Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

Mustafa Habib | (Baghdad) | Niqash.org | – – While Iraqi forces battle the Islamic State in west Mosul, intelligence services work in the east, to hunt down former members of the group. But those detained say the arrests are random and unjust. A few hours after the Iraqi army announced that the eastern side […]

Donald Trump

Kushner of Arabia: Can Trump’s Son-in-Law Figure out Iraq?

contributors

By Shahram Akbarzadeh | (Informed Comment) | – – Days before President Donald J. Trump ordered cruise missile strikes on Syria, his son-in-law Jared Kushner visited Iraq to learn first-hand how the Iraqi government assesses the security situation, more than a decade after the United States delivered regime change to that country. The issues facing […]

Donald Trump

ISIL: Imbecilic Buffoon Trump leading America to Extinction

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Disturbing signs emerged Tuesday that Donald J. Trump’s odd self-presentation and erratic pronouncements could be a serious security threat to . . . all Americans. That is, if the US appears to be led by an incompetent it will encourage attacks. Al-Hayat reports that a spokesman […]

Iran

ISIL Threatens To Conquer Iran, issuing Rare Video In Persian

contributors

Golnaz Esfandiari | ( RFE/RL) | – – The militant group Islamic State (IS) has vowed in a rare video message in Persian that includes the apparent beheading of four captured soldiers that it will conquer Iran. In an appeal to sectarian divides, the group also calls on Iran’s Sunni minority to rise up against […]

Iraq

Mosul: ISIL Deploys Ideological Booby Trap As It Retreats

contributors

David Patrikarakos | ( RFE/RL ) | – – The coalition battling to take the Iraqi city of Mosul from the extremist [so-called] “Islamic State” group (IS) is closing in. Earlier this year, coalition forces captured eastern Mosul (the city is bisected by the Euphrates River) and are now squeezing the city’s western half. According […]

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

Amal Clooney and Nadia Murad Want to Stop an ISIL Genocide

contributors

Popsugar Entertainment | (Video Report) | – – “Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney is hoping to help stop a genocide at the hands of ISIL with the help of one brave survivor.” Popsugar Entertainment: “Amal Clooney and Nadia Murad Want to Stop ISIL’s Genocide”

Iraq

Mosul: ISIL Scorched Earth Tactics put Civilians in Crossfire

contributors

Special Correspondent* | Niqash.org | Baghdad | – – Mosul Locals Explain Extremists’ Desperate Tactics Mosul locals, some of whom have escaped the extremists and some who are still under their control, describe the Islamic State group’s desperate tactics. They will fight to the death, trapped locals warn. A month has passed since Iraqi pro-government […]

Displaced and Refugees

After Trump Massacres in Mosul, Campaign against ISIL Halted

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Candidate Donald Trump called last year for carpet-bombing of Daesh (ISIS, ISIL) in Iraq and Syria. It is possible that Trump has loosened the rules of engagement for the US Air Force, which is providing air support to the Iraqi Army. Looser rules could well be […]

Counter-Terrorism

A distracted Trump administration Couldn’t even focus on its own anti-ISIL summit.

contributors

By Paul Rogers | ( OpenDemocracy.net ) | – – Donald Trump’s election campaign made much of his predecessor Barack Obama’s failure to control and defeat ISIL, contrasting this with his own determination to destroy the movement if and when he became the United States president. Around the time of his inauguration in January, he […]