly involved in combat. They are instead serving in support and advisory roles.

The chief of the Iran Revolutionary Guards has reportedly vowed to equate the US Army with Daesh if the US puts them on the terror group list.

Iran Revolutionary Guards Vow to Designate US Army as Equivalent to Daesh
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201710081058046184-iran-revolutionary-guards-us-army-daesh/

Mohammad Ali Jafari also stated that the United States was wrong about the pressure it put on Iran while negotiating on regional issues, Iran's Tasnim news agency cited the Guards' commander on Sunday.

Ali Jafari warned the United States against imposing new sanctions against Iran and withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), reminding of the possible consequences.

On Thursday, the Washington Post newspaper reported that US President Donald Trump intended to "decertify" nuclear deal with Iran next week. According to the newspaper, Trump is expected to deliver a speech on October 12, when he opens the door to modifying the agreement as part of a tougher approach toward Iran. Under the terms of the current nuclear agreement, Trump has time until October 15 to certify Iran's compliance.

Speaking at a meeting of the IRGC on Sunday, Jafari said that the possible introduction of new anti-Iranian sanctions would mean the US withdrawal from the JCPOA and that Washington would then have to relocate its regional bases out of the reach of Iran’s missiles, which have a range of 2,000 kilometers (about 1,240 miles), the Tasnim news agency reported.

The opportunity for further cooperation between the two countries would disappear forever in case the sanctions are introduced, Jafari stressed.

On Saturday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that neither Trump nor "tens of other Trumps" were able to take back the benefits that Tehran received from the JCPOA.

At the end of July 2017 the US imposed new sanctions on Tehran targeting its ballistic missile program. Iran responded to the US' unilateral move by increasing the funding of the program.

After Trump's first ever speech at the UN General Assembly which contained accusations and harsh rhetoric toward Iran, Tehran unveiled the Khorramshahr ballistic missile during a military parade dedicated to the annual Sacred Defense Week. For the sake of detente, Iran has long tried not to take any measures that could disturb the opposite side, and expected the lifting of all financial and economic sanctions in return.

On September 21, following a ministerial meeting at the UN on the Iran nuclear agreement US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson admitted that reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) show that Tehran is acting in compliance with the nuclear accord.

angelburst29 · Oct 9, 2017

A senior Iraqi mobilization leader repeated warnings to Kurdish troops against staying in the disputed province of Kirkuk, saying that his forces will fight to maintain the province’s affiliation with Iraq.

Iraq Mobilization Leader Reiterates Readiness to Fight for Kirkuk
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960717001355

Secretary general of Asaeb Ahl al-Haq, Qais al-Khazaali, a component of the Popular Mobilization Forces, said that Kirkuk is an Iraqi city, adding that “we are ready to fight to defend it”, Al Sumariya reported.

Speaking during a tribal gathering in Najaf, said that “attempts to divide Iraq is an Israeli scheme to distract us,” as he put it.

“Any force that stands in the face of Iraqi forces at disputed areas will be stricken,” according to Kazaali. “So will be the case with Nineveh Plain, Sinjar, Tal Afar and Rabia,” he added, referring to other areas in Nineveh province where Baghdad and Erbil dispute sovereignty. “No one can prevent the Mobilization from entering any Iraqi region, and there shall be a day when it enters Kirkuk and other disputed regions with the army”.

He, however, vowed to avoid any clash with the Kurdish population.

Oil-rich Kirkuk has been a subject of contentions between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region government. The city has been at the center of an intense political crisis that flared after Kurdistan voted for independence from Iraq in the referendum held on September 25th. Baghdad had objected to running the vote in Kirkuk, and removed ousted its Kurdish governor over his complicity.

Iraqi army warplanes bombarded an ISIL camp in Anbar’s desert on Monday as preparations continue to invade the group’s last havens in the province and Iraq, military media said.

Iraqi Army Jets Bombard Camouflaged ISIL Camp in Anbar
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960717001314

The Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell said army jets detected a camouflaged Islamic State camp in the form of cracks made in the ground at the 160th kilometer region in the center of Anbar’s desert, Iraqi News reported.

According to the WMC statement, 15 vehicles belonging to the group and ten oil barrels were destroyed in the raid.

An ISIL top explosive expert was killed as security troops set up an ambush for the militants in Diyala, a security source said on Monday.

ISIL Top Explosive Expert Succumbs to Death in Iraq's Diyala
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960717001596

“Joint troops, backed by Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces set up over the past two days an ambush for ISIL militants near Qurret Tabah, Northeast of Diyala,” Alghad Press reported.

“Three militants were trapped before confrontations started, leaving one killed and two others seriously injured,” the source added.

“One of the injured militants was one of the group’s top explosive experts in the region,” the source said. “Confirmed news indicate that the militant succumbed to death due to his serious wounds over the past few hours.”

Before the militant was killed, according to the source, “he threatened PMFs to kill them using bombs after failure to kill them using mortar missiles.” “The militant’s brother was killed four years ago while planting a bomb to target civilians in the region,” the source added.

On Saturday, six ISIL members, including a leader, were killed in airstrikes by the Iraqi army and allied forces in Northeast of Diyala. Five of them were killed in airstrike at the outskirts of al-Leheib village, located in al-Zor basin, while the sixth was killed as army jets bombarded a pivotal target on the agricultural road between Bouthja and Kuseiba villages.

On the same day, Iraqi troops regained full control on mountains that stretch out between Diyala and Kirkuk provinces, retaking areas between Zgheitoun bridge reaching until al-Fatha bridge, an area that stretches out 45 kilometers with depth of 15 kilometers.

The President of Iraqi Kurdistan, Masoud Barzani, announced on Tuesday that the ‘yes’ vote won regarding the independence referendum.

Kurdish leader announces ‘yes’ vote won for independence referendum
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-kurdish-leader-announces-yes-vote-won-independence-referendum/

According to the figures released by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KRG), more than 93 percent of voters had voted in favor of the referendum on September 25th.

The Iraqi government has already condemned the vote; however, they have yet to issue a comment about the results.

Iraqi Premier, Haider Al-‘Abadi, demanded on Tuesday that the KRG give Baghdad full control of their airports and borders or else the central government will close off airspace to Iraqi Kurdistan.

The Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider Al-‘Abadi, demanded the KRG regime in Erbil give Baghdad full control of the airports and borders in Iraqi Kurdistan, Al-Sura News reported.

Iraqi PM gives Kurdish regime 72 hours to give control of airports, border to Baghdad
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-iraqi-pm-gives-kurdish-regime-72-hours-give-control-airports-border-baghdad/

‘Abadi warned that if the KRG refused to adhere to this demand, Baghdad will close-off the borders and airspace over Iraq, making it difficult for Iraqi Kurdistan to resume commerce.

The KRG’s leader, Masoud Barzani, has yet to respond to this demand from Baghdad.

The Iraqi Premier’s demand comes just 24 hours after the Kurdistan independence referendum.

The Council of Representatives of Iraq has given Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi a mandate to deploy troops to the disputed city of Kirkuk and its oil fields, as reported by Iraqi state media.

Iraqi government given mandate to deploy troops to disputed Kirkuk
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/iraqi-government-given-mandate-deploy-troops-disputed-kirkuk/

Kirkuk, the fifth-biggest city in Iraq and capital of the oil-rich Kirkuk Governorate, is not officially part of Iraqi Kurdistan, but is under control of Kurdish military forces. On August 29, Kurdish representatives of the Kirkuk Provincial Council voted in favour of participating in the Kurdish referendum, in a vote that was boycotted by Arab and Turkmen Council members.

The call to deploy armed forces to Kirkuk comes as a result of the September 25 referendum on Kurdish secession that, according to Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, resulted in a victory for the separatist camp.

However, the vote itself and its results have been deemed illegal and unconstitutional by Iraqi authorities. Prime Minister Abad has on Wednesday repeated his ultimatum to the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), stating the KRG had to relinquish control over all airports in the areas under its control, or face a total ban on direct international flights.

“We won’t have a dialogue about the referendum outcome (…) If they want to start talks, they must cancel the referendum and its outcome.”,
Abadi said in his Wednesday speech to parliament.

The regional KRG ministry of Transport has however already refused these demands, stating that they need the airports in order to combat ISIS forces in the region.

The official call by parliament to deploy troops to the city of Kirkuk marks another increase in tension between Baghdad and the KRG. On Tuesday, Iraqi and Turkish troops hosted joint military exercises near the Iraqi Kurdish regional border, in an apparent show of force towards Kurdish separatists.

The Iraqi government has implemented a no-fly zone over Iraqi Kurdistan, today, following the latter’s recent independence referendum.

No-fly zone in effect over Iraqi Kurdistan
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/no-fly-zone-effect-iraqi-kurdistan/

According to statement released by the Iraqi government, a no-fly zone is in effect over the KRG (Kurdistan Regional Government) controlled areas of northern Iraq.

In particular, the Iraq government’s no-fly zone covers the three KRG controlled provinces of Suleimaniyeh, Erbil, and Dohuk – the Kirkuk Governorate was not mentioned.

The Iraqi Air Defense has been given the green light to shoot down any aircraft that is flying over this region without permission.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has released an official statement which rejects attempts by the Kurdistan Regional Government to unilaterally cede from Iraq.

Russia officially rejects Iraqi Kurdish breakaway
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-russia-officially-rejects-iraqi-kurdish-breakaway/

The foreign ministry statement says that whilst Russia respects Kurdish desires for an independent nation, it does not believe that such a goal should be achieved at the risk of further destabilizing an already war-stricken Iraq.

Russian foreign ministry officials are concerned that the brazen separatist actions of the Kurdistan Regional Government will only serve to encourage more conflict and political insecurity.

According the Russian foreign ministry, the issue of Kurdish independence in Iraq should be discussed through “constructive and respectful dialogue” and solved in a way that maintains the integrity of a unified Iraq.

angelburst29 · Oct 10, 2017

Several hundred suspected ISIL militants surrendered last week to local authorities after the militant group lost its last stronghold in Northern Iraq, a security official said Tuesday.

Source: Hundreds of Suspected ISIL Militants Surrender in Iraq
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960718001594

The suspects were part of a group of men who fled toward Kurdish-held lines when Iraqi forces captured the ISIL base in Hawija, the official said, asking not to be identified, Daily Star reported.

The report of militants fleeing, rather than fighting to the finish as in previous battles, suggested their morale may be fading, said Hisham al-Hashimi, a Baghdad-based expert on ISIL affairs.

"They no longer seem to believe in the cause," Hashimi told Reuters.

ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi released an audio recording two weeks ago that indicated he was alive, after several reports he had been killed. He urged his followers to keep up the fight despite setbacks in Iraq and Syria.

"Approximately 1,000 men surrendered over the last week. Not all, however, are terrorists," said the security official in Irbil, the Northern Iraqi base of the Kurdistan Regional Government.

They handed themselves in to Peshmerga forces in the Kurdish-held oil city of Kirkuk, East of Hawija, he said. "It's fair to say hundreds probably are ISIL members, but that will be clear after the debriefs," he said.

The town of Hawija and surrounding areas fell on Oct. 5 in an offensive by US-backed Iraqi government troops and Iranian-trained and popular groups known as Popular Mobilization Forces.

ISIL last territory in Iraq is now a stretch along the Western border with Syria, including the border town of al-Qaim. The militants also hold areas on the Syrian side of the border, but they are retreating there.ISIL's cross-border self-proclaimed "rule" effectively collapsed in July, when Iraqi forces captured Mosul, the group's de facto capital in Iraq, in a nine-month battle.

Dozens of ISIL militants were killed when Iraqi army warplanes targeted militants’ gatherings in Western Anbar, security sources said.

Dozens of ISIL Members Killed in Western Anbar Raid
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960718000965

The sources said that army jets bombarded Wadi al-Qathef region when tens of group members were rallying preparing for an attack on army forces. They said the raid left dozens of militants dead, including foreign nationals, Iraqi News reported.

So far, the offensives managed to retake Mosul, the group’s former capital, the town of Tal Afar, Kirkuk’s Hawija and Anbar’s Annah.

The only regions that currently remain under ISIL’s territorial influence are Anbar’s towns of Rawa and Qaim. Reports are telling of running preparations for invading the two regions. If recaptured, that will mark a practical end to ISIL’s control in Iraq.

Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that the US-led coalition has sharply reduced the intensity of its attacks on ISIL in Iraq.

Russian MoD Claims US Coalition 'Imitates' Fight Against ISIL in Iraq
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960718000583

The continued provision of supplies to terrorists in Syria from their fellow militants in Iraq raises serious questions regarding the objectives of the US-led coalition, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said, Sputnik reported.

"The continuing supply of terrorists from Iraq raises serious questions about the objectives of operations against terrorists conducted in the region by aircraft of the United States and the so-called international coalition," Konashenkov said.

Following the beginning of the operation of Syrian troops in Deir Ezzur, the United States reduced attacks on terrorists in Iraq.

Igor Konashenkov said that foreign mercenaries from Iraq use armored vehicles and pickups with weapons to provide daily replenishment to Daesh troops in the Syrian city of Mayadin.

Russian combat jets destroyed the economic infrastructure of the Daesh terrorist group in Syria, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Tuesday.

"The Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed the economic infrastructure of ISIL in Syria and any attempts by terrorists to resume production and illegal sale of hydrocarbons in Syria are being stopped. ISIL in Syria has no sources of financing arms and ammunition procurement or recruitment of mercenaries," Konashenkov said.

He said that in the Western part of Iraq, ISIL-controlled territory continues to increase.

angelburst29 · Oct 12, 2017

Israel is the world's largest importer of Iraqi Kurdistan's oil
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/10/israel-is-worlds-largest-importer-of.html

Israel is the world’s largest importer of crude oil from the Iraqi province of Kurdistan in 2017, a report claims.

According to the data from the US company ClipperData which tracks and projects gasoline shipments worldwide, about half of all the crude oil which extracted from the oil fields in Iraqi Kurdistan, was shipped to Israel.

Previously, Italy was the world's largest importer of Kurdistan's oil.

It is estimated that the areas controlled by the Kurdistan Regional Government provide about 500,000 to 600,000 barrels of oil to the world market on a daily basis through an oil pipeline extending further to the port of Ceyhan in southern Turkey. During the time of the Kurdistan independece referendum provocations, the pipeline got shut down at least twice by Turkey.

The Israeli media reported that the data disclosed by the members of the Gorran Movement, Kurdistan’s largest opposition party, indicated that Israeli companies received about 3.8 million barrels of crude oil from the Kurdistan region of Iraq in the month of September.

The Israeli news channel i24News claims that although the buyers in Israel were mostly private oil companies, these purchases nevertheless injected substantial funds into the Kurdistan Province's budget and gave real impetus to the statements, previously made by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he fully supported the Iraqi Kurdistan independence referendum, and gave the “right to self-determination of the Kurdish people”, as he put it.

Meanwhile, Iraq's oil minister, Jabar Al Luaibi, has asked state-owned North Oil Co., the operator of the Kirkuk fields, the State Company for Oil Projects and the state pipeline company to begin the process of restoring and reopening the Kirkuk Ceyhan pipeline which extends all the way from the oil fields of Kirkuk province to the southern Turkish port of Ceyhan, and passed through the Iraqi provinces of Salah Ad Din and Nineveh.

He urged to restore the former export capacity, which was between 250,000 to 400,000 barrels per day.

Iraq will reopen a discontinued crude oil pipeline to Turkey that was shut after ISIS took over territory that the pipeline passed through, the oil ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

Iraq to reopen pipeline to Turkey that bypasses Kurdistan
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/10/iraq-to-reopen-pipeline-to-turkey-that.html

This pipeline bypasses one operated by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) which has become increasingly isolated since it conducted an unconstitutional independence referendum on September 25.

Iraq's oil minister, Jabar al-Luaibi, has asked state-owned North Oil Co., the operator of the Kirkuk fields, the State Company for Oil Projects and the state pipeline company to begin the process of restoring and reopening the Kirkuk Ceyhan pipeline.

KRG wholly relies on Turkey's Ceyhan port to export its oil to the world and Turkey in recent weeks have threatened to shut the pipeline.

The Turkish newspaper Yeni Akit, a propaganda mouthpiece with very close ties to the head of the Turkish regime Recep Tayyip Erdogan, published an article, claiming that the Iraqi cities of Mosul and Kirkuk are Turkish because they were once occupied by the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II.

"Mosul and Kirkuk are Turkish cities" - Erdogan regime begins paving its way for Iraq
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/10/mosul-and-kirkuk-are-turkish-cities.html

The newspaper claimed that Sultan Abdul Hamid ll held ownership over many important areas in Iraq, including 104 square kilometers and 807 hectares of land in Karbala, and 489 square kilometers and 557 hectares of land in Kadhimiya and Samarra.

The newspaper noted that Sultan who ruled between 1876-1909 sought to strengthen the Ottoman Empire in the wake of the potential foreign occupational campaigns and thus attempted to seize and secure as many land as possible.

The article of Yeni Akit likely comes as a response to the recent Iraqi Kurdistan independence referendum which was gravely opposed by the Erdogan regime.

Many now fear Erdogan will exploit the referendum for his territorial ambitions in Iraq and turn its outcome in his favour by deploying his forces to Kirkuk.

It is noteworthy that Kirkuk, itself an ancient Assyrian city, is now a major hub of the Iraqi Turkmen minority.

This is not the first such controversial article published in Turkey in recent time.

Last year, Erdogan's Anadolu News Agency published an article, citing data from the archived Ottoman documents, according to which, there used to be at least 7763 records of Turkish properties in the Iraqi city of Mosul, dating back 169 years.

Meanwhile, the newspaper Gerçek Hayat (itself a subsidiary of Yeni Shafaq, another notorious Erdogan regime mouthpiece), proclaimed Turkey as the owner of the whole Middle East.

An Iraqi court issued arrest warrants for members of the Kurdistan Region’s High Electoral and Referendum Commission on charges of supervising the independence referendum contrary to a decision made by Iraq’s high federal court.

Iraqi Court Orders Arrest of Kurdistan Region Electoral Commission Members
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960719001570

“The Rusafa Investigation Court has issued an arrest warrant for the head and members of the commission who supervised the referendum in the Kurdistan Region,” said Judge Abdulstar Bayraqdar, spokesperson for the high judicial council, Rudaw reported.

The Rusafa court is located in Baghdad.

“The verdict was issued after the National Security Council filed a lawsuit arguing that the referendum was contrary to the decision of the high federal court,” he explained.

Iraq’s National Security Council, under the authority of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, stated on Monday it had put together a “list of names” of “state employees within the Kurdistan Region” who stand accused of holding the referendum. It said they will take “legal measures” against them through the office of the public prosecutor.

Asked whether Baghdad will now issue an arrest warrant for Barzani, who called for the vote, Abadi said on Tuesday, “some names were mentioned within that frame… we are awaiting legal procedures in this regard.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Tuesday that the current dispute with Kurdistan Region over the latter’s referendum on independence will not lead to a severance of relations, but reiterated the unconstitutionality of the poll.

Abadi: No Estrangement with Iraq's Kurdistan Region, Referendum Remains Rejected
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960719000917

“There shall be no estrangement with Kurdistan,” the prime minister said in his weekly press briefing in Baghdad. He, however, reiterated his rejection of any dialgoue with Kurdish authorities before abrogating the results of the poll, Iraqi News reported.

Kurdistan region said last month 92% of voters, with a turnout of nearly 73%, backed independence from Iraq during the poll held on 25th.

According to Abadi, “Any dialogue should be based on Iraq’s unity, the constitution and the rejection of the referendum”.

Kurdish authorities have recently expressed readiness for dialogue but without prior conditions.

The referendum has been widely disapproved by major world powers, including the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, Turkey and Iran.

Abadi, during his briefing, again urged Kurdish Peshmerga forces not to clash with government forces once they take over the responsibility of security at areas where both governments dispute sovereignty. The Iraqi parliament had ordered the government to retake control over security at those areas, most notably oil-rich Kirkuk.

Iraq’s military command denied claims made in an Israeli report which suggested that the Kirkuk town of Hawija, a major ISIL bastion, was recaptured based on a deal with the militants.

Iraq Denies Israeli Report Saying Hawija Recaptured after Deal with ISIL
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960719000757

“Iraqi troops had not, and will never, strike a deal with ISIL, neither in Hawija nor anywhere else,” said Yahia Rasoul, spokesman of the Joint Operations Command, Iraqi News reported.

“There had been a ferocious fighting, hundreds of ISIL were killed, and hundreds of explosive devices were defused…what deal are you talking about?,” he said labeling the allegations “very funny”.

Israeli website Debka said in a report published Tuesday that Iraqis liberated Hawija “without firing a shot”. “Our sources reveal that, instead of launching this offensive, Iraqi army commanders negotiated a deal with the militants through the mediation of local Arab tribes,” read the report. “They granted safe passage for the occupiers and their families to withdraw from Hawija, in return for a commitment not to resist the Iraqi army’s takeover of the town. Iraqi troops indeed secured a corridor for their exit, after which the ISIL militants headed for Diyala in Eastern Iraq near the Iranian border.”

Rasoul said a press conference is slated for Thursday on Hawija operations, delineating the troops that had partaken in the offensive, and losses on militants behalf.

JOC declared the start of Hawija offensives late September, and declared the fall of the major ISIL enclave last Thursday.

Iraq launched a campaign in 2016 to recapture ISIL-held areas, militants are currently cornered on the borders with Syria, according to the government.

angelburst29 · Oct 15, 2017

Sporadic clashes between the Kurdish Peshmerga and the Turkmen branch of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) broke out in the town of Tuz Khurmatu in Salah Ad Din province, located south of Kirkuk, on Saturday.

Kurdish and Turkmen forces clash in Iraq
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/10/kurdish-and-turkmen-forces-clash-in-iraq.html

The clashes, which reportedly broke out after one of the headquarters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Party (PUK) was targeted, resulted in a number of dead and wounded on both sides.

The Peshmerga units responded to the source of the fire and succeeded in lifting the siege on the headquarters.

Later, the Peshmerga units reinforced their presence inside Kirkuk and its surroundings. They are now gearing up in preparation for more fighting against the Turkmen PMU, while also maintaining security inside Kirkuk.

According to official sources in the province of Salah Ad Din, violent clashes broke out Saturday in the center of the district of Tuz Khurmatu, after unidentified persons opened fire, adding that the police forces neutralized an explosive device planted near a mosque.

The sources pointed out that the clashes are continuing throughout the region, without giving any information on casualties.

For its part, the PMU recounted the details of the events that took place last night in the area, saying they did not result in any casualties.

“The Peshmerga Forces launched an overnight attack on Dah Dah Ghayeb mosque in the center of the district of Tuz, located 75 km southeast of Salah Ad Din”, said Ali Al Husseini, a PMU spokesman in the northern axis of Samarra, noting that the attackers of the mosque caused an outbreak of the clashes between the two sides, noting that his forces were later able to calm the situation in the area.

The Iraqi Army has arrested Aymen Dawud Al Halbusi, one of the main perpetrators of the Speicher massacre that claimed the lives of more than 1,700 unarmed Iraqi Air Force cadets.

Top Speicher Camp massacre perpetrator arrested in Iraq
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/10/top-speicher-camp-massacre-perpetrator.html

According to the field reports Al Halbusi was apprehended in the eastern countryside of the western Iraqi province of Anbar.

The massacre, which was one of the deadliest ones in modern Iraq’s history, happened on June 12th 2014, when ISIS terrorists stormed the Camp Speicher in Tikrit and killed about 1600-1700 Shia and non-Muslim cadets from the Iraqi Air Force.

At the time of the attack there were about 4,000 to 11,000 unarmed cadets in the camp.

ISIS terrorists reportedly singled out Shia and non-Muslim cadets from Sunni ones and executed them.

The Iraqi government blamed both, ISIS and members of the outlawed Baath Party of being behind the massacre.

Several people with connections to the massacre were arrested so far.

In December 2015, Finnish authorities arrested two Iraqi migrants (the 24-year old twins) that were reportedly involved in slaying the cadets.

A year later, the twins were charged with committing a war crime after they were identified in an ISIS-execution video.

In August 2017, the Iraqi authorities sentenced 27 people to death due to being involved in the massacre.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad supported Iraqi Kurdistan’s referendum on independence as only Israel would recognize the Kurdish administration.

Erdogan accuses Israel’s Mossad of supporting Iraqi Kurdistan referendum
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/erdogan-accuses-israels-mossad-supporting-iraqi-kurdistan-referendum/

Erdogan made his remarks as he met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, which later said that Tehran and Ankara should respond to the referendum on Iraqi Kurdistan’s independence.

“What is the referendum organized by northern Iraq’s regional administration for? No country in the world apart from Israel recognizes it … A decision made at the table with Mossad is not legitimate, it is illegitimate,” Erdogan said at the joint press conference with Rouhani, as quoted by the Anadolu news agency.

The Turkish president added that Turkey and Iran agreed on maintaining relations with Iraq’s central government.

angelburst29 · Oct 15, 2017

Kurdish troops in Iraq rejected a call from governmental forces to withdraw from a strategic location in Kirkuk’s Southern region.

Peshmerga Forces Refuse to Leave Iraq's Kirkuk
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960723000633

Early on Sunday, a Kurdish security official announced that Peshmerga fighters have not withdrawn from a key junction south of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, presstv reported.

The announcement came after a senior Iraqi Kurdish official said that the Baghdad government has set a deadline for Kurdish forces to withdraw from positions in the city.

Earlier in the day, tens of thousands of Peshmerga forces were deployed to Kirkuk by the request of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region government. Kurdish Peshmerga forces moved into Kirkuk in 2014, when the Daesh (ISIS or ISIL) Takfiri terrorist group launched an offensive across Iraq.

The latest incidents come amid simmering tensions between the central government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over a recent controversial referendum on the secession of the semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdish region.

The plebiscite took place on September 25, sparking strong objection from Baghdad. Iraq’s neighbors and the international community also voiced concerns about the repercussions of the vote, which was only supported by Israel.

Kirkuk, with some 10 percent of Iraq’s oil reserves, has long been contested by Baghdad and Erbil.

The Iraqi Army called on people to stay away from ISIL-held regions near the border with Syria as the pro-government forces are getting ready to launch an imminent large-scale operation to purge border regions of terrorists, well-informed sources reported on Sunday.

Zero Hour Arriving for Iraqi Forces' Large-Scale Anti-ISIL Operation at Border with Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960723000742

The sources said that the Iraqi planes have dropped thousands of leaflets by the country's Joint Command Operation over the towns of Rawa and al-Qa'em, calling on people to stay away from ISIL's positions and gatherings.

In the meantime, Rajeh Barakat al-Isawi, a member of Anbar province's security council, said that a large volume of military equipment has arrived in Ein al-Assad airbase in Western Anbar in line with preparation for the launch of the liberation operation of Rawa and al-Qa'em.

Relevant reports said on Saturday that the pro-government paramilitary troops repelled an ISIL attack, killing six militants on borders with Syria.

“Al-Hashd al-Shaabi [Popular Mobilization Forces] repulsed an attack by ISIL in Tal Safuk region, on borders with Syria. Troops killed six militants and burned down a vehicle loaded with weapons,” a statement by the PMFs media service said.

ISIL has increasingly targeted security forces and civilians across Iraq over the past months coinciding with operations by the Iraqi government forces which sought to retake areas occupied by the group since 2014.

Iraqi troops managed to retake several ISIL strongholds including Mosul and Tal Afar in Nineveh, Huweija in Kirkuk and Ana in Anbar. Only al-Qa'em and neighboring Rawa currently remain in ISIL grip.

The Iraqi Air Force targeted a long ISIL oil convoy in Western Anbar, destroying tens of tankers, a popular field commander reported on Sunday.

Tens of ISIL's Oil Tankers Destroyed in Iraqi Airstrikes
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960723001536

Commander of Iraqi volunteer forces of Hashd al-Shaabi in Anbar province Qatari al-Obeidi said that Iraqi Sukhoi fighter jets conducted a heavy bombing on a long convoy of 300 oil tankers of ISIL in the Western deserts, 350 km West of al-Ramadi.

Al-Obeidi said that the tankers were ready to smuggle Iraq's oil but the warplanes destroyed them completely, foiling ISIL's plan. Well-informed sources reported earlier today that the Iraqi Army called on people to stay away from ISIL-held regions near the border with Syria as the pro-government forces are getting ready to launch an imminent large-scale operation to purge border regions of terrorists.

The sources said that the Iraqi planes have dropped thousands of leaflets by the country's Joint Command Operation over the towns of Rawa and al-Qa'em, calling on people to stay away from ISIL's positions and gatherings.

angelburst29 · Oct 16, 2017

The Iraqi forces have launched a major offensive over several fronts aimed at retaking the Kurdish-held city of Kirkuk, capturing several points in the region, Iraq's Joint Operations Command (JOC) said on Monday.

Iraqi Forces Impose Control over Scores of Strategic Regions in Kirkuk
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960724001597

The JOC said that "anti-terrorism units" had captured the K1 military base Northwest of Kirkuk city following the withdrawal of Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.

In the meantime, the Iraqi Federal Police Command reported that the Iraqi force have gained control over the North gas company, Mollah Abdullah power plan, Maryam Beig bridge, Khlid bridge, the village of Sajalan, Sarjalan police center, al-Hadithen warehouses, al-Huweija square, Huweija regiment command center, the village of Chahish, al-Reshad crossroad, and the villages of Tobzadeh and Qarash Tapeh.

The army forces captured several strategic positions, including Leilan region in Kirkuk Babakar fields, police center and Kirkuk power plan.

In the meantime, the Arabic-language Elam al-Harbi said that forces of the Federal Police and rapid reaction units have restored security to Kirkuk airport and al-Horieyh base.

The Iraqi force also captured the governor general building in Kirkuk, while other units of the Iraqi forces seized control over the town of Tuz Kharmato in Southern Kirkuk.

Meanwhile, Pishmarga accused some of the Kurdish officials of betrayal and delivering positons to the volunteer forces of Hashd al-Shaabi.

Iraqi joint forces' mission to restore security to Kirkuk province was announced by Iraqi Prim Minister Haydar al-Abadi and the Chief Commander of Iraq's Armed Forces this morning.

The Iraqi forces have thus far captured over 100 sq/km of land in Kirkuk province. Tensions are high between the central government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over the controversial referendum.

The plebiscite took place on September 25, sparking strong objection from Baghdad.

Iraq’s neighbors and the international community also voiced concerns about the repercussions of the vote, which was only supported by Israel.

Kurdish leaders have coveted Kirkuk, with some 10 percent of Iraq’s oil reserves, for long and described it as part of their proper even as, roughly two-thirds of the city's population are non-Kurd.

A paramilitary official said around 800 ISIL militants, including 30 emirs, have turned themselves in to the Kurdish Peshmerga troops in Kirkuk, but the Kurdish troops are not willing to reveal their fate.

Peshmarga Silent about Fate of 800 ISIL Militants
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960724001423

Speaking to Al-Sumaria News, Jabbar al-Maamouri, leader with al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) said “around 800 ISIL militants turned in themselves to Peshmerga deployed in Kirkuk after fleeing Hawija.”

“Thirty ISIL leaders, who were emirs of four of the group’s states, including Kirkuk, Diyala and Salahuddin, were among those who extradited themselves,” Maamouri added.

Regarding destiny of the arrested militants, Maamouri described it as mysterious, adding that “Peshmerga did not provide information about places to which the militants were transferred.”

Last week, Ahmed Khorsid, member of Hawija council, said Iraqi troops should launch operation to comb Hawija as well as villages of al-Dibs town, Southwest of Kirkuk, and the Northwest of the province.

He warned that ISIL militants could be hiding at underground tunnels or remote regions in order to attack the troops again.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi declared, earlier this month, liberation of Hawija. Joint troops killed 385 ISIL members, including five snipers, as Hawija Operations Command announced accomplishing targets of the second phase of operations, which launched in late September.

557 ISIL militants were killed, while more than 100 villages and regions were liberated during the first phase, which launched on September 24th.

Having recaptured Hawija, Iraqi troops still have only Western Anbar’s towns of Rawa and Qaim remaining under the militant’s control.

Heavy clashes were heard in Kirkuk’s Industrial Zone tonight after several units from the Iraqi Army, Federal Police, and Popular Mobilization Units (Hashd Al-Sha’abi) entered this province in western Iraq.

Heavy clashes breakout as Iraqi forces enter Kirkuk
https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-heavy-clashes-breakout-iraqi-forces-enter-kirkuk/

While it is still not clear who is responsible for the ongoing clashes, the Iraqi government has made it clear that any violence towards its forces will not be tolerated.

Meanwhile, Iraq-based Afaq TV reported tonight that the Iraqi Army has retaken the Kirkuk Airport, K1 Base, and several oil fields from the Peshmerga after the latter withdrew without a fight – this is unconfirmed.

Tensions remain at an all-time high in Kirkuk, as both the Iraqi Army and Kurdish Peshmerga continue to mobilize their forces to this province.

Three suicide bombers were killed as they were attempting to attack Iraqi military units in west of Ramadi, local reports said.

Three Suicide Bombers Killed in Attempt to Attack Iraqi Military, West of Ramadi
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960724000898

Security troops opened fire as three suicide bombers, wearing suicide belts, were trying to attack a security checkpoint in Um al-Sawn region in Rutba, west of Ramadi. They were immediately killed, without casualties among troops,” a security source from Anbar Operations Command said, Ikhnews reported.

Troops, according to the source, noticed the attackers before they reach to the checkpoint. Precautionary measures were taken to prevent further attacks.

The Norwegian Refugee Council said around 700,000 Iraqis from Mosul and other neighboring regions are still displaced, despite retaking the town in July.

NGO: Around 700,000 Iraqis from Mosul Still Displaced
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960724000114

“One year since the start of the battle to retake Mosul from the ISIL, some 673,000 Iraqis from the city and its surroundings remain displaced and unable to go back to their destroyed neighborhoods,” a report by NRC said, Iraqi News reported.

“More than half of them may have lost their official civil documents — from birth certificates to property deeds – which will make rebuilding their lives even harder,” the report added.

On July 10, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over ISIL militants who had held Mosul, the second largest Iraqi city, since 2014. This marked the end of a nine-month old campaign to recapture the city.

Heidi Diedrich, NRC’s Iraq Country Director, said “The battle of Mosul is over, but for hundreds of thousands who fled the city, their suffering and despair continues.” “After three years living under the brutal reign of the ISIL and a year since the battle to retake the city started, the tragedy for Iraqi civilians continues to this day. Until they are able to return home and rebuild their lives, the international community must continue to stand in solidarity with the Iraq’s displaced. Meanwhile, the government’s plans to rebuild Mosul must ensure the rights of displaced Iraqis are at the forefront of these efforts,” Diedrich added.

Around four million civilians were internally displaced, while thousands of others fled toward neighboring countries including Syria, Turkey and other European countries, since ISIL emerged to proclaim its self-styled “caliphate”.

angelburst29 · Oct 18, 2017

The Iraqi military troops are now in control of the entire oilfields in Kirkuk, Spokesman for Iraqi Oil Ministry Asem Jihad announced on Tuesday.

Iraqi Forces Impose Control over Entire Oilfields in Kirkuk
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960725001339

Asem Jihad said that all the oilfields in Kirkuk have come under the control of the Iraqi security forces, adding that management control over the oilfields has been handed over to the oil ministry.

In relevant developments the global oil markets reacted to the escalation of the conflict with a surge in oil prices.

On Monday afternoon the price of December futures for the North Sea oil mixture Brent rose by 1.75 percent, to $58.17 per barrel, whereas the price of November futures for WTI rose by 1.46 percent to $52.2 per barrel.

According to reports, Iraqi forces are now in control of all of the city’s government buildings, state-owned North Oil and North Gas companies, the Kirkuk International Airport, and K-1 Airbase.

Government troops have also reopened the highway linking the Kirkuk city and the capital Baghdad.

The Peshmerga fighters also left the towns of Bashiqa and Bahzani in Nineveh after the government forces took control of the town of Sinjar on Tuesday when the Pishmarga withdrew from the town a day earlier.

Iraq's Joint Operations Command (JOC) said on Monday that "anti-terrorism units" had captured the K1 military base Northwest of Kirkuk city following the withdrawal of Kurdish Peshmerga fighters.

Local sources in the town of Sinjar in Northwestern Iraq reported minutes ago that the Pishmarga militants withdrew from Sinjar, handing it over to the Iraqi forces.

Iraq: Kurdish Fighters Retreat Completely from Sinjar
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960725000988

Local witnesses said that the Iraqi military troops took control over the Central part of Sinjar in Western Nineveh after Pishmarga forces retreated.

They added that the Iraqi forces seized the town without any clashes with the Kurdish forces and hoisted the Iraqi flag in Sinjar.

In the meantime, the commander of the local Izadi fighters, Masloum Shingali, said the Kurdish forces left before dawn on Tuesday, adding that there was no fighting and that the Kurdish forces “left immediately as they didn’t want a fight”.

The Northwestern town is infamous as the site of one of the ISIL group's worst atrocities, when it killed thousands Izadi men and abducted thousands of women and girls as sex slaves in 2014.

The loss of Sinjar marks the second major city in Iraq that the Peshmerga forces have conceded to the Iraqi government forces in the last 24 hours, as the first was Kirkuk.

The results of the Kurdish independence referendum will not be annulled, according to the chief of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s executive body on Sunday.

Iraq: Kurds refuse to void referendum result
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/iraq-kurds-refuse-void-referendum-result/

Mullah Bakhtiar said that the committee wrote a five-point joint memorandum after meeting with the President of the Kurdistan Region Massoud Barzani and President of the Iraqi Republic Fuad Masum.

Bakhtiar also said he is open to “unconditional” dialogue with Baghdad to discuss independence.

angelburst29 · Oct 21, 2017

The recent independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan has not gone down lightly in Baghdad as the Iraqi Armed Forces have begun a massive offensive against Peshmerga across multiple governorates in northern Iraq.

Iraqi Army captures dozens of Kurdish strongholds amid broad front offensive
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/iraqi-army-captures-dozens-kurdish-held-towns-amid-broad-front-offensive/

With the imperative Rabia border crossing into Syria already restored under government control in the morning hours, the Iraqi Army – heavily reinforced by the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) – also pushed both south and northwest of Kirkuk city on Tuesday in simultaneous pincers that secured the junction towns of Daquq and Dibis. In addition, the Iraqi flag was raised across the long-contested town of Tuz Khormato.

Effectively, Iraqi troops have secured a buffer zone around the provincial capital of Kirkuk, a city which was captured barely 24 hours ago as hundreds of armored vehicles rolled into its streets, prompting a rapid retreat by the Peshmerga (Kurdish Army).

A separate offensive is also underway along the border with Iran; thus far, the Iraqi Army and its allies have liberated the large towns of Jalawla and Kanaqin. This specific advance has allowed government forces to reopen the M5 Highway after Peshmerga checkpoints along the road were dismantled on Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi Army expanded their buffer zone around Mosul – Iraq’s second largest city – by pushing north, east and southeast of the city. So far, the frontier towns of Bashiqah, Tall Asqaf and Gwer have been abandoned by the Peshmerga and restored under government control.

Remarkably, the Iraqi Army has also retaken the famous city of Sinjar after the Peshmerga withdrew from all their positions in western Nineveh, leaving only a few hundred PKK fighters to defend the predominately Kurdish area.

Unfortunately, the renewed hostilities between Erbil and Baghdad have seen a large chunk of the Iraqi Army’s personnel leaving the frontline with ISIS to confront the Peshmerga instead and defuse all separatist attempts.

The Iraqi forces stormed ISIL's defense lines in Nineveh province in the Northwestern part of the country and managed to seize control over 2 key regions and 44 oilfields, Iraq's Joint Operation Command said in a statement.

Iraqi Forces Push Terrorists back from 2 Regions, 44 Oilfields in Nineveh Province
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960729000572

The Operation Command announced on Thursday that the 15th Regiment of the Iraqi Army troops captured Zamar and Ein Zaleh regions in Western Nineveh, adding that the Iraqi soldiers also imposed control over 44 oilfields in the province.

In the meantime, the army units seized control over the town of Pishmarga-held Altin Ko'apri in Northern Kirkuk on Friday, the statement said.

Spokesman for the Iraqi Oil Ministry Asem Jihad announced on Tuesday that all the oilfields in Kirkuk came under the control of the Iraqi security forces, adding that management control over the oilfields was handed over to the oil ministry.

In relevant developments the global oil markets reacted to the escalation of the conflict with a surge in oil prices.

The Department of State has issued a statement urging Iraq to restrict its military forces' movement in northern Iraq.

State Dept. Urges Baghdad to Limit Movements in Disputed Areas in Kurdistan
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201710211058421160-usa-urges-baghdad-limit-kurdistan-movement/

The United States calls on Baghdad to restrict the movement of government troops in northern Iraq to prevent further clashes with Kurdish forces in the area, the State Department said in a press release.

"[W]e urge the central government to calm the situation by limiting federal forces’ movements in disputed areas to only those coordinated with the Kurdistan Regional Government," the release said.

Earlier, Kurdish Peshmerga reported that Iraqi forces were continuing their advance in two areas disputed between Baghdad and Kurdistan — in Diyala province and nearby the Mosul Dam.

Also, the department said that the Iraqi government's effort to reassert its authority over Kurdish areas in northern Iraq does not change the disputed status of these territories.

"The reassertion of federal authority over disputed areas in no way changes their status – they remain disputed until their status is resolved in accordance with the Iraqi constitution," the State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said.

"The United States is concerned by reports of violent clashes around the town of Altun Kupri in northern Iraq. We are monitoring the situation closely, and call on all parties to cease all violence and provocative movements, and to coordinate their activities to restore calm," Nauert said.

Earlier in the week, Iraqi forces conducted an offensive on the disputed oil-rich region of Kirkuk. Media reported on Monday, that the Baghdad forces had gained control of the city.

***

The number of people killed in last week's devastating bombing in the Somali capital Mogadishu has risen to 358.

Somalia: Mogadishu Bombing Death Toll Rises to 358
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960729001251

As well as the confirmed death toll, 228 people were injured in what was the deadliest attack in the country's history, Somalia's news agency quoted the information and internal security ministers as saying late on Friday.

The announcement came as a car bomb exploded outside Mogadishu, killing the driver, police said, with a witness saying there were at least two bodies.

The explosion happened around noon in the village of Markaz, Northwest of Mogadishu, Police Major Nur Ali told Reuters news agency.

A witness in the village who gave his name as Ahmed told Reuters by telephone that he had seen two dead bodies.

"The car was ruined and the dead bodies were cut in halves," he said.

The armed group al-Shabab was blamed for Saturday's blasts, which happened when a car bomb and a truck bomb headed for the airport detonated prematurely.

***

Dozens of Egyptian security personnel died Friday while raiding a suspected Islamist insurgency hideout in the country's western desert. Fifty-four Egyptian police officers have died in the shootout, a security source told Sputnik.

Shootout in Egypt Kills Dozens of Police Officers
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201710211058420188-shoot-out-egypt-kills-police/

The suspected militants also likely suffered casualties during the raid. Police launched a raid Friday on a militant hideout in the desert El-Wahat area. The source said they had been met with heavy fire from portable anti-tank rocket launchers.

The target of the operation was a residence where it was believed eight members of the Hasm Movement were located. Hasm has taken credit for the murders of judges and police officers in the country over the last year, Al Arabiya reports. Cairo alleges that Hasm is a violent branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, but the brotherhood has denied being linked to Hasm.

Earlier reports put the number of police casualties at 30, including 20 special operation personnel.

The operation has been completed, according to the source. Police forces are now combing an area within a 25-mile radius.

In June, six terrorists were arrested in Egypt for plotting attacks on Coptic Christians, the ministry said at the time.

In May, assailants killed 28 Coptic Christians on their way to the St. Samuel Confessor Monastery.

angelburst29 · Oct 21, 2017

Kurdish units attempting to take the Assyrian stronghold in Iraq by force
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/10/kurdish-units-attempting-to-take.html

Kurdish Peshmerga are digging entrenchments in Assyrian town of Alqosh despite locals wanting the presence of the Iraqi Forces.

Previously, the Kurdistan Regional Governmet (KRG), the ruling regime of the autonomous Iraqi province of Kurdistan, has described Alqosh as a disputed territory, but locals have said the town is entirely Assyrian and should to remain in Iraq.

Peshmerga forces have now, however, prevented the locals from organizing protests after threats were issued to organizers.

At the moment, very few locals have the ability to voice themselves.

They are hoping Iraqi Forces can reach Alqosh safely, but Peshmerga are obviously preparing for war.

With so many Assyrian places under complete Kurdish occupation, Alqosh is now considered the Assyrian stronghold in Iraq.

A Peshmerga official has been seen on video recommending that his group burn Arab homes and treat them like Jews.

VIDEO: Kurds from Kirkuk begin occupying Arab homes in Erbil
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/10/video-kurds-from-kirkuk-begin-occupying.html

This is an especially bizarre statement considering that Israel has been one of the very few that has said it would recognize and support an independent Kurdistan.

This comes as Al-Sura News has reported that Kurdish people who fled from Kirkuk have begun occupying homes of Arabs in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Regional Government.

The report also says that people who have lost their homes to illegal Kurdish settlers are receiving no assistance from the regions police force.

The report states that "If you are in Erbil please contact media@al-sura.com urgently to be directed to the displaced Arab families. We have received direct reports of over 14 Arab homes taken over and fears are mounting that because of Kurdish police inaction this will steadily rise."

Three members of the Kurdish militia force known as the Peshmerga have been arrested by Iraqi authorities.

VIDEO: Peshmerga impersonating Shia militia members are arrested after burning homes in Kirkuk
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/10/video-peshmerga-impersonating-shia.html

They were arrested after impersonating being members of the predominately Shi'ite militia coalition known as the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU).

The PMU were established after a fatwa was issued that able-bodied men mobilize to fight and defeat ISIS.

The Kurdish fighters who impersonated being members of the PMU were caught burning and looting civilian homes in Kirkuk which was in recent days purged of occupying Peshmerga forces.

As Iraqi forces continue to liberate large swathes of territory from the Kurdish Peshmerga militia in Iraq, Kurdish citizens have begun expressing their outrage at this move.

VIDEO: Iraqi Kurd calls for Israel to come and help Kurdistan
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/10/video-iraqi-kurd-calls-for-israel-to.html

Following from the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) unconstitutional independence election last month, Iraqi forces have begun moving to areas occupied by the Peshmerga they captured during the battles against ISIS but are not recognized as a part of the KRG's borders.

Israel was one of the very few states or organisations to support Kurdish independence, and in response to Iraqi forces moving in and liberating areas occupied by the Peshmerga, one citizen can be heard saying "We want Israel to come."

angelburst29 · Oct 22, 2017

Saudi Royal shenanigans?

A new report said Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, like Israel, have supported the Iraqi Kurdistan region’s push for secession in an attempt to 'clip the wings' of their regional rivals, Turkey, Iran and Iraq.

Report: Saudi, UAE Secretly Worked for Kurdistan Secession
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960730001294

In an article by David Hearst, the editor in chief of the Middle East Eye (MEE) news portal, drew a parallel between Tel Aviv’s stance on the Kurdish vote and that of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, , presstv reported.

The controversial Kurdish referendum took place on September 25, sparking strong objection from Baghdad and Iraq’s neighbors, particularly Iran and Turkey.

Only Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly voiced support for what he called the “legitimate efforts of the Kurdish people to attain a state of its own.”

Major General Yair Golan, former Israeli army deputy chief, also defended the Kurdish secession as well as the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is outlawed in Turkey.

"From my personal point of view the PKK is not a terrorist organization, that's how I see it," Golan said.

According to the report, while Saudi Arabia officially called for the cancellation of the plebiscite, behind the scene it supported the Kurds' plans to split the Arab country and question the territorial integrity of its neighboring states.

The Saudi Royal Court reportedly dispatched a series of emissaries to encourage Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani to go on with his secession project.

Former Saudi military general, Anwar Eshki, was among those figures who explicitly said that working for the creation of a greater Kurdistan would "reduce Iranian, Turkish and Iraqi ambitions."

"This will carve away one third of the territory of each country in favor of Kurdistan," he reportedly said.

Eshki further told Russia’ Sputnik news agency that he believes "the Kurds have the right to have a state of their own" and claimed that Iraq had “gone far in marginalizing the Kurds.”

In July 2016, the ex-Saudi general paid a visit to Israel and met with a senior Israeli foreign ministry official and a number of Israeli parliament members.

A well-connected former general in the Saudi military raises eyebrows by travelling to the Occupied Palestinian Territories in apparent attempt by Riyadh to court Tel Aviv.

A "reliable source" told the MEE that Barzani's son, Masrour, who heads the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Security Council, made a secret visit to Abu Dhabi just a month before the September referendum.

UAE academics operating under the license of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued statements of support for the Kurdish vote.

Emirati professor Abdullah Abd al-Khaliq published a map depicting what he called the future state of Kurdistan and called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan not to penalize the Iraqi Kurdistan because of its “democratic” referendum.

Meanwhile, an Iraqi official told The New Arab media outlet that Erbil had signed a "memorandum of understanding" with Ibtesam al-Ketbi, chairwoman of the Emirates Policy Center, to help organize the Kurdish vote.

The New Arab quoted another Iraqi official as saying that UAE Consul in Kurdistan Rashid Al-Mansouri had visited a polling station in Erbil. The UAE, however, denied the report.

Saudi, UAE secretly worked for Kurdistan secession: Report
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2017/10/22/539473/Iraq-Kurdistan-Saudi-Arabia-UAE-Iran

Saudi, UAE secretly worked for Kurdistan secession: Report
http://theiranproject.com/blog/2017/10/22/saudi-uae-secretly-worked-kurdistan-secession-report/

An Israeli official told AFP on Friday that Saudi Crown Prince Emir Mohammed bin Salman secretly visited Tel Aviv in September.

Israeli official confirms: Bin Salman visited Tel Aviv last month October 21, 2017
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20171021-israeli-official-confirms-bin-salman-visited-tel-aviv-last-month/

The official, who requested that his identity remains anonymous, refused to reveal the nature of bin Salman’s meetings in Tel Aviv, the people he met, as well as the results of his discussions with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Israeli official’s statement confirmed the accuracy of what the official Hebrew radio broadcast earlier, when it revealed that “an emir from the Saudi royal court visited the country secretly on 7 September and discussed with senior Israeli officials the idea of pushing forward regional peace.”

During that time, journalist Ariel Kahana, who works for the nationalist and right-wing weekly Makor Rishon, tweeted: “Bin Salman visited Israel with an official delegation and met with officials.”

A few days later, the famous Saudi blogger “Mujtahid” wrote: “The journalist Noga Tarnopolsky, a specialist in Israeli affairs who possesses international credibility, has confirmed Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Israel.”

Immediately after, the hashtag #Bin_Salman_Visited_Israel topped the most circulated Twitter hashtags in a number of countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Unprecedented relationships - Israeli analysts and officials confirm the existence of coordination and progress in the relations between Israel and Arab countries, especially the Gulf States. They are expecting that some of them will be announced in the near future, based on the fact that Saudi Arabia and Israel share a common hostility towards Iran. (Article continues.)

Saudi Arabia and Iraq convened a new joint body to coordinate their fight against Daesh and on rebuilding Iraqi territory wrested from the group, the Saudi King Salman and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in Riyadh on Sunday.

As relations thaw, Saudi Arabia and Iraq pledge cooperation against Daesh
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20171022-as-relations-thaw-saudi-arabia-and-iraq-pledge-cooperation-against-daesh/

The rare senior meeting, signaling a thaw between states that have been at loggerheads for decades, was also attended by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who praised the accord between the two close US allies.

Tillerson told reporters: The joint coordination council will not only lead to closer cooperation in the fight against Daesh, but will also help support the rehabilitation of facilities and infrastructure in the areas liberated.

The council will also contribute to reforms that will grow and diversify Iraq’s private sector. Such reforms will encourage the foreign investment that is vital to Iraq’s reconstruction efforts. This will be critical to winning the peace that has been earned through the hard-fought military gains.”

Iraqi forces armed largely by the United States ejected the ultra-hardline Sunni Muslim militant group from Mosul and other cities in northern Iraq this year, but the fighting left whole neighborhoods in ruins and has hit Iraq’s economy.

The US is concerned that Iran, a Shia regional rival also allied to Iraq, will take advantage of gains against IS in Iraq and neighbouring Syria to expand its influence, which is opposed by Gulf Arab states.

Saudi Oil Minister Khalid al-Falih visited Iraq on Saturday to call for increased economic cooperation and praise existing coordination to boost crude oil prices, the first Saudi official to make a public speech in Baghdad for decades.

Tillerson’s six-day trip will also take him to Qatar, Pakistan, India and Switzerland.

angelburst29 · Oct 23, 2017

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is very upset with Baghdad’s decision to drive back pro-Barzani forces from important cities and energy sites in Iraq.

Netanyahu very upset with Iraqi forces capturing Kirkuk, takes action to reclaim oil 22/10/2017
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/__trashed-3/

One week ago, Iraqi pro-government forces launched a powerful offensive along the entire Kurdish frontier in northwestern Iraq, liberating a number of cities and towns and re-claiming from pro-Barzani militants the strategic Kirkuk oilfields and the Mosul Dam.

Perhaps more upset with this outcome than Barzani loyalists is Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government on a whole whose sense of oil security has been somewhat breached.

Under the control of pro-Barzani forces, the Kirkuk oil fields provided Israel with 77 percent (2015 estimate according to the Financial Times) of its imported oil needs at rock-bottom prices.

The Israeli head of state is currently lobbying world powers to take action against Haider Al-Abadi’s government and turn back the gains of Iraqi forces.

Whilst it is highly unlikely that Baghdad will cease sending oil to Israel, the price for its purchase will undoubtedly go up to levels that Israel is traditionally uncomfortable with.

The Iraqi Armed Forces continued their operations in the Kirkuk Governorate, Saturday, targeting the remaining towns under the control of the Kurdish Peshmerga in the eastern part of the province.

Iraqi forces advance towards Kurdish provincial stronghold
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/iraqi-forces-advance-towards-kurdish-provincial-stronghold/

Led by their counter-terrorism units, the Iraqi Armed Forces pushed northeast of Kirkuk City, today, in a bid to reach the provincial border of the Suleimaniyeh Governorate.

The operation is geared to take control of Shamshamal (var. Chamchamal), which is a town located near the Suleimaniyeh Governorate’s provincial border with Kirkuk.

In response to this advance by the Iraqi forces, the Kurdish Peshmerga have begun withdrawing their troops from Chamchamal in order to avoid any conflicts with the government.

Iraqi forces gained full control over Kirkuk, Friday, following a fierce three-hour battle with Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers at the Altun Kupri district.

Iraqi forces capture last Kurdish-held area in Kirkuk
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/iraqi-forces-capture-last-kurdish-held-area-kirkuk-video/

A Peshmerga fighter stated that Iraqi forces aimed to “take over Erbil” but the Kurdish soldiers “will not allow that to happen”. According to him, some the militants affiliated to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIL/ISIS) were armed with the weapons, and stressed that Kurds “had causalities and martyrs today by American weapons” in the battle with the Iraqi army.

Another Peshmerga fighter stated that the aim of Iraqi military was to “disturb the peaceful security situation of Kurdistan”.

The oil-rich region of Kirkuk is claimed by both Iraqi Kurds and Baghdad.

The past week has seen Iraqi forces take over much-disputed territory previously controlled by the Peshmerga. The escalation came in the wake of the Kurdish independence referendum, which Baghdad deemed unconstitutional.

Berlin has announced that its forces are resuming the advisory mission in northern Iraq.

Germany resumes its mission of training Peshmerga militants in Iraq
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/10/germany-resumes-its-mission-of-training.html

According to the general command of the German Armed Forces, its units will resume with training of Peshmerga, the military force of the ruling regime in the autonomous Iraqi province of Kurdistan.

On October 16th, the German mission was temporarily suspended, following violent confrontations between the forces loyal to the federal government in Baghdad and Peshmerga in Kirkuk province.

The German mission in northern Iraq began in 2014 with the purpose of training the Peshmerga militants to fight ISIS. About 140 soldiers are said to be participating in the mission.

Both, the Iraqi Forces and Peshmerga were mostly using western-made (German including) weapons during their clashes in Kirkuk province.

The government in Baghdad also said its forces got struck by MILAN missiles which were delivered to Peshmerga.

Iraq

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