Making “House Calls:” Defeating ISIS in Iraq and Syria
SOUTHWEST ASIA, July 1, 2020 —
Our partners in Iraq and Syria are leading the way to find and eliminate Daesh fighters and their finance, logistics, and media networks.
“The pace of operations to defeat Daesh remnants remains steady across Iraq and eastern Syria,” said Col. Myles B. Caggins III, Coalition military spokesman. “The Coalition’s security partners are making ‘house calls’ at the caves and wadis where ISIS terrorist hide. And, at the request of the Government of Iraq, the Coalition blasted ISIS bed down locations with F-15E, F-16, AC-130 aircraft, and drones.”
During the week of June 24 – 30, 2020, the following actions happened in Iraq:
June 24: Iraqi Security Forces have concluded “Heroes of Iraq – Phase III”, which was launched on June 22. The operation aimed at purging Daesh remnants over an area of (4,853) km2 to help secure and stabilize Salah Ad-Din province and adjacent geographic areas within Diyala, Samarra, and Kirkuk provinces. As a result of the operation: 89 villages were searched and cleared, 76 explosive devices were found and disposed of, and 11 tunnels, a boat and two vehicles were destroyed. Additionally, six explosive-manufacturing sites, 29 hideouts, two weapons caches, a trailer, one mortar round, four parachutes, 11 rockets, seven plastic containers filled with C4 explosives, six guns and three vehicles were found and seized.
June 24: Under the guidance of the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mr. al-Kazemi, the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (ICTS) with the support of the Iraqi Army Aviation and Coalition aircraft, launched an operation against terrorists’ stronghold in the Qara Chokh Mountains near Makhmour district. The Iraqi Army Aviation and Coalition aircraft conducted a series of airstrikes to aid and support ICTS troops on the ground and contributed to the elimination of 12 enemy terrorists and the destruction of a number of Daesh caves and hideouts in the austere terrain area.
June 24: At the request of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command – Iraq, Coalition aircraft conducted airstrikes in support of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (ICTS) ground operations. The airstrikes blasted Daesh hideouts in Makhmur Mountains, Ninawa province and in al-Kashafah village, Erbil Province. The Coalition will continue to help Iraqi Security Forces in the fight against Daesh.
June 24: Based on intelligence, a force from the 20th Division carried out a search operation in Tal Nabat village, al-Qairawan sub-district, Sinjar district. A weapons cache containing 25 homemade explosive devices, remnants from the Daesh occupation, were found and subsequently destroyed by the Field Engineering Detachment.
June 24: Based on intelligence, troops from the 75th Brigade, 16th Division, in cooperation with the Military Intelligence Detachment, captured a terrorist wanted by the Iraqi judiciary in Hammam al-Alil district, south of Mosul. The captured terrorist had worked as a member of the so-called Daesh security group during Daesh occupation of the city.
June 24: The 5th Infantry Division, Diyala Operations Command, in cooperation with the Diyala Police Directorate and Popular Mobilization Forces, conducted a search and clearance operation in the al-Sad line area along the Hawi al-Uzaim River to pursue terrorists, destroy their hideouts and impose security and stability in the area. Two safe houses containing a number of explosive devices were found and subsequently destroyed by the Field Engineering Detachment.
June 24: The 16th Infantry Division, Ninawa Operations Command, in cooperation with the Ninawa Police Directorate and Popular Mobilization Forces conducted a search and clearance operation for areas between the crude oil line and the road linking Baghdad – Mosul – Atashana Mountains and west of Mosul. The operation aimed to dry up the sources of terrorism, arrest wanted criminals and improve stability in the area. As a result, a terrorist wanted by the Iraqi Judiciary was captured, a Daesh safe house was found in the Sheikh Yunis mountain range and a number of mortar rounds were seized in the village of Tash. The safe house and the seized mortar rounds were subsequently destroyed.
June 24: A force from the 2nd Regiment, 38th Infantry Brigade, 10th Division, Anbar Operations Command, captured a terrorist wanted by the Iraqi Judiciary in 105Kilo area. Meanwhile, a force from the 2nd Regiment, Anbar Commando Brigade, found and seized a weapon cache, remnants from Daesh, in the al-Jeraeshi area during a search operation.
June 25: In a continuation of counterterrorism efforts to dismantle terrorist networks, a joint force from the 1st and 2nd Special Operations Command, Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (ICTS) carried out two intelligence-led operations in Anbar and Salah Ad-Din provinces. Six terrorists wanted by the Iraqi Judiciary were captured during the operations.
June 25 – 26: The Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (ICTS) with the support of Iraqi Army Aviation and Coalition aircraft, conducted a special operation for two consecutive days in Khanuka Mountains area, north Salah Ad-Din province. The airstrikes supported the ICTS on the ground and contributed to the elimination of 24 terrorists and the destruction of a number of Daesh caves and tunnels.
June 25: Based on intelligence, 2nd Regiment, 8th Infantry Brigade, 7th Division, seized a cache of explosive devices and detonators, remnants from Daesh, during a search operation in the al-Askari neighborhood, Anah district, Anbar province.
June 25: Based on intelligence, a force from the 3rd Regiment, 41st Brigade, 10th Division, in cooperation with the Military Intelligence unit, located a Daesh hideout containing a weapons cache in Ermila area, Saqlawiyah District, Anbar province.
June 26: Based on intelligence, the 3rd Regiment, 29th Infantry Brigade, 7th Division, in coordination with a detachment from the National Security Office in Hit district, captured a terrorist wanted by the Iraqi Judiciary. The captured terrorist committed a crime involving bombing a house belonging to tribesmen in the Hit district.
June 26: A force from the 1st Regiment, 21st Infantry Brigade, 20th Division, conducted a search and clearance operation in the villages of Sheikh Ibrahim and Ain al-Waha, al-Mahalabiyah sub-district, southwest of Ninawa province. A Daesh weapons cache was found and subsequently destroyed by the Field Engineering Detachment. https://www.facebook.com/mod.mil.iq/posts/2888208554741964
June 26: Based on intelligence, Military Intelligence Detachments, in coordination with the 4th Regiment, 19th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division, raided a Daesh hideout in the Jamil Khudair neighborhood, Canaan sub-district, Baquba district, Diyala province. A number of mortar rounds, ammunition, detonators, a solar reflector and a night vision scope case were seized and subsequently destroyed by the Field Engineering Detachment.
June 26: Military Intelligence Detachments, Ninawa Operations Command, in cooperation with the Intelligence Unit of the Command Protection Regiment, located a Daesh hideout containing explosive belts and ammunition in the Wadi EKab area, west of Mosul.
June 26: A joint force from the Intelligence Units of the Jazeera Operations Command and the Haditha Counter-Terrorism Directorate, captured a terrorist wanted by the Iraqi Judiciary in the Haditha sub-district, Anbar province. The terrorist was captured while attempting to infiltrate into Iraq after returning from al-Hol IDP camp in Syria after he had fled the country during the liberation operations.
June 26: Based on intelligence, a joint force from Military Intelligence Detachments and the 16th Division captured two Daesh terrorists wanted by the Iraqi Judiciary, in Hammam al-Alil district, south of Mosul.
June 27: A force from the 7th Division conducted an extensive search operation in the western desert of Kubaiseh city, Wadi al-Halba, and Taweiba forest, toward Saad Base. A Daesh tunnel and a cave that had been used by Daesh terrorists, were found and subsequently destroyed by the Field Engineering Detachment.
June 28: The 74th Brigade, 5th Division, in coordination with the 24th Brigade of Popular Mobilization Forces, launched a major clearing operations to find and dismantle Daesh sleeper cells, and strengthen security in north al-Muqdadiya and al-Mansuriyah, Diyala province. Several orchards and villages were searched and cleared. Two Daesh hideouts containing a number of newly planted explosive devices were found and subsequently destroyed by the Field Engineering Detachment.
June 28: The Field Engineering Battalion, 4th Division, Iraqi Federal Police, Samarra Operations Command, carried out a clearance operation on West Samarra Island. A cache of explosive devices was found and seized. Meanwhile, the al-Ishaqi Police Department and a detachment from the al-Ishaqi Counter-Terrorism Directorate captured three Daesh terrorists wanted by the Iraqi Judiciary
June 28: Detachments from the Intelligence unit, 1st Division and the Intelligence, Reconnaissance and Surveillance Regiment, affiliated with the Military Intelligence Directorate, captured a Daesh terrorist wanted by the Iraqi Judiciary during an ambush in al-Rutba district, Anbar province. The terrorist was detained while attempting to infiltrate into al-Rutba after returning from Turkey.
June 28: Based on intelligence, a force from the 32nd Infantry Brigade, 8th Division, in cooperation with the Military Intelligence unit, captured a terrorist wanted by the Iraqi Judiciary in the al-Karabla area, Qaim district, Anbar province.
June 28: The 16th Infantry Division commenced an operation to clear war remnants from an area of 3 km2 in al-Shahwani neighborhood in old Mosul area, Ninawa province. The operation aimed to mitigate the risks to the health and livelihoods of affected communities and reduce the threat on peace and security. A number of explosive devices, explosive belts, hand grenades, rockets, launchers, a drone, an artillery round, damaged detonators, a damaged wireless radio, two rifles, and decomposing corpses were found. The seized materials were removed from the site and subsequently destroyed by the Field Engineering Battalion.
June 28: Based on intelligence, a force from the Reconnaissance Platoon, Ninawa Operations Command and detachments from the Military Intelligence unit captured a terrorist wanted by the Iraqi Judiciary in the al-Bakr neighborhood, east of Mosul. The captured terrorist had worked with the so-called Diwan al-Askar for Daesh in Ali al-Ansari neighborhood during Daesh occupation of the city.
June 28: Based on intelligence, a force from the 75th Infantry Brigade, 16th Division, and detachments from the Military Intelligence unit captured a terrorist wanted by the Iraqi Judiciary in Hammam al-Alil camp, Ninawa province. The captured terrorist had been involved in intelligence-gathering to support Daesh activities.
June 28: A joint force from the Commando Brigade and the Military Intelligence unit, Diyala Operations Command, in coordination with the 23rd Brigade from Popular Mobilization Forces, raided a Deash hideout in the Zor Mardan area, Khanaqin district, Diyala province. The joint force clashed with a group of Daesh militants killing one of the terrorists while the rest fled the area. The search for the remaining terrorists is ongoing.
June 28: Based on intelligence, Field Detachments from Salah Ad-Din Intelligence and Security Directorate found a weapons cache containing 180 artillery projectiles, remnants from Daesh, in al-Sharqat district, Salah Ad-Din province. The seized cache was subsequently destroyed by the Field Engineering Detachment.
June 28: Field Detachments from Baghdad Intelligence and Security Directorate, in coordination with the 25th Brigade, 17th Division, found a weapons cache in the al-Mikaitimat area, al-Yusifiyah sub-district.
June 29: Based on intelligence, a force from the 3rd Regiment, 60th Infantry Brigade, 20th Division with the support of Military Intelligence Detachments seized a weapons cache in Tal Thabat village, Kairawan sub-district, west of Ninawa province.
June 29: Troops from the 51st Infantry Brigade, 14th Division, carried out an extensive search operation in the area of Sarkran Junction sub-district. The operation aimed to detect, disrupt and dismantle terrorist
networks, and deny their ability to mobilize and travel through rugged terrain areas. These operations help to disrupt Daesh capabilities and foil their attacks.
June 30: Based on intelligence, a force from the 1st Regiment, 30th Infantry Brigade, with the support of Military Intelligence Detachments, captured two terrorists wanted by the Iraqi Judiciary in al-Ashe sub-district, al-Rummana district, al-Qaim, Anbar province. Meanwhile, a force from the 1st Battalion, 39th Infantry Brigade, 10th Division, with the support of Military Intelligence Detachment, captured two terrorists wanted by the Iraqi Judiciary in Albo Dhiab, Ramadi Island, Anbar province.
During the week of June 24 – 30, 2020, the following actions happened in Syria:
June 28: The elite Counter-Terrorism Unit within the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), with the support of the International Coalition, successfully carried out a security operation against a Daesh cell in al-Shadadi countryside, south of Hasaka. The cell members were arrested and transferred for investigation.
Removing Daesh fighters, weapons and explosive material remains a top priority as Daesh continues to plot attacks against innocent civilians and our partners throughout Iraq and northeast Syria.