Spotlight on Global Jihad (May 1-6, 2020)

Overview

• In the Idlib region in northern Syria, the ceasefire was generally maintained. In the Al-Sukhnah-Palmyra deserts, in eastern Syria, ISIS’s intensive activity continues, with this week’s attack against a bus carrying Syrian military personnel (10 dead, more than 15 wounded). In the Daraa region in southern Syria (including the Syrian Golan Heights), the resurgence of ISIS’s Hawran Province continues. This week’s attacks in the Daraa region took the form of targeted killings of intelligence personnel and a mukhtar affiliated with the Syrian regime.
• In Iraq, ISIS’s high-intensity activity continues, taking advantage of the spread of COVID-19 and the reduction in the activity of the US-led International Coalition. In addition to the routine attacks characteristic of ISIS, this week there was an attack on a high voltage line conducting electricity from Iran to Iraq. This attack was carried out as part of what ISIS calls the “economic war” that it is waging against Iraq.
• ISIS’s other provinces in Africa and Asia continued their “routine” attacks, in the shadow of the COVID-19 crisis. This activity included attacks by ISIS’s provinces in the Sinai Peninsula, West Africa, Central Africa, Afghanistan and the Philippines.

The Idlib region

The ceasefire is generally still maintained in the Idlib region. It seems that the sides are still in a waiting position, among other things, due to the fear of an outbreak of COVID-19 (so far, no COVID-19 cases have been reported in the Idlib region^[1]). In the past week, there were unprecedented violent incidents between operatives of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham and local residents, who protested against the organization’s intention to establish a commercial crossing to the territories controlled by the Syrian regime. The Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham worked to calm down the situation.

Joint patrols on the M-4 highway continue

• After the Turkish army enforced the Russian and Turkish joint patrols (April 26, 2020), a routine of joint patrols on the M-4 highway (Aleppo-Latakia Road) began. Until April 30, 2020, there were seven joint Russian and Turkish patrols on the M-4 highway (Anatolia; Edlib Media Center, April 30, 2020).

Demonstrations in the city of Idlib and elsewhere

• On April 30, 2020, demonstrations were held in Idlib and Kafr Takharim, northwest of Idlib. The demonstrators protested the establishment of a commercial crossing by the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham vis-à-vis the Syrian army about 20 km northeast of Idlib (near Miznaz). The operatives of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham security force dispersed the demonstration using live ammunition. At least one civilian was killed (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, April 30, 2020).

• From Idlib, the wave of protest spread to other sites. Civilian activists called for protest and holding protest watches throughout the Idlib governorate under the slogan “No to the opening of the crossings… For the fallen and for honor.” Subsequently, dozens of protesters blocked Highway 60 (leading to the commercial crossing) to prevent trucks from reaching the crossing. Operatives of the security force of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham tried to keep them away by force. In response to the violent conduct of the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham, demonstrators blocked other sites on the roads in the Idlib region (Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, April 30, 2020; Edlib Media Center, May 1, 2020).

    
Demonstrators blocking the road leading to the commercial crossing in Miznaz
(Edlib Media Center, April 30, 2020)

• In response to the demonstrations and the blocking of the roads, the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham released a detailed notice on the commercial crossing. According to the notice, the “liberated north” (i.e., the Idlib region) imports most of its needs from Turkey, but exports most of its products to areas controlled by the Syrian army (“the gangs”). Therefore, after examining the advantages and disadvantages of the opening of the crossing, members of the General Crossings Directorate (an entity subordinate to the civilian administration in the rebel-held territories) were convinced of the need to open the commercial crossing. As to firing at the demonstrators, the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham noted that it was against attacking the protesters and that it would hold the operative who dared to do so accountable (Ibaa, May 2, 2020).

Northeastern Syria

The area of Al-Mayadeen and Albukamal

ISIS continued its activity in northeastern Syria. The main forms of activity were the activation of IEDs, sniper fire, and targeted killings.

• On May 4, 2020, an IED was activated against an SDF vehicle on the road leading to the Al-Omar oil field, about 10 km north of Al-Mayadeen. The passengers were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 4, 2020).
• On May 3, 2020, Syrian soldiers were targeted by sniper fire in the village of Shahil, about 10 km north of Al-Mayadeen. Two officers were killed and one soldier was wounded (Telegram, May 4, 2020).
• On April 30, 2020, an SDF intelligence operative was shot and killed in the village of Al-Hawaij, about 5 km northeast of Al-Mayadeen (Telegram, April 30, 2020).
• On April 30, 2020, an IED was activated against an SDF intelligence operative in the village of Al-Susah, about 5 km northeast of Albukamal. He was wounded (Telegram, April 30, 2020).
• On April 28, 2020, an IED was activated against a vehicle carrying one of the figures in charge of the local communes, about 10 km north of Deir ez-Zor. He was wounded (Telegram, April 30, 2020).

Eastern Syria (Al-Sukhnah-Palmyra region)

• On April 30, 2020, a bus carrying Syrian soldiers was ambushed 135 km east of Palmyra (about 50 km northwest of the Syrian-Iraqi border). First, an IED was activated against the bus; then it was fired at. Six officers and four soldiers were killed and 15 others were wounded (Telegram, May 1, 2020). This is yet another expression of ISIS’s intensive activity against the Syrian forces in the deserts of the Al-Sukhnah-Palmyra region.

Northeastern Syria

The city of Al-Hasakah area

Revolt of ISIS prisoners in the SDF main prison

• On May 2, 2020, there was a prisoner revolt in one of the major prisons where ISIS operatives are held in the Al-Hasakah Province. The name of the prison was not mentioned, but it was probably the Main Ghuweiran Prison, in south Al-Hasakah.^[2] The ISIS operatives took control of the interior of the prison. The SDF forces announced that following negotiations with the ISIS prisoners, Special Forces and counterterrorist forces took control of the situation. According to the SDF forces, responsibility for finding a solution to the issue of ISIS operatives in prisons lies with the International Coalition countries and the international community. The SDF asked for additional assistance to enhance the security measures and improve the condition of those incarcerated in prisons in northern and eastern Syria (SDF Press, May 3, 2020).
• According to a report in an Arab newspaper published in London, although the SDF forces announced the end of the revolt, negotiations between them and the ISIS operatives are still ongoing. According to the same report, the International Coalition ordered the preparation of a hall where the incarcerated ISIS operatives would be tried (Al-Araby al-Jadeed, May 5, 2020).

Thwarting the smuggling of wives of ISIS operatives out of the Al-Hol displaced persons camp

• Recently, the SDF forces thwarted an attempt to smuggle seven wives of ISIS operatives out of the Al-Hol displaced persons camp (about 45 km east of Al-Hasakah). During the smuggling attempt, the SDF forces apprehended an Iraqi smuggler collaborating with two water tank owners working in the camp. During her interrogation, the smuggler admitted to having charged $100 from each person whom she had smuggled. She was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment and a fine. There are over 74,000 people in the Al-Hol camp, including displaced persons, refugees, and families of ISIS operatives. It is considered a high-risk camp because there are over 40,000 wives of ISIS operatives and their children, comprising about 66% of the camp residents (Khotwa, May 3, 2020).

Southern Syria

The Daraa region

In the Daraa region and the Syrian Golan Heights, resurgence of ISIS’s Hawran Province continued. The common form of attacks this week was targeted killings of intelligence operatives and a mukhtar affiliated with the Syrian regime.

• On May 4, 2020, a mukhtar loyal to the Syrian regime was targeted by machine gun fire in Al-Gharia al-Sharqiya, about 14 km northeast of Daraa. He was wounded (Telegram, May 4, 2020).
• On May 4, 2020, Syrian army Air Force Intelligence operatives were targeted by machine gun fire in Al-Maliha al-Sharqiya, about 30 km northeast of Daraa. Three intelligence operatives were killed (Telegram, May 4, 2020).
• On April 30, 2020, a Syrian army intelligence operative was shot and killed near Kafr Nassej, about 20 km east of the border between Syria and Israel. ISIS’s Hawran Province released a photo showing the body of the operative and his military ID card (Telegram, April 30, 2020).

The Iraqi arena

Iraq continues to be the main arena of ISIS’s global activity, while ISIS takes advantage of the spread of COVID-19^[3] and the decrease in the scope of activity of the US-led International Coalition. This week, ISIS’s activity took the forms characterizing past weeks: activation of IEDs, rocket and mortar shell fire, sniper fire, and targeted killings. Prominent this week was an attack against a high voltage line supplying electricity from Iran to Iraq, as part of what ISIS refers to as an “economic war” that it is waging against Iraq.

ISIS’s Iraq Province taking the lead in ISIS’s activity

• On April 30, 2020, ISIS released an infographic (entitled “The Harvest of the Fighters”) summing up its activity in the various provinces around the world between April 23 and April 29, 2020. According to the infographic, 57 attacks were carried out during this time, 36 of them (63%) in Iraq. The number of casualties in Iraq (67) was the greatest in all ISIS’s provinces (Telegram, April 30, 2020).

ISIS’s “economic war” against Iraq

• On May 4, 2020, it was reported that the Mirsad electricity line from Iran to Iraq was put out of commission due to a “terrorist attack.” The attack (temporarily) disrupted the export of electricity from Iran to Iraq (Akhbar al-Iraq, May 4, 2020).

According to ISIS, this attack is part of a series of attacks carried out by ISIS as part of what it refers to as the “economic war” against Iraq. ISIS’s Al-Naba’ weekly reported that on April 27, 2020, ISIS activated IEDs against several electricity pylons used by Iraqi army camps in the Al-Azim area, about 60 km north of Baqubah. On that same day, similar attacks were carried out by ISIS operatives against electricity pylons in the area of Al-Miqdadiyah, about 40 km northeast of Baqubah. On the following day, several pylons were blown up the same way in an area about 10 km southeast of Baqubah. This caused power outages in several sites in Baghdad and in the provinces of Diyala and Salah al-Din (article in Al-Naba’, posted on Telegram on May 1, 2020).

Main activities carried out by ISIS’s Iraq Province

Al-Anbar Province

• On May 4, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi police patrol about 35 km northeast of Baqubah. One policeman was killed (Telegram, May 4, 2020).
• On May 3, 2020, Iraqi soldiers were ambushed about 60 km north of Baqubah. one soldier was killed and four others were wounded. When a Tribal Mobilization force arrived at the scene to provide assistance, they were fired at. Three other soldiers were killed and seven wounded (Telegram, May 4, 2020).
• On May 3, 2020, an Iraqi army camp was targeted by sniper fire and mortar shells about 40 km northeast of Baqubah. One soldier was killed (Telegram, May 4, 2020).
• On May 3, 2020, an Iraqi army camp was targeted by sniper fire about 80 km northeast of Baqubah. One soldier was killed (Telegram, May 4, 2020).
• On May 3, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle about 80 km northeast of Baqubah. The passengers, including an officer, were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 4, 2020).
• On May 3, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army truck near the border between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. One soldier was killed and another was wounded (Telegram, May 3, 2020).
• On May 2, 2020, an IED was activated and machine guns were fired at two Iraqi army vehicles about 60 km north of Baqubah. An officer and three soldiers were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 3, 2020).
• On April 30, 2020, an Iraqi soldier was targeted by sniper fire east of Hit. He was killed (Telegram, May 1, 2020).
• On April 30, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle on the road leading to the Iraqi-Syrian border. One soldier was killed and another was wounded (Telegram, May 1, 2020).
• On April 30, 2020, several mortar shells were fired at Iraqi army forces in an area between Ramadi and Al-Rutba. According to ISIS, exact hits were observed (Telegram, May 1, 2020).

Diyala Province

• On May 4, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle southeast of Baqubah. Two of the passengers were killed and three others were wounded (Telegram, May 5, 2020).
• On May 2, 2020, an Iraqi police camp was targeted by gunfire about 20 km north of Baqubah. Five soldiers were killed and nine were wounded, including two officers. ISIS operatives then attacked an Iraqi police force that arrived at the scene to provide assistance. As a result, three policemen were wounded (Telegram, May 3, 2020).
• On May 2, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle about 60 km north of Baqubah. A senior commander and three soldiers were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 3, 2020).
• On April 30, 2020, an Iraqi police compound was targeted by sniper fire about 75 km northeast of Baqubah. Two policemen were wounded (Telegram, May 1, 2020).

Salah al-Din Province

• On May 3, 2020, an IED was activated against an Iraqi army vehicle about 30 km north of Baghdad. The passengers were killed (Telegram, May 4, 2020).
• On May 2, 2020, a Popular Mobilization compound about 60 km north of Baghdad was targeted by machine gun fire. One fighter was killed and two others were wounded (Telegram, May 2, 2020).
• On May 2, 2020, an Iraqi soldier was targeted by machine gun fire about 30 km north of Baghdad. He was killed (Telegram, May 3, 2020).
• On May 2, 2020, ISIS operatives attacked a Popular Mobilization compound about 25 km south of Tikrit. When a force arrived at the scene to provide assistance, an IED was activated against it. Nine fighters were killed and at least 11 were wounded (Telegram, May 4, 2020).
• On May 2, 2020, ISIS operatives ambushed Iraqi police northeast of Samarra (and about 120 km north of Baghdad). One policeman was killed (Telegram, May 4, 2020).
• On April 30, 2020, an Iraqi army officer was targeted by machine gun fire about 60 km north of Baghdad. He was killed (Telegram, May 2, 2020).
• On April 30, 2020, ISIS operatives took a member of the Iraqi National Intelligence service prisoner about 50 km northwest of Baghdad. He was interrogated and then shot to death (Telegram, May 1, 2020).

Babel Province

• On May 3, 2020, two Iraqi soldiers were targeted by sniper fire about 40 km southwest of Baghdad. One soldier was killed and the other was wounded (Telegram, May 3, 2020).

Nineveh Province

• On May 4, 2020, a person referred to as an Iraqi intelligence agent was taken prisoner by ISIS operatives about 90 km west of Mosul. He was executed (Telegram, May 4, 2020).

Kirkuk Province

• On May 5, 2020, ISIS operatives fired machine guns at an Iraqi police checkpoint about 40 km northwest of Kirkuk. Three policemen were killed (Telegram, May 5, 2020).

Counterterrorist activities by the Iraqi security forces

Al-Anbar Province

• On May 4, 2020, the Iraqi army announced the commencement of an operation to mop up the Al-Anbar Province from the presence of ISIS operatives, with the assistance of the Popular Mobilization and the Tribal Mobilization. The Iraqi forces participating in the operation intend to reach the border between Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria. During the first day of the operation, the Iraqi army, with Iraqi air support, managed to kill three ISIS commanders (Iraqi News Agency, May 4, 2020).
• According to an announcement by the Iraqi Al-Sumaria Channel, the Iraqi army was pursuing a vehicle carrying five ISIS operatives. They were hiding in a building in a desert region of western Iraq. The building was blown up, killing the ISIS operatives. According to the Iraqi army, one of the dead was ISIS’s commander in western Al-Anbar (Al-Sumaria, May 4, 2020).

Kirkuk Province

• On May 5, 2020, Iraqi security forces killed three “terrorist” operatives (i.e., ISIS operatives) about 50 km south of Kirkuk (Al-Sumaria, May 5, 2020).
• On May 4, 2020, the Iraqi army killed three “terrorist operatives” (i.e., ISIS operatives) who had attempted to attack a police position in the Hawija region, about 50 km south of Kirkuk (Al-Sumaria, May 4, 2020).

The Sinai Peninsula

ISIS activity in the Sinai Peninsula

• On May 3, 2020, an ISIS sniper shot and killed a soldier at the Rafah checkpoint (Telegram, May 3, 2020).
• On April 30, 2020, an IED was activated against an Egyptian army armored vehicle south of Bir al-Abd (about 50 km west of Al-Arish). Two officers and eight soldiers were killed and three others were wounded (Telegram, May 1, 2020).

Counterterrorist activity by the Egyptian security forces

• On May 3, 2020, the Egyptian army released a video summarizing its activity against “terrorist operatives” (i.e., ISIS operatives) in the Sinai Peninsula (dates not specified). According to the Egyptian army, 22 homes were raided and 16 special operations were carried out, in which 126 “terrorist operatives” (i.e., ISIS operatives) were killed. Various weapons and explosive belts were found in the possession of the operatives. The Egyptian Air Force destroyed 228 hiding places and over 100 vehicles.

    
Right: ISIS operative who was shot dead near the motorcycle that he was riding. Left: Weapons and military equipment found in the possession of ISIS operatives
(Facebook page of the Egyptian army spokesman, May 3, 2020)

    
Egyptian Air Force aircraft attacking a building used by ISIS operatives
(Facebook page of the Egyptian army spokesman, May 3, 2020)

Cooperation between Egyptian intelligence and Hamas in the fighting against ISIS

• Quoting Egyptian sources, an Arab newspaper published in London reported on coordination between Egyptian intelligence and Hamas with regard to ISIS’s activity in the Sinai Peninsula. The Egyptians have provided Hamas with details of operatives who left Hamas and joined the ranks of ISIS. It was also reported that Egypt had received intelligence about a group of five military operatives of a Palestinian organization in the Gaza Strip who had joined ISIS’s Sinai Province. One of the five is a relative of a senior Hamas commander. According to the reports, this group is dangerous because its members are fighters trained to wage guerrilla warfare (Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, May 5, 2020).

Activity of ISIS’s other provinces

Africa

Nigeria

ISIS activity during the past week

• On May 2, 2020, an IED was activated against a Nigerian army foot patrol in the eastern part of Yobe State. Several soldiers were killed or wounded (Telegram, May 3, 2020).
• On May 2, 2020, an IED was activated against a Nigerian army vehicle in the eastern part of Yobe State in northeastern Nigeria. Two vehicles were destroyed and 17 soldiers were killed (Telegram, May 3, 2020).

Niger

• On May 3, 2020, ISIS’s West Africa Province claimed responsibility for an attack against a Nigerien army base in southeastern Niger (near the border with Nigeria). Five soldiers were killed in the attack. ISIS operatives seized weapons, ammunition and vehicles (Telegram, May 4, 2020).

Internal power struggles in ISIS’s West Africa Province

According to a recently published article^[4] by researcher Jacob Zenn, internal purges are underway among the leadership of ISIS’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) as part of longstanding power struggles. Nevertheless, the West Africa Province is still carrying out intensive activity.

• ISIS’s West Africa Province was formed in March 2015 after Boko Haram leader Abu Bakr Shekau pledged allegiance to ISIS’s leader. Since its inception, the province has experienced schisms and disputes, culminating in Abu Bakr Shekau being ousted after serving as the province’s leader for approximately a year and a half. After he was ousted, ISIS’s leadership announced the appointment of Abu Mus’ab al-Barnawi as the leader of the province. However, Al-Barnawi subsequently lost power and remained a member of the Shura (Advisory Council) of the West Africa Province. Despite the exchange of leadership, which affected the West Africa Province’s operational capability, the province continued to carry out intensive activity on the ground.
• After Abu Bakr Shekau was ousted, two factions were created in the West Africa Province. Boko Haram leader Abu Bakr Shekau continues to head a faction affiliated with ISIS’s leadership^[5]. However, a splinter group of this faction continues to operate in the Lake Chad area in parallel with the West Africa Province^[6].
• The leadership of ISIS’s West Africa province is concerned that Abu Bakr Shekau may have a negative effect on the unity of the province, at a time when the internal leadership disputes have not yet subsided. Shekau is considered an undisputed leader of the Boko Haram organization, whose nature is different from that of ISIS’s West Africa Province. He is perceived as threatening the province and therefore he will apparently not resume its leadership. However, despite his cruelty, many rank-and-file fighters may prefer him to new leaders who are well known only to the topmost echelons of the province.

Mozambique

• On May 5, 2020, operatives of ISIS’s Central Africa Province attacked a Mozambican army camp in the northern part of the country. Several soldiers were killed in the exchange of fire. ISIS operatives seized weapons and ammunition (Telegram, May 5, 2020).

Asia

Afghanistan

• On May 3, 2020, ISIS operatives in Kabul took Sufi imam Abdel Hadi al-Naqshbandi prisoner. The prisoner was executed (Telegram, May 3, 2020).
• On May 3, 2020, ISIS’s Khorasan Province released photos documenting the killing of a senior figure of the Afghan National Directorate of Security (Telegram, May 3, 2020). He might be Aqid (Colonel) Ghulam Sakhi, who was taken prisoner by ISIS four months ago. Under interrogation, he said that he had worked for about 29 years in various branches of the Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) and that most of the commanders of the NDS had been under his command (see Spotlight on Global Jihad from April 6, 2020).

The Philippines

• On May 3, 2020, operatives of ISIS’s East Asia Province attacked Philippine army forces on the island of Mindanao in the south of the country. Two soldiers were killed (Telegram, May 3, 2020).

^[1] According to partial data of the Syrian Health Ministry, so far, a total of 44 people have been infected with COVID-19. Three of them have died and 27 have recovered (SANA, May 1, 2020). The Health Ministry’s reports do not include the Idlib Governorate and other governorates. ↑
^[2] About 3,000 ISIS operatives are held in the Ghuweiran Prison (referred to as the Al-Hasakah Main Prison). On March 29, 2020, the prison witnessed a revolt of ISIS prisoners (Al-Jazeera, March 30, 2020). ↑
^[3] According to the Iraqi Health Ministry, the number of COVID-19 cases is 2,348, and the number of those who have died of the disease is 98. There are currently 804 patients while 1,544 have recovered (Facebook account of the Iraqi Health Ministry, May 4, 2020). ↑
^[4] Jacob Zenn, Islamic State in West Africa Province’s Factional Disputes and the Battle with Boko Haram. Terrorism Monitor, Vol. 18, Issue 6 (March 20, 2020). ↑
^[5] The faction is called Jama’at Ahl al-Sunna Lil-Da’wa wal-Jihad (“the Sunni group for preaching and holy war”). ↑
^[6] This splinter group was headed by a man codenamed Bakura. He was apparently killed by Nigerian and Nigerien soldiers in March 2020. ↑

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