Tag Archives | Daesh

Iraqis Ahead of the Curve in Unmanned Vehicles?

By Simon Kent. Two Iraqi brothers have constructed a robot dubbed "Alrobot" ("the robot") to send into battle against the self declared Islamic State. The slick looking vehicle, the size of a small beach buggy, has an approximately 1 kilometer range and is controlled via laptop. If deployed, it would be among the first generation […]

What Next for Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units?

By Adnan Abu Zeed for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.  On July 26, the Iraqi government announced that the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) will be converted into “an independent military formation affiliated with the armed forces’ commander-in-chief.” The Shiite force […]

Police Find Mass Grave Near Mosul

By Simon Kent. Iraqi Security Forces have found a mass grave containing the remains of police from Ninevah province, in a village south of Mosul, the last urban stronghold of the self declared Islamic State. A Sunni Iraqi police Colonel from nearby Salahaddin, Ahmed al Jubouri, remarked on the discovery, “Security forces at the recently  liberated al-Jawaana […]

Germany Resumes Weapons Exports to Kurds

By Simon Kent. Germany have resumed arms shipments to the Kurdish Peshmerga after they were suspended following allegations that some of the arms had been seen on the black market. The latest shipment comes after the Kurdish Regional Government completed an investigation into the allegations and pledged that it would not happen again. Germany has […]

Daesh Shell Refugee Camp, 12 Killed

By Simon Kent. According to Iraqi police sources, members of the self declared "Islamic State" have shelled a refugee camp with mortar fire in northern Salahaddin, killing 12 people and injuring dozens. The camp, most likely populated by Sunni refugees (the very people IS claims to protect) was attacked from positions in the nearby town […]

Seven Coalition Air Strikes Hit IS in Iraq

By Simon Kent. Aircraft from the international Coalition against the self declared Islamic State have struck seven targets in Iraq, according to officials from Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve. This is half the number of strikes that occurred in Syria over a roughly 24 hour period, suggesting a paucity of targets in Iraq […]

Minority Shabaks fear for Future

By Saad Salloum for Al Monitor. Any opinions here are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.  The Shabak community is one of the ethnic minorities in Iraq, speaking a language distinct from Arabic and Kurdish. Its members live on the Ninevah plains with other religious minorities […]

Humanitarian Crisis Warning for Mosul Offensive

By Simon Kent. Amnesty International, the world-wide human rights organization, has published a report warning of imminent humanitarian crisis as the offensive to liberate Mosul from the self declared Islamic State gathers momentum. The organization also warned the current humanitarian emergency, which has seen at least 3 million Iraqis displaced from their homes, is severely […]

Peshmerga Capture Villages Near Mosul

By Simon Kent. Kurdish Peshmerga forces have captured several villages from the self declared Islamic State, near the city of Mosul, the group's last urban stronghold in Iraq. Around 5000 Kurdish fighters participated in the operation, which was backed by Coalition air strikes. IS responded by launching suicide vehicle attacks, but these were not successful. […]

Commando Raid Kills ISIS Oil Chief

By Simon Kent. US Special Forces, possibly in conjunction with Kurdish commandos, have been involved in a targeted raid near the Iraqi border town of Al Qaim, CNN reports. The target of the raid, intended for capture, was killed during a firefight, according to the Kurdish Security Council. The raiding party were attempting to capture Sami […]

$2.7 Billion US Defense Loan Questioned in Parliament

By Omar Sattar for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.  BAGHDAD — US Ambassador to Iraq Stuart Jones announced July 21 that the Iraqi government has started withdrawing the $2.7 billion loan secured on June 29. However, the Iraqi parliament had not been briefed on the deal, making […]

Latest Counter-ISIL Strikes in Syria, Iraq

U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of yesterday’s strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria Bomber, fighter, attack, ground-attack, and […]