Spotlight on Global Jihad (January 30 – February 5, 2020)

Syrian army tank in one of the villages southwest of Saraqib (SANA, February 3, 2020).

Syrian army tank in one of the villages southwest of Saraqib (SANA, February 3, 2020).

Self-manufactured rockets found in a workshop in the underground headquarters (SANA, February 2, 2020)

Self-manufactured rockets found in a workshop in the underground headquarters (SANA, February 2, 2020)

Rockets being launched by the Syrian army at positions of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham southwest of Saraqib (SANA, February 3, 2020).

Rockets being launched by the Syrian army at positions of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham southwest of Saraqib (SANA, February 3, 2020).

Syrian force in the fighting zone southwest of Idlib (SANA, February 4, 2020)

Syrian force in the fighting zone southwest of Idlib (SANA, February 4, 2020)

Turkish army convoy that entered Syria on February 2, 2020 (Nida Suriya, February 2, 2020)

Turkish army convoy that entered Syria on February 2, 2020 (Nida Suriya, February 2, 2020)

Turkish army convoy consisting of tanks on carriers and trucks that entered Syria through the Kafr Lusin border crossing on February 3, 2020 (Nida Suriya, February 3, 2020).

Turkish army convoy consisting of tanks on carriers and trucks that entered Syria through the Kafr Lusin border crossing on February 3, 2020 (Nida Suriya, February 3, 2020).

Activation of an IED by ISIS north of Rutba (Telegram, February 1, 2020)

Activation of an IED by ISIS north of Rutba (Telegram, February 1, 2020)

Activation of an IED by ISIS north of Rutba (Telegram, February 1, 2020)

Activation of an IED by ISIS north of Rutba (Telegram, February 1, 2020)

Highlights of the events
  • The Syrian army, with Russian air support, continued to advance towards Idlib. This week, the forces reached the outskirts of the city of Saraqib, about 15 km southeast of Idlib, and established themselves in the rural area on both sides of the highway road to Aleppo (M-5). A Syrian force operating west of Saraqib advanced up to an area about 9 km southeast of Idlib. So far, the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham and the other rebel organizations displayed no significant resistance to the advancing Syrian forces.
  • The Syrian army’s operation in an area where there are Turkish observation posts, and hundreds of thousands of refugees who fled from the battle zones (some towards the border with Turkey), have created friction on the ground and diplomatic tension between Turkey and Syria (which enjoys Russian support). Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has publicly threatened to send Turkish army forces to the Idlib region (January 31, 2020). A few days later (February 2, 2020), Syrian media reported that Turkey had sent armored forces into the Idlib region. In the ITIC’s assessment, Turkey is striving to prevent the takeover of Saraqib and to halt the Syrian army’s advance towards Idlib, based on the assumption that the rebel organizations will not be able to stop Syrian advance on their own.
  • With regard to noteworthy ISIS’s activity outside the “core countries,” the Sinai Province recently carried out intensive attacks against the Egyptian security forces. This week, a natural gas pipeline in northern Sinai used for the transmission of natural gas from Israel to Egypt was blown up. The attack was carried out by ISIS squads that planted IEDs east of Bir al-Abd. The motivation for the attack may have been ISIS’s spokesman’s call on its operatives in Sinai and Syria to attack Israeli targets. According to Egyptian and Israeli sources, the system for the transmission of gas from Israel to Egypt was not damaged. However, due to the intensive media coverage of attacks against the gas pipeline, in the ITIC’s assessment, ISIS may sabotage the gas pipeline again, taking advantage of the Egyptian security forces’ operational difficulty in securing the pipeline along its entire length.
  • On February 2, 2020, a Muslim terrorist, a released prisoner with a jihadist ideology, carried out a stabbing attack in south London (just over two months after a Pakistani terrorist carried out a stabbing attack on London Bridge). In the ITIC’s assessment, the attack was inspired by ISIS. Three passersby were wounded, one of them seriously. The terrorist was shot and killed by police. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that it was carried out in response to calls to attack the Coalition countries[1].
Idlib region
Overview

The Syrian army continued its advance towards Idlib, the rebel stronghold, after the takeover of Maarat Nu’man last week. The main force of the Syrian army, with Russian air support, is moving along several routes towards Saraqib, the current operative target, which is about 15 km southeast of Idlib. The Syrian forces are now on the outskirts of Saraqib. A Syrian advance force has reached an area 9 km southeast of Idlib. So far, the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham and the rest of the rebel organizations have displayed no significant resistance to the Syrians’ main military move.

  • The Syrian forces’ drawing closer to Idlib and Saraqib created friction with Turkish observation posts situated in the Syrian army’s operation areas. The friction triggered a public threat by Turkish President Erdoğan to carry out a military action in the Idlib region because the influx of refugees fleeing towards the Turkish border threatens Turkish security (hundreds of thousands of refugees have reportedly fled the fighting zones over the past few weeks).
  • Following these developments, Turkey dispatched army forces to the Idlib region (February 2-3, 2020). In the ITIC’s assessment, the purpose of the Turkish reinforcements is to reach the rebels’ strongholds in Idlib and Saraqib and prevent them from falling into the hands of the Syrian forces. Friction between the Syrian and the Turkish forces in the Saraqib area has already led to a violent incident, in which four Turkish soldiers were killed (February 3, 2020). In response, the Turkish army fired artillery at dozens of Syrian army targets.
Control zones in the area of Saraqib and Maarat Nu'man (updated to February 3, 2020). Green: Area controlled by the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham and the other rebel organizations. Red: Area controlled by the Syrian army. Blue: Villages taken over by the Syrian army on February 4, 2020. Yellow: Area where fighting is currently taking place. Turkish flags: Turkish observation posts (Khotwa, February 4, 2020)     Villages taken over by the Syrian army south of Maarat Nu'man and south of Saraqib between January 29, 2020 and February 3, 2020 (Google Maps).
Right: Villages taken over by the Syrian army south of Maarat Nu’man and south of Saraqib between January 29, 2020 and February 3, 2020 (Google Maps). Left: Control zones in the area of Saraqib and Maarat Nu’man (updated to February 3, 2020). Green: Area controlled by the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham and the other rebel organizations. Red: Area controlled by the Syrian army. Blue: Villages taken over by the Syrian army on February 4, 2020. Yellow: Area where fighting is currently taking place. Turkish flags: Turkish observation posts (Khotwa, February 4, 2020)
The advance towards Saraqib
  • The city of Saraqib lies about 15 km southeast of Idlib, on a crossroads leading to Idlib. The Damascus-Hama-Aleppo highway (M-5) passes through it. Before the civil war, it was inhabited by 33,000 people (Wikipedia). In late 2019, its population numbered over 110,000, including displaced persons who fled to the city from the battle zones. Today, the city is empty of residents (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, February 1, 2020).
  • This week, battles took place in the area south of Saraqib between the Syrian army, supported by Shiite militias, and the forces of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham and other rebel organizations. The Syrian army took over the rural area on both sides of the M-5 highway leading to Aleppo, and its forces have reached the outskirts of Saraqib. On February 4, 2020, the Syrian troops took over 17 villages southeast of Saraqib (SANA, February 4, 2020). The Syrian army’s advance forces are now about 4 km southwest of Saraqib, near Turkish observation posts (see map) (Khotwa, February 4, 2020).
  • During its advance, the Syrian army exposed an underground headquarters of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham 8 km south of Saraqib. The Syrian army described it as one of the biggest, most fortified headquarters of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham. The headquarters, which was dug in rocky terrain, reportedly includes a network of tunnels equipped with lighting and a ventilation system, connecting several fortified rooms. A workshop for the manufacture of car bombs and rockets, operations rooms and rooms used for sleeping, as well as cells were found there (SANA, February 2, 2020).

On February 4, 2020, the Syrian army announced that it was giving “armed elements” in Saraqib and the Tell Toukan area (13 km southeast of Saraqib) a last chance to lay down their arms and “settle their business” (i.e., reach a surrender arrangement) in order to save the lives of civilians besieged in these locations. Furthermore, it was stated that if the Turkish forces resorted to acts of hostility [against the Syrian army], the Syrian forces would be fully alert to respond immediately to any attack against them (SANA, February 4, 2020).

  • On February 4, 2020, a Syrian army force operating west of Saraqib advanced towards Idlib. It took over the village of Al-Nayrab, 8.5 km southeast of Idlib (6.5 km west of Saraqib), near the Aleppo-Latakia highway. Syrian media outlets reported that the takeover of the village cut off the supply route of the rebel organizations between Saraqib and Ariha (SANA, February 4, 2020).

The village of Al-Nayrab taken over by a Syrian advance force (Google Maps)
The village of Al-Nayrab taken over by a Syrian advance force (Google Maps)

Airstrikes
  • On February 3, 2020, Russian fighter jets carried out several airstrikes in the area of Saraqib and other villages near Idlib. Syrian helicopters dropped barrel bombs against targets in Saraqib and elsewhere in the Idlib region (Khotwa; Edlib Media Center, February 3, 2020).
  • Head of the Russian Reconciliation Center in Syria Lieutenant General Yuri Borinkov announced that during the night, UAVs of the rebel organizations which took off from the Idlib region attempted to attack the Russian airbase in Hmeymim. The airbase electronic warfare systems took control of the aircraft and neutralized their control systems (TASS, February 2, 2020).
Turkish army reinforcements enter the Idlib region
  • On January 31, 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declared that Turkey may resort to military action in the Idlib region if fighting there did not stop immediately and life in the area did not return to normal. According to President Erdoğan, Turkey would not be able to handle a fresh influx of refugees fleeing to its border with Syria following the advance of the Syrian army. Erdoğan threatened that if Turkey had to employ military force it would do so, as it already did three times in the past in cross-border operations in northern Syria (Reuters, January 31, 2020).

On the morning of February 2, 2020, a Turkish force entered Syria. According to Syrian media reports, the Turkish force, consisting of about 320 tanks and armored vehicles, was sent to reinforce the Turkish observation posts in the Idlib region. According to media reports, the Turkish force is expected deploy in the area of Aleppo and Saraqib (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights; Enab Baladi, February 3, 2020). Another Turkish army convoy, which includes tanks, armored vehicles and rocket launchers, entered Syrian territory on February 3, 2020, through the Kafr Lusin border crossing, 35 km north of Idlib (Nida Suriya, affiliated with the Turkish-backed National Liberation Front, February 2, 2020). In the ITIC’s assessment, the Turkish move is intended to prevent the takeover of Saraqib and halt the Syrian army’s advance towards Idlib, based on the assessment that the rebel organizations would not be able to stop the Syrian army’s advance and the takeover of Idlib on their own.

Incident between the Syrian and Turkish armies south of Saraqib
  • The Syrian army advance created friction with Turkish forces deployed near Saraqib. According to the Syrian media, on February 3, 2020, during the Syrian army takeover of several villages in the Saraqib area, a manhunt was carried out after operatives of the rebel forces. During the manhunt, four Turkish soldiers who happened to be there were killed and nine others were wounded. According to the Syrian media, Turkish forces attacked the Syrian army, but the incident ended with no casualties. On the other hand, according to the Turkish Defense Ministry, four Turkish soldiers were killed and nine others were wounded during an attack of the Syrian forces (Reuters, February 2, 2020).
  • Turkish President Erdoğan was quick to respond. He told reporters at Istanbul Airport, before leaving on an official visit to Ukraine, that Turkey would retaliate, as it had done in the past. According to Turkish media reports, an attack was carried out against 40 Syrian targets as part of an “ongoing operation.” According to preliminary reports, 30-35 Syrian regime soldiers were killed. According to Erdoğan, Turkey continues to fire artillery at [Syrian army] positions in the Idlib region (Anadolu, February 3, 2020).
Fighting on the Aleppo front continues
  • Battles continue between the Syrian army and the rebel organizations west and south of Aleppo. According to Syrian media outlets, on January 30, 2020, the Syrian army continued to advance on the road leading to Khan Touman, about 6 km southwest of Aleppo. The advance was carried out with the support of massive artillery fire (SANA, January 30, 2020). The Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham released a video showing dozens of residents of the rural area west of Aleppo declaring the establishment of a military force as part of the “Popular Resistance Companies,” intended to halt the attack of the Syrian army on that front.
  • On February 1, 2020, an elite unit of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham attacked positions of the Syrian army and the Shiite militias supporting it in the neighborhood of Jam’iyat al-Zahra, in northwest Aleppo. The Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham reported that 65 soldiers were killed and 30 others were wounded in the clashes. In addition, weapons, ammunition and documents were seized (Ibaa, February 2, 2020). During the attack, operatives of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham employed four car bombs against forces of the Syrian army and the Shiite militias supporting it (Ibaa, February 2, 2020).
 Car bomb explosion against forces of Shiite militias in west Aleppo (Ibaa, February 1, 2020)   Jami’yat al-Zahra neighborhood, on the outskirts of Aleppo (Google Maps).
Right: Jami’yat al-Zahra neighborhood, on the outskirts of Aleppo (Google Maps). Left: Car bomb explosion against forces of Shiite militias in west Aleppo (Ibaa, February 1, 2020)
  • Media outlets affiliated with the Syrian regime reported that the Syrian army had halted a “terrorist attack” which included attempts to detonate four car bombs on the outskirts of the neighborhood of Jami’yat al-Zahra. According to the report, the vehicles were destroyed before arriving at their destination (SANA, February 1, 2020).
Residents continue to flee the fighting zones
  • The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that residents continue to flee from the city of Idlib and dozens of towns and villages in its vicinity. Over 280,000 residents reportedly fled their homes since mid-January 2020. In total, since early December 2019, about 720,000 residents reportedly fled their homes. It was reported that the displaced persons turned to areas controlled by the Turkish army and the rebel organizations affiliated with it, inter alia near the Syrian-Turkish border (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, February 3, 2020).
The Euphrates Valley
Al-Raqqah area

The area of Al-Mayadeen and Albukamal

  • ISIS activity this week mainly consisted of attacks against SDF intelligence operatives and fighters in the Al-Mayadeen area. Following are noteworthy ISIS attacks (mainly according to ISIS’s claims of responsibility):
    • On February 4, 2020, an SDF vehicle carrying four commanders was targeted by machine gun fire in Al-Tiyanah, 8 km southeast of Al-Mayadeen. Several commanders were wounded (Telegram, February 4, 2020).
    • On February 4, 2020, an SDF intelligence operative was targeted by machine gun fire in Al-Tiyanah. He was killed (Telegram, February 4, 2020).
    • On February 2, 2020, SDF forces were targeted by machine gun fire 14 km north of Al-Mayadeen. Three SDF fighters were killed and other fighters were wounded (Telegram, February 2, 2020).
    • On February 2, 2020, SDF forces were targeted by machine gun fire about 20 km southeast of Al-Mayadeen. One SDF fighter was killed and two others were wounded (Telegram, February 3, 2020).
    • On February 1, 2020, an SDF intelligence operative was targeted by machine gun fire east of Al-Mayadeen. He was wounded (Telegram, February 1, 2020).
    • On January 31, 2020, an SDF fighter and an intelligence operative were targeted by machine gun fire in two separate incidents in the area of Al-Mayadeen. They were both killed (Telegram, January 31, 2020).
    • On January 31, 2020, an SDF fighter was targeted by machine gun fire north of Al-Mayadeen. He was killed (Telegram, February 1, 2020).
    • On January 30, 2020, an SDF intelligence commander was targeted by machine gun fire northeast of Al-Mayadeen. He was killed (Telegram, January 30, 2020).
    • On January 30, 2020, an RPG rocket was fired at an SDF vehicle southeast of Al-Mayadeen. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, January 30, 2020).
    • On January 30, 2020, an SDF intelligence operative was targeted by machine gun fire east of Al-Mayadeen. He was killed (Telegram, January 30, 2020).
Southern Syria
  • According to a report by ISIS’s Hawran Province, ISIS operatives detonated an IED against a Syrian army captain in the village of Jaba in the Quneitra Province (8 km from the Syrian-Israeli border). He was killed (Telegram, February 2, 2020).
  • On February 2, 2020, an IED was activated against a vehicle carrying members of a militia supporting the Syrian army west of As-Suwayda. Three fighters were killed (Telegram, February 4, 2020).
The Iraqi arena
ISIS activity
  • Over the past week, the number of attacks carried out by ISIS operatives has risen. In addition, ISIS’s activity has expanded to other areas. Following are the main attacks for which ISIS claimed responsibility:
Erbil Province
  • On January 29, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle about 60 km southwest of Erbil (Telegram, January 29, 2020).
Al-Anbar Province
  • On February 2, 2020, an attack was carried out against Popular Mobilization forces about 30 km from the Iraqi-Syrian border. Several Popular Mobilization fighters were killed or wounded (Telegram, February 4, 2020).
  • On January 31, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army checkpoint north of Rutba. Three soldiers were killed and two others were wounded (Telegram, January 31, 2020).
  • On January 30, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army checkpoint west of Rutba. Five soldiers were killed. A vehicle was destroyed (Telegram, January 31, 2020).
  • On January 28, 2020, two Iraqi soldiers were targeted by sniper fire on the road from Hit to Haditha (northwest of Hit). Both soldiers were killed (Telegram, January 29, 2020).
  • On January 28, 2020, Iraqi soldiers were targeted by sniper fire near Al-Mamoura. Three soldiers were killed (Telegram, January 29, 2020).
Nineveh Province
  • On January 28, 2020, an IED was activated against a vehicle carrying a Tribal Mobilization fighter about 90 km southwest of Mosul. The fighter was killed (Telegram, January 29, 2020).
Diyala Province
  •  On February 1, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle about 15 km northeast of Baqubah (Telegram, February 1, 2020). The passengers were almost certainly killed.
The moment the IED was activated (Telegram, February 1, 2020).    The vehicle just moments before ISIS activated an IED against it.
Right: The vehicle just moments before ISIS activated an IED against it. Left: The moment the IED was activated (Telegram, February 1, 2020).
  • On January 31, 2020, ISIS operatives took a Shiite civilian prisoner on the outskirts of the Qara Tapa area, about 100 km northeast of Baqubah. He was shot to death (Telegram, February 1, 2020).
  • On January 30, 2020, ISIS operatives took a Kurdish Democratic Party activist prisoner northeast of Diyala. After being interrogated he was executed (Telegram, January 31, 2020).
  • On January 28, 2020, an Iraqi army compound about 5 km east of Baqubah was targeted by sniper fire. A soldier was killed (Telegram, January 29, 2020).
Salah al-Din Province
  • On January 31, 2020, an Iraqi soldier was targeted by sniper fire about 40 km north of Baghdad. He was killed (Telegram, February 1, 2020).
Execution of a Tribal Mobilization fighter taken prisoner by ISIS (Telegram, January 31, 2020).   ISIS operatives leading Iraqi army “agents” taken prisoner by the organization.
Photos from a video released by ISIS’s Salah al-Din Province. Right: ISIS operatives leading Iraqi army “agents” taken prisoner by the organization. Left: Execution of a Tribal Mobilization fighter taken prisoner by ISIS (Telegram, January 31, 2020).
Babel Province
  • On February 2, 2020, an IED was activated against a Popular Mobilization APC about 40 km southwest of Baghdad. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, February 2, 2020).
  • On January 30, 2020, an IED was activated against Tribal Mobilization fighters who were attempting to deactivate it about 40 km southwest of Baghdad. Several fighters were wounded (Telegram, February 1, 2020).
Kirkuk Province
  • On January 30, 2020, an Iraqi army compound about 30 km south of Kirkuk was targeted by sniper fire. Two soldiers were killed (Telegram, January 31, 2020).
  • On January 29, 2020, ISIS operatives belonging to ISIS sleeper cells attacked an Iraqi army position on the road from Daqouq to Baghdad (about 30 km south of Kirkuk). At least two soldiers were killed (Kurdistan 24, January 30, 2020).
Erbil Province
  • On February 3, 2020, Peshmerga fighters were targeted by machine gun fire about 50 km southwest of Erbil. One fighter was killed and two others were wounded (Telegram, February 4, 2020).
Counterterrorist activities by the Iraqi security forces
Nineveh Province
  • On February 3, 2020, Iraqi security forces apprehended four ISIS operatives in the southeastern part of Mosul (Al-Sumaria, February 3, 2020).
Diyala Province
  • On February 1, 2020, Iraqi security forces destroyed five ISIS “guesthouses” about 60 km northeast of Baqubah. The “guesthouses” were equipped with generators and communication infrastructure (Al-Sumaria, February 1, 2020).
Al-Sulaymaniyah Province
  • On February 3, 2020, Kurdish Internal Security forces apprehended an ISIS commander in the Al-Sulaymaniyah Province (Iraqi News Agency, February 3, 2020).
The Sinai Peninsula
Gas pipeline in northern Sinai blown up

The main event of the week was the explosion of a gas pipeline in northern Sinai used for the transmission of natural gas from Israel to Egypt (February 2, 2020). ISIS’s Sinai province claimed responsibility for the attack. The claim of responsibility states that soldiers of the Caliphate attacked one of the gas pipelines connecting Israel and Egypt, east of Bir al-Abd. ISIS used several IEDs to blow up the gas pipeline (Telegram, February 3, 2020). In the ITIC’s assessment, the attack may have been carried out in the wake of ISIS spokesman’s call on the organization’s operatives in Sinai and Syria to attack Israeli targets[2]. It may be assumed that similar attacks against the gas pipeline will continue, since they are operationally easy to carry out and generate considerable media resonance.

  • According to Egyptian military sources, at least six masked gunmen arrived in vehicles at the site of the attack. They planted IEDs under the pipeline. According to eyewitnesses, the terrorists quickly left the scene before police arrived. Security sources added that the pumping operation from the pipeline was stopped in order to control the fire that broke out at the site (Sada Masr, February 2, 2020; AP, February 2, 2020; Al Jazeera, February 2, 2020). According to Egyptian sources, gas continues to flow from Israel to Egypt. According to them, blowing up the pipeline is more a media and tactical gain for ISIS than a practical achievement affecting the flow of gas (Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed, February 4, 2020).
  • The office of Israel’s Minister of Energy Yuval Steinitz said that natural gas from Israel is flowing through the pipeline uninterruptedly and that the gas transmission system [to Egypt] has not been damaged. According to estimates in Egypt, this is probably an Egyptian gas pipeline that is not part of the gas transmission system from Israel (Walla, February 3, 2019; Globes, February 3, 2020). The gas pipeline between Egypt and Israel was attacked by ISIS’s Sinai Province following the fall of Hosni Mubarak’s regime in 2011. Most of the attacks on the pipeline took place in 2011-2012, when Egypt was using it to supply natural gas to Israel. In 2012, use of the pipeline was discontinued, and it resumed operation around two weeks ago, this time with Israel supplying natural gas to Egypt (Reuters, February 3, 2020; Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed, February 4, 2020).

Attacks against an Egyptian army force south of Sheikh Zuweid

  • On February 2-4, 2020, ISIS operatives attacked an Egyptian army force during a military operation south of Sheikh Zuweid. Seven soldiers were killed and eight others were wounded. ISIS operatives also destroyed several tanks and armored vehicles. ISIS’s Amaq News Agency released a video documenting some of the attacks (Telegram, February 4, 2020).
The Egyptian army force as observed by ISIS operatives (Telegram, February 4, 2020).   Egyptian army tank going up in flames.
Right: Egyptian army tank going up in flames. Left: The Egyptian army force as observed by ISIS operatives (Telegram, February 4, 2020).
Additional ISIS operations
  • On February 1, 2020, an IED was activated against an Egyptian army bulldozer east of Sheikh Zuweid. The bulldozer was damaged and the passengers were wounded (Telegram, February 1, 2020).
  • On January 31, 2020, ISIS operatives fired three mortar shells at the Egyptian army’s Al-Ahrash Camp west of Rafah (Telegram, January 31, 2020). No casualties were reported.
The activity of ISIS’s provinces in Africa and Asia
Nigeria
  • This week, ISIS’s activity continued in Borno State in northeastern Nigeria. During the week, ISIS operatives carried out two attacks (on January 28 and January 31, 2020) against a Nigerian army camp 3 km south of the border between Niger and Nigeria. The forces exchanged fire. Several soldiers were killed or wounded (Telegram, January 28 and 31, 2020).
  • On February 2, 2020, ISIS operatives attacked Nigerian forces in a Christian village about 130 km south of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. The forces exchanged fire. Seven soldiers were killed and several others were wounded. In addition, weapons, ammunition and vehicles were seized, and six churches were set on fire (Telegram, February 2, 2020).

One of the churches set on fire by ISIS operatives in Askira/Uba, south of Maiduguri (Telegram, February 4, 2020)
One of the churches set on fire by ISIS operatives in Askira/Uba, south of Maiduguri
(Telegram, February 4, 2020)

Somalia
  • On February 4, 2020, ISIS operatives shot at two Somali policemen in Bosaso, in northeastern Somalia, killing one and wounding the other (Telegram, February 4, 2020).
  • On February 4, 2020, ISIS operatives shot and killed a Somali police officer in the Bakara open market in Mogadishu (Telegram, February 4, 2020).
Yemen
  • On February 3, 2020, ISIS operatives halted attacks by al-Qaeda operatives in Qifah, in the northwestern Al-Bayda Province (about 100 km southeast of Sana’a). The ISIS operatives activated several IEDs. Eight Al-Qaeda operatives were killed and several others were wounded. Another IED was activated when they withdrew. Three Al-Qaeda operatives were wounded (Telegram, February 4, 2020).
  • On February 1, 2020, ISIS operatives planted an IED in one of the Houthi positions in Qifah. The IED exploded during an attempt to deactivate it. Six Houthis were killed and eight others were wounded (Telegram, February 4, 2020).
  • An IED was detonated against a Houthi vehicle in Qifah. Six Houthi fighters were killed or wounded (Telegram, January 31, 2020).

[1] See the ITIC’s Information Bulletin from February 4, 2020, “ISIS-inspired stabbing attack in London
[2] See the ITIC’s Information Bulletin from January 29, 2020, “ISIS’s spokesman calls on Muslims around the globe to spearhead the struggle to thwart President Trump’s plan and calls on ISIS operatives in Sinai and Syria to attack Israeli communities