Iraq

Spotlight on Global Jihad (October 25-31, 2018)

In the Idlib enclave there is still no progress in the establishment of the demilitarized zone. Local clashes occur between the Syrian army and the rebel organizations. In eastern Syria strong fighting continues in the ISIS enclave in the Euphrates Valley. In the al-Ghurabaa’ region fighting was renewed in the al-Safa enclave after a ceasefire which was used for the exchange of prisoners (abducted Druze women in return for the wives of ISIS operatives). Read more...

ISIS’s use of drones in Syria and Iraq and the threat of using them overseas to carry out terrorist attacks

During the years in which it was active in Syria and Iraq, ISIS made extensive use of drones, both for offensive and defensive purposes. It handled the drones to carry out attacks (“explosive drones”), to collect intelligence, and even for propaganda purposes (documenting attacks by suicide bombers in order to disseminate the photos through ISIS’s media foundations). Read more...

Spotlight on Global Jihad (October 18-24, 2018)

In the Idlib enclave, there is still no progress in the establishment of the demilitarized zone, even after the extension for the implementation of the Sochi agreement. In eastern Syria, the Kurdish SDF forces continue to attack the ISIS enclave north of Albukamal, with Coalition air support. In the area of As-Suwayda, in southern Syria, ISIS continues its relentless fighting against the Syrian army. A ceasefire was achieved in order to enable a deal to be carried out in which six Druze abductees (two women and their four children) were released in exchange for wives of ISIS operatives detained by the Syrian regime Read more...

Spotlight on Iran (October 7, 2018 – October 21, 2018)

Iran is intensifying the efforts to entrench its economic hold in the region. Syrian opposition sources reported in recent weeks that Iran removed all of its forces from the T-4 airbase near Homs and from the Deir Ezzor region in eastern Syria. Following the new appointments for Iraq’s top leadership positions, the Iranian ambassador to Baghdad met, for the first time, Iraq’s new President Read more...

Spotlight on Global Jihad (October 11-17, 2018)

The establishment of the demilitarized zone in the Idlib region, which was agreed upon between Russia and Turkey at the Sochi summit, was not actually carried out on the ground (it was supposed to end on October 15, 2018). In eastern Syria, the SDF continues its offensive against the ISIS enclaves in the Euphrates Valley north of Albukamal, with the support of the United States and the Coalition. Read more...

Spotlight on Global Jihad (October 4-10, 2018)

Operatives of the National Liberation Front (which is affiliated with the Free Syrian Army and operates under the protection of Turkey and with its support) began implementing the Russian-Turkish agreement and withdrawing heavy weapons from the Idlib area, which has been declared a demilitarized zone. In the area to the north of Albukamal, SDF forces, with the help of International Coalition forces, continue to attack ISIS outposts. The center of the fighting was in the Al-Susah area. ISIS continues to threaten targets in European countries, this time focusing on concerts such as the May 2017 attack in Manchester, England. Read more...

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