Iraq

By Juan Cole Revised 11/10 Rumors are swirling that ISIL leader Ibrahim al-Samarra’i (who goes by the nom de guerre of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi) was severely wounded and that some of his chief lieutenants were killed by a US air strike on a meeting of ISIL leaders on Friday. (Update: ISIL is confirming the injury […]

al Qaeda in the Arabian Penisula

Can Iraqi Christianity survive Exile at hands of ISIL?

contributors

Euronews: “The yard of Mar Eliya Church in the city of Irbil in Iraqi Kurdistan has been converted into a camp for Christians, more than 200 families who escaped the extremist Islamic State movement (ISIL). Christians in ever-greater number have been fleeing the northern city of Mosul, the second-largest in Iraq. Some say the country’s […]

Iraq

Unlikely Cavalry: Iraq’s Sunni Tribes Split on ISIL, Pursue own Feuds

contributors

By Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | via Niqash.org. Some tribes in the north of Iraq pledge allegiance to the extremist group, IS. In the south, tribes are divided as to whether to do this. The city of Anbar is becoming a battleground. But the fight is no longer as simple as the Iraqi government versus […]

Iraq

Video: ISIL Pedophiles discuss Buying Minor Sex Slaves

contributors

via BReaking News “IS fighters talk about which female slaves to buy and sell ‘A new video has emerged showing IS fighters negotiating prices for female slaves . Footage shows ISIS fighters attending slave girl market – Disturbing: The clip begins with this bearded Islamic State fighter explaining it is . IS fighters talk about […]

Human Rights

Iraq: Lawless Islamic State Group In Mosul Targets Attorneys, Judges

contributors

Special Correspondent | Mosul | via Niqash When Sunni Muslim extremists took over Mosul in early June, they closed local courts and set up their own quasi-religious system of justice. They also put thousands of Mosul’s lawyers out of work. For those who didn’t flee the city, there was worse to come: judges have already […]

Featured

Iraq: US dismayed Shiite Gov’t hasn’t Armed Sunni Tribes fighting ISIL

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole The pan-Arab London daily Hayat [Life] reports that members of the al-Anbar provincial council say they have met with American officials who are “disgusted” and the slowness of Baghdad to arm the Sunni Arab tribes fighting ISIL. Last week 220 members of the Al-Bu Nimr tribe were murdered by ISIL for taking […]

Featured

Iraq: Grand Ayatollah Sistani joins Hagel in calling for Arming Sunni Tribes of al-Anbar

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole Al-Zaman (The Times of Baghdad reports that Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistan is calling, just as is US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, for the arming of Sunni tribes in al-Anbar Province to fight ISIL in Iraq. (The Shiite-dominated Iraqi government in Baghdad has been reluctant to move too quickly toward creating Sunni […]

Featured

Turkey allows Kurdish Peshmerga to Cross to Kobane

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole The Turkish press is reporting that Turkish intelligence is facilitating the crossing of a couple hundred paramilitary troops (Peshmerga) from Iraqi Kurdistan to the Turkish town of Suruç, 16 km from the Syrian border. They intend to help relieve the besieged Kurdish-Syrian town of Kobane, which is being attacked by ISIL. The […]