Spotlight on Global Jihad (July 18-24, 2019)

Main events of the week

• The Syrian army’s ground offensive against the rebel organizations in the Idlib region is still bogged down. This week, the rebel organizations took control of Syrian army positions in the village of Al-Qasabiya (northwest of Hama) but were forced to withdraw. On the other hand, the Syrian army failed in its attempt to attack the village of Sirmaniya, southwest of Idlib.
• Since the fall of ISIS’s stronghold in the Lower Euphrates River, there has been a clear and ongoing increase in the scope and intensity of ISIS’s terrorist and guerrilla activity throughout Syria. This week, ISIS carried out three unusual operations: an attack on the Syrian army forces in the rural area north of Albukamal; The detonation of an IED against a train carrying phosphates southwest of Palmyra; And the detonation of an IED against the car of a commander in the Homeland Defense Forces in Damascus (note: ISIS and another organization both claimed responsibility for the attack in Damascus).
• In the Iraqi arena, the extensive security operation against ISIS continues. This week, the operation centered on mopping up the area north of Baghdad: for this reason, ISIS apparently maintained a low profile, concentrating its activities on the area northeast of Baqubah.
• In ISIS’s various provinces in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, “routine” activity continued. ISIS carried out attacks in Afghanistan, in the provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar (close to the border with Pakistan). The targets of the attacks were mainly Taliban operatives but also tribes that cooperate with the Afghan government. The Sinai Peninsula was also a target of ISIS attacks. After a temporary decrease, this week ISIS increased its activity, which included, among other things, an attempted suicide bombing attack near an Egyptian checkpoint, the killing of so-called collaborators, the detonation of an explosive belt near an armored police vehicle and the detonation of IEDs against vehicles in northern Sinai. ISIS operatives also carried out attacks in Nigeria, Congo, Pakistan and Yemen.

Main events in Syria

The Idlib region

Battles in the Idlib region continued to focus on the region northwest of Hama. On the night of July 20-21, 2019, the rebel organizations led by the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham carried out an attack against Syrian army positions around the village of Al-Qasabiya, about 10 km north of the village of Hamamiyat (rebel attempt to take over a Syrian army outpost in the village failed). The rebel operatives managed to enter Al-Qasabiya but were forced to withdraw. Seven rebel operatives and five Syrian army soldiers were killed (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, July 21, 2019). On the other hand, the Syrian army failed in its attempt to attack the village of Sirmaniya, southwest of Idlib. Over the past few days, the Syrian army sent new reinforcements, including field guns and tanks, to the rural area north of Hama (Muraselon, July 17, 2019).

• The Syrian regime reported that the Syrian army had halted an attack of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham and the organizations operating along with it against army positions in the village of Al-Qasabiya. The attacking force used suicide bombers wearing explosive belts, but they were killed before arriving at their destination. The Syrian army destroyed two armored vehicles and an APC (SANA, July 21, 2019).

Syrian army attack against the village of Sirmaniya failed

• On July 18, 2019, a Syrian army force tried to advance towards the village of Sirmaniya, located in the northern part of the Al-Ghab Plain (southwest of Idlib, about 10 km south of Jisr al-Shughur). After several hours of fire exchanges, the Syrian army was forced to retreat. According to the rebel organizations, the Syrian force sustained heavy casualties (Al-Ghad, a Syrian news website affiliated with the rebel organizations, July 18, 2019). Following its failed attack, the Syrian army fired artillery at the Sirmaniya area (Khotwa, July 21, 2019).

Interim summary of the losses in the fighting

• The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that from April 30, 2019 (shortly before the Syrian army offensive) until July 20, 2019, a total of 2,663 people had been killed. A total of 977 of the dead belonged to the rebel forces; 918 to the Syrian army and the forces supporting it; and 768 were civilians (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, July 24, 2019).

Damascus region

• After a long period of time, ISIS operated in Damascus this week. According to ISIS’s announcement, on July 22, 2019, an IED was activated against a vehicle of a commander in the Homeland Defense Forces (a militia supporting the Syrian army) in the neighborhood of Al-Qadam, in southern Damascus. The commander was wounded and his escort was killed (Telegram, July 22, 2019). An organization named “Qasiyoun Companies” also claimed responsibility for the attack. It was reported that the IED was activated against Iyad Dayoub, commander in the Homeland Defense Forces (Khotwa, July 22, 2019).

     
Right: Iyad Dayoub, commander in the Homeland Defense Forces who was wounded in the IED explosion. Left: Iyad Dayoub’s vehicle (Khotwa, July 22, 2019)

Northeastern Syria

Terrorist attacks deep in the Kurdish-controlled area continue

• ISIS operatives continued to attack the SDF forces in the area controlled by the Kurdish forces:
  • July 13, 2019: An IED was activated against an SDF vehicle about 80 km northeast of Al-Hasakah, killing and wounding the passengers (Telegram, July 13, 2019).
  • July 17, 2019: A car bomb was detonated in southern Al-Hasakah. Two civilians were wounded (SANA, July 17, 2019). ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. According to ISIS, it was carried out by a car bomb which was parked near an SDF checkpoint. ISIS claimed that six SDF fighters had been killed in the explosion and several others wounded (Telegram, July 17, 2019).
  • July 20, 2019: A motorcycle bomb was detonated against a convoy which was secured by the SDF. According to ISIS, the convoy consisted of crude oil tankers. The explosion took place about 90 km south of Al-Hasakah. Six passengers were either killed or wounded (Telegram, July 20, 2019).
  • July 20, 2019: An IED was detonated against an SDF vehicle about 80 km south of Al-Hasakah (on the road between Deir ez-Zor and Al-Hasakah). Three of the passengers were either killed or wounded (Telegram, July 20, 2019).

Eastern Syria

Al-Mayadeen area

• ISIS continues its intensive activity in the Al-Mayadeen area. Following are highlights of the activity (according to the statements of ISIS’s Al-Sham Province – Al-Khayr region):
  • July 17, 2019: An IED was activated against an SDF vehicle in the village of Diban, 5 km east of Al-Mayadeen. An SDF fighter was killed (Telegram, July 18, 2019).
  • July 17, 2019: Two SDF fighters were shot and killed in the village of Gharanij, about 30 km southeast of Al-Mayadeen (Telegram, July 17, 2019).
  • July 18, 2019: Two SDF fighters were shot and killed in the village of Al-Tiyanah, 8 km southeast of Al-Mayadeen (Telegram, July 18, 2019).
  • July 18, 2019: An IED was activated against an SDF vehicle in the village of Al-Shahil, 9 km north of Al-Mayadeen. Three fighters were killed and three others wounded (Telegram, July 19, 2019).
  • July 18, 2019: An SDF vehicle was shot at in the village of Dahla, 12 km east of Deir ez-Zor. Three fighters were killed (Telegram, July 18, 2019).
  • July 20, 2019: An SDF intelligence operative was shot and killed in the village of Al-Shahil, 9 km north of Al-Mayadeen (Telegram, July 21, 2019).
  • July 23, 2019: An IED was activated against an SDF vehicle in the village of Diban, 5 km east of Al-Mayadeen. The passengers were either killed or wounded (Telegram, July 23, 2019).

Syrian forces attacked in the Lower Euphrates Valley

ISIS operatives arriving from the desert area west of the Euphrates River attacked forces of the Syrian army and militias supporting it in the rural area north of Albukamal (on the west bank of the Euphrates, along the road from Albukamal to Deir ez-Zor). This is the first attack of its kind since the fall of the ISIS stronghold in the Lower Euphrates Valley (March 2019).

• An ISIS force attacked Syrian forces in three villages simultaneously: Al-Hassarat (about 15 km north of Albukamal), Al-Abbas (about 25 km northwest of Albukamal), and Al-Salehiya (about 40 km northwest of Albukamal). The exchanges of fire lasted nearly three hours. A Syrian army force stationed in Albukamal fired artillery at the ISIS force. At least 23 fighters and operatives were killed and dozens were wounded on both sides (Khotwa, July 21, 2019).

IED activated against a freight train in the Palmyra area

• On July 21, 2019, official Syrian sources reported that “terrorist operatives” (i.e., ISIS operatives) had detonated an IED against a freight train in the area of the phosphate mine in Khunayfis, about 55 km southwest of Palmyra. As a result of the explosion, the locomotive and two large tanks of phosphates were derailed. There were casualties among the train crew (Syrian Ministry of Transport, July 21, 2019). On July 22, 2019, ISIS released a claim of responsibility for the detonation of an IED against a train carrying phosphates. According to the claim of responsibility, the locomotive was derailed and several people on board were wounded (Telegram, July 22, 2019).

Main developments in Iraq

ISIS activities throughout Iraq

• Following are the main activities carried out by ISIS (based on ISIS’s claims of responsibility):
  • Al-Anbar Province: A Tribal Mobilization operative was killed by sniper fire west of Ramadi (Telegram, July 17, 2019).
  • Diyala Province: An Iraqi army soldier was wounded by sniper fire about 80 km north of Baqubah (Telegram, July 17, 2019).
  • Diyala Province: Two IEDs were activated against an Iraqi army vehicle about 80 km northeast of Baqubah. Four soldiers were killed in the explosion. When a rescue force arrived, ISIS operatives detonated another IED. Six soldiers were killed, including an officer (Telegram, July 18, 2019).
  • Diyala Province: An Iraqi army commando operative was killed by sniper fire about 80 km north of Baqubah (Telegram, July 19, 2019).
  • Diyala Province: A Tribal Mobilization force was hit by sniper fire about 40 km northeast of Baqubah. One Tribal Mobilization operative was killed and another wounded (Telegram, July 18, 2019).
  • Diyala Province: An IED was detonated against Popular Mobilization operatives about 70 km northeast of Baqubah. A Popular Mobilization operative was killed and three were wounded (Telegram, July 21, 2019).
  • Diyala Province: A Tribal Mobilization force was hit by mortar shells about 70 km northeast of Baqubah (Telegram, July 22, 2019).
  • Diyala Province: An Iraqi army soldier was seriously wounded by sniper fire 14 km southeast of Baqubah (Telegram, July 23, 2019).

Counterterrorist activities by the Iraqi security forces

• The Iraqi security forces continued their extensive security operation against ISIS, which began on July 7, 2019. The second phase of the operation was launched on July 20, 2019. The Iraqi security forces started to mop up the region north of Baghdad, including areas belonging to the provinces of Diyala, Salah al-Din and Al-Anbar (Al-Sumaria, July 20, 2019).
• As part of the second phase, the Popular Mobilization forces announced that they had mopped up, along with the Iraqi security forces, 15 villages in the Tarmiyah area, about 30 km north of Baghdad. In addition, a joint force of the Popular Mobilization and the Iraqi army mopped up four additional villages west of Tarmiyah (al-hashed.net, July 21, 2019).

Additional counterterrorism operations by the Iraqi security forces

• At the same time, additional counterterrorism operations were carried out in the various provinces:
  • Kirkuk Province: International Coalition planes carried out an airstrike based on accurate intelligence against a hiding place of “terrorist operatives” (implicitly, ISIS), about 50 km southwest of Kirkuk. Three “terrorist operatives” were killed (Iraqi News Agency, July 20, 2019).
  • Kirkuk Province: An Iraqi police force captured three ISIS operatives in Kirkuk. Under interrogation, the three confessed that they belonged to ISIS. One of them confessed to having participated in operations against the Iraqi security forces (Iraqi News Agency, July 21, 2019).

The Sinai Peninsula and Egypt

• After a temporary decrease in the volume of ISIS’s activity in the previous two weeks, this week the Sinai Province increased its activity. Main activity:
  • The killing of so-called collaborators: ISIS’s Sinai Province announced that its operatives had executed four collaborators with the Egyptian regime. According to the announcement, the four were caught at a checkpoint set up by ISIS operatives on the road between Al-Arish and Al-Qantara. They were executed after being interrogated. Sinai Province operatives distributed leaflets in the area, warning against collaboration with the Egyptian army (Telegram, July 17, 2019). According to another version, four civilians were executed (Facebook page of the Sinai Tribal Union, July 17, 2019).
  • Suicide bombing attack in Sheikh Zuweid: according to an Egyptian security source, security forces in Sheikh Zuweid located a would-be suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest. They fired at him and caused him to detonate his explosive vest. As a result, an Egyptian member of the security forces was killed (Al-Arabiya, July 18, 2019). ISIS’s Sinai Province claimed responsibility for the attack. According to the claim of responsibility, an ISIS suicide bomber codenamed Abu Omar al-Sa’idi detonated his explosive vest at a checkpoint of the Egyptian army and a militia supporting it. As a result, five Egyptian soldiers and militiamen were killed and wounded (Telegram, July 18, 2019).
  • Detonation of an explosive belt near an armored police vehicle: The explosion took place at the Sheikh Zuweid police station. Five soldiers and collaborators with the Egyptian army were killed in the blast. Following the attack, the Egyptian security forces blocked the international highway linking Sheikh Zuweid and Al-Arish (Shahed Sinaa Facebook page, July 19, 2019).
  • Ambush against militiamen in central Sinai: According to ISIS’s media outlets, the organization’s operatives ambushed fighters of a militia that supports the Egyptian army on the Al-Hasna road in central Sinai. As a result, three militiamen were killed (Telegram, July 18, 2019)

• Detonation of an IED: ISIS’s Sinai Province announced that its operatives had detonated an IED against an Egyptian army minesweeper west of Rafah. The passengers of the minesweeper were killed and wounded (Telegram, July 18, 2019).
• Detonation of an IED: ISIS’s Sinai Province announced that its operatives had detonated an IED against an Egyptian army vehicle near a checkpoint in Fallujah, west of Rafah. The passengers of the vehicle were killed and wounded (Telegram, July 18, 2019).
• Damaging bulldozers belonging to the Egyptian security forces: According to an announcement by ISIS, its operatives managed to put four bulldozers out of commission. The bulldozers were carrying out stripping operations in west Rafah in order to create a buffer zone between Sinai and the Gaza Strip. The bulldozers were targeted by IEDs, rockets and snipers (Telegram, July 22, 2019).
• Killing of an Egyptian soldier by a sniper: ISIS’s Sinai province announced the killing of an Egyptian soldier by an ISIS sniper (Telegram, July 22, 2019).

ISIS’s activity around the globe

Nigeria

• ISIS’s West Africa Province announced that its operatives had launched mortar shells at a Nigerian army outpost in the northern part of Borno State, near the border between Nigeria and Niger. According to the announcement, the outpost was definitely hit (Telegram, July 19, 2019).

Congo

• ISIS’s Central Africa Province announced that the organization’s operatives had exchanged fire with Congolese soldiers in the area of Beni in eastern Congo, near the border with Uganda. Two Congolese soldiers were killed and the rest fled (Telegram, July 21, 2019). According to an announcement by ISIS’s Amaq News Agency, on July 20, 2019, a Congolese army soldier was ambushed and killed by ISIS operatives in the Beni area (Telegram, July 22, 2019).

Afghanistan

• This week, ISIS’s activity was concentrated in the provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar, near the border with Pakistan. The targets of ISIS’s attacks were Taliban operatives and tribes that collaborate with the Afghan government. According to an announcement by the Khorasan Province, ISIS and the Taliban have been fighting in the Nangarhar Province for the past three months. A total of around 360 Taliban operatives have been killed and wounded (Telegram, July 22, 2019).

• Main activity carried out over the past week:
  • According to an announcement by ISIS’s Khorasan Province, on July 19, 2019, ISIS operatives took control of three Taliban positions near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. In the exchange of fire, two Taliban operatives were killed and two wounded (Telegram, July 21, 2019) ISIS’s Amaq News Agency reported that four Taliban operatives were killed and four were wounded (Telegram, July 21, 2019).
  • According to an announcement by ISIS’s Khorasan Province, its operatives attacked a checkpoint of pro-government tribesmen in the Achin area of Nangarhar. Four tribesmen were wounded (Telegram, July 17, 2019).
  • ISIS operatives fired machine guns at two Taliban operatives in the Kunar Province. One Taliban operative was killed and the other was wounded (ISIS’s Khorasan Province, as posted on Telegram, July 19, 2019).

• The Khorasan province announced that ISIS operatives had ambushed Taliban operatives in the Kunar Province, near the border with Pakistan. Three Taliban operatives were killed and another was wounded (Telegram, July 21, 2019).
• ISIS operatives attacked Taliban positions in Nangarhar. At least 10 Taliban operatives were killed and 10 others were wounded (Telegram, July 22, 2019).
• ISIS operatives attacked fighters of a militia supporting the Afghan army southeast of Jalalabad in the Nangarhar Province. Ten militia fighters, including an officer, were killed and wounded (Telegram, July 23, 2019).
• According to an announcement by ISIS’s Amaq News Agency, five Afghan policemen were killed and wounded in an IED explosion in the capital Kabul (Telegram, July 22, 2019).

Pakistan

• ISIS’s Pakistan Province announced that its operatives had detonated an IED against Taliban fighters in the city of Quetta (around 70 km east of the border with Afghanistan). Six Taliban fighters were killed and wounded (Telegram, July 23, 2019).

Yemen

• On July 16, 2019, ISIS operatives exchanged fire with Al-Qaeda operatives in Al-Bayda, in central Yemen (around 100 km southeast of Sana’a). An Al-Qaeda operative was killed and another one was wounded (Telegram, July 17, 2019).
• An ISIS sniper shot and wounded an Al-Qaeda operative in Al-Bayda, in central Yemen (Telegram, July 22, 2019).

The battle for hearts and minds

ISIS’s Somalia Province operatives renew their pledge of allegiance to ISIS leader Al-Baghdadi

• Operatives of ISIS’s Somalia Province also joined the operatives in the various countries and released a video (in the Somali language) showing them renewing their pledge of allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (Telegram, July 20, 2019). According to the video, the Somalia Province operatives first pledged allegiance to Al-Baghdadi on October 21, 2015.
• The speaker in the video says that the Somalia Province suffered difficulties. He adds that Allah helped the Province’s operatives carry out many “security operations” in various parts of Somalia, and that they “pray to Allah to make these operations reach new places as well.” He adds that Allah allowed them to carry out “military operations” against the “deserters of Islam,” against “American crusaders” and against Al-Qaeda operatives who belong to the Taliban (Telegram, July 20, 2019).

Related Articles