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Abu Azzam

Abu Azzam

al-Qaeda in Iraq

Iraq

20050927

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Iraq

Three siblings captured in Baghdad for terrorism-charges

2022-12-16

[Shafaq News] Iraq's federal intelligence agency apprehended three siblings in Baghdad for charges related to terrorism, an official statement said on Thursday. The three brothers --codenamed Abu Azzam, Abu Mohammad, and Abu Hajar-- are wanted by the Iraqi judiciary in accordance with Article 4/Terrorism, the statement said. One of the arrestees, according to the statement, was captured in a security operation in the Iraqi capital. The information obtained from him during investigations was crucial locating and arresting his two brothers in a later operation. The arrestee confessed, the statement continued, to taking part in terrorist groups and waging attacks against civilians and security members.

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Iraq

Iraqi fighter jets kill 25 Daesh militants near Syria border

2017-10-23

[PRESSTV] More than two dozen members of ISIS Takfiri ...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who must be killed... terrorist group have been killed when Iraqi Air Force fighter jets bombarded their positions in the country’s troubled western province of Anbar near the border with Syria. The media bureau of the Iraqi Defense Ministry announced in a statement on Sunday that 25 ISIS forces of Evil were killed as Iraqi military aircraft launched precision strikes in the desert region of the province, English-language online newspaper Iraqi News reported. The statement added that 13 vehicles used by the Takfiris were also destroyed in the aerial assaults. On October 10, 17 ISIS forces of Evil were killed as Iraqi warplanes pounded a bad boy convoy travelling along a road linking the small town of Akashat to the bad boy-held town of al-Qa'im, located nearly 400 kilometers northwest of the capital Baghdad. Brigadier General Saleh Ali said at the time that the Arclight airstrikes also destroyed a number of ISIS arms depots and vehicles in the surrounding areas. On October 5, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Iraqi armed forces had liberated Hawijah, driving ISIS Takfiris out of their last bastion in the oil-rich northern province of Kirkuk. Abadi said on August 31 that the northwestern city of Tal Afar, located 200 kilometers northwest of Kirkuk, ... a thick stew of Arabs, Turkmen, Kurds, and probably Antarcticans, all of them mutually hostile most of the time... and the entire Nineveh province had been purged of ISIS Takfiri terrorist group. The recapture of Tal Afar was made possible with the help of the Iraqi army, Federal Police, Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) units, fighters from Popular Mobilization units ‐ commonly known by their Arabic name, Hashd al-Sha’abi - and the Interior Ministry's elite rapid response forces, the Iraqi prime minister stated. ISIS Death Eaters are now only in control of al-Qa’im and Rawah, in Iraq. Both towns lie on the Euphrates River, and are situated in Anbar province. Casualties pile up for ISIS in Qaim airstrikes Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi Interior Ministry, along with air force, carried out military operations targeting eight of the Islamic State’s locations in western Anbar, killing many militants there. A statement by the ministry’s Eagles Cell on Sunday said military operations were carried out targeting eight IS locations in Qaim, west of Anbar, along with the air force. “Tens of IS leaders were killed, including abu Qaswarah, the emir of the security detachments, abu Suraqah, deputy chief of the so-called Baghdad State, Abu Azzam al-Ferensy, in charge of Tareq bin Ziyad brigade, and Abu Ibrahim, in charge of the immigrants,” the statement said. The airstrikes, according to the statement, “destroyed four rest houses, a weapon stash and booby-trapping workshop.” Earlier on the day, the Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell said 25 IS militants were killed in western Anbar desert during search operations carried out near the Syrian borders.

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Iraq

ISIS jihadists evacuate positions in Iraq’s Tel Afar

2016-10-15

Switching forces Duhok – Militants of the Islamic State (ISIS) evacuated on Friday their headquarters in Tel Afar District in northern Iraq. The group has withdrawn from the city of Tel Afar and other parts of Nineveh Governorate, including the towns of A’nna, Rawah and al-Qaim. “Dozens of ISIS military vehicles have left Tel Afar carrying weapons and militants. Most of the vehicles headed to the Syrian border,” local media activist Adel al-Jabouri told ARA News. Informed sources reported that major ISIS headquarters in Tel Afar and its suburb were seen empty on Friday. The evacuated positions included offices of the al-Hisba Police department, Sharia Court buildings, jihadi training camps and weapons’ storage centres. Furthermore, ISIS militants have bombed the Tel Afar Hospital before withdrawing from the area. “The hospital’s building has been destroyed completely. The group bombed it by detonating a large deal of explosives,” al-Jabouri reported. “By evacuating those parts of Nineveh, ISIS is trying to avoid further losses under coalition’s airstrikes,” the head of Nineveh media centre Raafat al-Zarari told ARA News. “ISIS is mainly focused on the battle for Mosul at the moment, considering the evacuated locations of a less strategic importance,” he said. In the meantime, the US-led coalition said it will continue to attack ISIS in Mosul. “[ISIS] shows no sign of really trying to leave Mosul at this point. Really, what they’ve done is they’ve continued to dig in, build elaborate defenses and so we’re really ready for a tough fight there,” Colonel Dorrian, a coalition spokesman said. Last week, Abu Azzam al-Muhajir, an ISIS militant from Saudi Arabia, told ARA News there are at least 7,000 militants “ready to defend Mosul.” “Also, there are still 500,000 civilians living in Mosul, and they will not accept [their] return to the central government’s authority and rule by the Shia,” al-Muhajir said. An ISIS source told ARA News that group has cordoned all the roads to Nineveh Governorate and has completed almost 80 percent of their field works around Mosul. Those field works include a row of trenches, which are reportedly filled with crude oil. The trenches can be set alight to obscure visibility. ISIS has also erected concrete barriers near neighborhood entrances and key road junctures.

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Iraq

Ninevah Nightmares: 8 die

2016-10-12

8 ISIS Bad Guys have a Very Bad Day (IraqiNews.com) Nineveh – The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Nineveh Province revealed on Tuesday, that eight ISIS members were killed and the headquarters of Diwan al-Hisba was destroyed by a coalition air strike, in central Mosul. The PUK spokesman in Mosul, Gayath Sourji, said in a press statement, “The international coalition aircraft carried out an air strike targeting the so-called ISIS Diwan al-Hisba in Hayy al-Tayaran area, in central Mosul.” “The air strike destructed the headquarters completely, as well as killing eight members of ISIS,” Sourji added. The ISIS took over the city of Mosul in 10 June 2014, before extending its terrorist activities to other areas in Iraq, and committing massacres, genocides and crimes against humanity. Airstrikes destroy 8 kop shops in Ninevah [ARA News] Erbil – The US-led coalition launched on Tuesday a new wave of airstrikes on ISIS positions in Iraq’s northern Mosul city, targeting headquarters of the al-Hisba police. The coalition struck at least eight offices of the ISIS-led al-Hisba police in Mosul. “Warplanes of the western coalition bombed al-Hisba centres in the neighbourhoods of Narkal, Sukkar, al-Sada, Baweza, Baath, Yarmouk, Sinaa and Fesaliyah in Mosul city,” local media activist Abdullah al-Malla told ARA News. Dozens of ISIS militants were killed in Tuesday’s strikes, which also caused a massive destruction to the targeted areas. “Today Mosul witnessed the fiercest airstrikes by the coalition,” al-Malla said. Activists reported a state of alert in ISIS’ ranks subsequent to the airstrikes. Battle for Mosul The US-led coalition said that the Islamic State (ISIS) has between 3,000 and 4,500 fighters in Mosul and that there are no signs that the group is leaving its de facto capital in Iraq. “We think anywhere from 3,000 to 4,500 [ISIS] fighters are in Mosul, somewhere in that ball park. It’s a mixture of Iraqi and foreign fighters,” Colonel Dorrian, a coalition spokesman said. However, Abu Azzam al-Muhajir, an ISIS militant from Saudi Arabia, disagreed telling ARA News there are at least 7,000 militants “ready to defend Mosul.” “Also, there are still 500,000 civilians living in Mosul, and they will not accept [their] return to the central government’s authority and rule by the Shia,” al-Muhajir told ARA News. The US-led coalition said it will continue to attack ISIS in Mosul. “[ISIS] shows no sign of really trying to leave Mosul at this point. Really, what they’ve done is they’ve continued to dig in, build elaborate defenses and so we’re really ready for a tough fight there,” Col Dorrian said. “The Iraqi security forces have been well trained to do urban style warfare. That’s one of the things that we’ve done for refit. We are expecting [ISIS to have] a mixture of Iraqi and foreign fighters.” An ISIS source told ARA News that group has cordoned all the roads to Nineveh Governorate and has completed almost 80 percent of their field works around Mosul. Those field works include a row of trenches, which are reportedly filled with crude oil. The trenches can be set alight to obscure visibility. ISIS has also erected concrete barriers near neighborhood entrances and key road junctures. The coalition’s Col Dorrian said that at least 8 brigades of the Iraqi Army will march on Mosul. “We also expect the Iraqi Police to be involved, because they’re going to be a part of the effort to maintain security once areas have been liberated. [The police need] to hold those areas so [ISIS] can’t re-infiltrate.” “We think it’s going to be a very large battle. We do expect the [Kurdish] Peshmerga to be involved, although the details of their involvement are still being worked out,” Dorrian said. ”We also expect there to be tribal forces involved.”

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Iraq

ISIS sez 7K fighters waiting in Mosul

2016-10-01

A little closer together. Now, smile. Wait for the flash. [ARANews] ERBIL – The US-led coalition said that ISIS has some 3,000 to 4,500 fighters in Mosul, and that there are no signs that the radical is leaving its main bastion in northern Iraq. “We think anywhere from 3,000 to 4,500 [ISIS] fighters are in Mosul, somewhere in that ball park. It’s a mixture of Iraqi and foreign fighters,” US-led coalition’s spokesman Air Force Col. John Dorrian said. However, Saudi fighter of ISIS, Abu Azzam al-Muhajir, told ARA News they have at least 7,000 fighters in Mosul, the ISIS main bastion in northwestern Iraq. “Over 7,000 fighters are ready to defend Mosul,” he said. “Also, there are still 500,000 civilians living in Mosul, and they will not accept to return to the central government’s authority and be rule by the Shia,” al-Muhajir told ARA News. The US-led coalition said it will continue to attack ISIS in Mosul. “They show no signs of really trying to leave Mosul at this point. Really, what they’ve done is they’ve continued to dig in, build elaborate defenses and so we’re really ready for a tough fight there,” Colonel Dorrian said. “The Iraqi security forces have been well trained to do urban style warfare. That’s one of the things that we’ve done for refit. We are expecting [ISIS to have] a mixture of Iraqis and foreign fighters. They do continue to flow in and some of them are fixed in place there,” he added. Another ISIS source told ARA News that group has cordoned all the roads to Nineveh and has completed almost 80 per cent of their project to build trenches around Mosul, which are filled with crude oil. Moreover, they have put concrete cement near the entrances of the city’s neighbourhoods. The US-led coalition official said that at least 8 to 12 brigades of the Iraqi army will march on Mosul. “We also expect the Iraqi police to be involved, because they’re going to be a part of the effort to maintain security once areas have been liberated, to hold those areas so Daesh [ISIS] can’t re-infiltrate,” Dorrian said. “We think it’s going to be a very large battle. We do expect the [Kurdish] Peshmerga to be involved, although the details of their involvement are still being worked out. And we also expect there to be tribal forces involved,” he concluded.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

ISIS kommander dies in Deir ez-Zor

2016-07-27

[ARA News] ALEPPO – A prominent jihadi and head of military operations of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria’s eastern Deir ez-Zor province was killed in clashes with Syrian army forces, local sources reported on Tuesday. ISIS commander of Deir ez-Zor Amer Ghaffal al-Saleh was killed along with 16 other militants in clashes with Syrian regime troops in the vicinity of the Deir ez-Zor military airport. “Clashes broke out after ISIS fighters launched a mortar attack on the army headquarters in the airport and killed over a dozen Syrian soldiers,” media activist Ahmed Ramadan told ARA News in Deir ez-Zor. “The army troops were then engaged in clashes with ISIS militants and killed at least 17 from the group, including its military commander in the province Amer Ghaffal al-Saleh,” the source reported. Al-Saleh was responsible for the ISIS-led military operations against the Syrian army in Deir ez-Zor and its countryside, according to sources close to ISIS who spoke to ARA News on condition of anonymity. Also, an ISIS Emir [prince] known as Abu Azzam was killed in an attack by the Syrian army in al-Tharda district of Deir ez-Zor province, activists reported on Tuesday.

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Terror Networks

What do we know about Baghdadi’s bodyguard?

2016-05-22

[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Security officials in the Kurdistan region recently announced the death of Ali Aswad al-Zubai Abu Mujahid, the head of intelligence office in ISIS. More importantly, he was described as the one responsible for the safety of the group’s leader, His Supreme Immensity, Caliph of the Faithful and Galactic Overlord, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi ...formerly merely the head of ISIL and a veteran of the Bagram jailhouse. Looks like a new messiah to bajillions of Moslems, like just another dead-eyed mass murder to the rest of us... According to intelligence information gathered so far, al-Aswad was targeted by an Arclight airstrike carried out by the international coalition near the village of Tel Azba in the Nineveh province of northern Iraq. Two other senior ISIS leaders were said to have been with him at the time of the attack. Born in 1978 in Khan Dhari in Iraq, al-Aswad was known to be an bad boy affiliated to hard-line organizations that were affected by the return of Afghan Iraqis. He is said to have been close to al-Baghdadi since 2003 and was responsible for his movements and security. Expert on terrorist groups, Hisham al-Hashimi, says terror leaders who returned from Afghanistan included Mohammed Hussein al-Jubouri who is currently the leader of Ansar al-Sunna, deceased Mohammed al-Falastini, who was the leader of Jund al-Aqsa in Syria, Abdel-Hamid Abu Azzam who runs al-Qaeda’s recruitment network in Europe and Mohammed Saleh, the ISIS secretary in Baghdad. According to al-Hashimi, these were the leaders who inspired Ali al-Aswad al-Zubai, who was incarcerated in the Bucca prison from 2005 to 2008. Notably, all the reports explaining the hierarchy of the organization do not put al-Aswad in the top ranks of the leadership. People who have been described as close to the ISIS leader al-Baghdadi include Alaa al-Afri, Abu Ali Anbari, Abu Omar al-Chichani, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, and Abu Sulaiman Nasser. These reports also suggest that al-Aswad was Baghdadi’s intelligence agent and his personal guard.

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Iraq

Anbar Antics: 169+ die

2016-04-24

150 ISIS Bad Guys die near al-Karma (IraqiNews.com) Anbar – The leadership of al-Hashed al-Shaabi in Anbar Province announced on Saturday, that 150 members of the so-called ISIS were killed during the cleansing battles of al-Karma District east of Fallujah. The commander of Karmat Fallujah brigade, Colonel Khamis Bahr Halbusi, said in a press statement followed by IraqiNews.com, “This morning the security forces carried out a military operation targeting ISIS gatherings in the areas of Subaihat, Albu Jassim and Albu Ouda in al-Karma District, killing 150 ISIS fighters, including Arabs and foreigners.” Halbusi added, “The joint forces are advancing in the remaining areas of al-Karma District backed by the international coalition aviation and Iraqi Army Aviation, in order to destroy ISIS strongholds, as well as cutting off their supply lines in Fallujah and Saqlawiyah.” Iraqi forces liberate area near Heet; Dozen die (IraqiNews.com) Anbar – The leadership of al-Hashed al-Shaabi in Anbar Province announced on Saturday, that the security forces liberated an area in the district of Heet west of Ramadi, while pointed out to the killing of dozens of ISIS members during the operation. The intelligence officer in al-Hashed al-Shaabi in al-Somoud brigade, Nazim Aljughaifi said in a brief statement received by IraqiNews.com, “The joint security forces were able, at noon today, to liberate Albu Naim area west of Heet District from the ISIS control,” noting that, “The operation resulted in the killing of dozens of ISIS members.” Aljughaifi added, “The joint forces from the army, police and Anti-Terrorism Directorate are advancing in several axes to cleanse al-Doulab area in Heet District,” pointing out that, “The next few hours will witness the liberation of al-Doulab area, as well as raising the Iraqi flag over its buildings.” Iraqi warbirds destroy 8 ISIS HQs (IraqiNews.com) Anbar – On Saturday the commander of Anbar Operations Major General Ismail al-Mahalawi announced, that the Iraqi Air Force bombarded eight headquarters belonging to ISIS southwest of Fallujah, and killed all the ISIS members who were inside the headquarters. Mahalawi said in a press statement obtained by IraqiNews.com, “The Iraqi Air Force backed by the army’s 8th brigade managed to bombard eight ISIS headquarters in Albu Eifan area southwest of Fallujah.” “The bombardment resulted in the destruction of the headquarters, as well as killing all the terrorists inside these headquarters,” Mahalawi added. Iraqi army commander wounded near Ramadi (IraqiNews.com) Anbar – A source in Anbar Province revealed on Saturday, that the commander of the commandos regiment in the army’s 7th brigade was wounded during confrontations against ISIS west of Ramadi. The source reported for IraqiNews.com, “Today the commander of the commandos regiment in the army’s 7th brigade Colonel Hakim al-Jouani was wounded during confrontations against ISIS in al-Dolab area west of Heet.” The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added, “Jouani is currently receiving treatment and his condition is stable.” 12 ISIS Bad Guys die in airstrikes near Ramadi (IraqiNews.com) Anbar – The commander of Anbar Operations Major General Ismail al-Mahalawi announced on Saturday, that 12 ISIS members were killed in an air strike carried out by the international coalition aviation east of Ramadi. Mahalawi said in a brief statement obtained by IraqiNews.com, “The international coalition aviation bombarded ISIS hideouts in al-Falahat area west of Fallujah (40 km east of Ramadi), destructing the hideout and killing 12 ISIS members.” Mahalawi added, “The bombardment was carried out based on information indicating the presence of ISIS members in that hideout.” 5 ISIS Bad Guys including leader die near al-Rutba (IraqiNews.com) al-Anbar – Media officials with the Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday, that 8 ISIS elements, including a senior leader, had been either killed or wounded in an aerial strike in the district of al-Rutba. The officials said in a statement followed by IraqiNews.com, “Based on intelligence by the Falcons Intelligence Cell, in coordination with the Joint Operations Command, an aerial bombardment was carried out on one of the ISIS shelters in the district of al-Rutba, resulting in the death of 5 terrorists and wounding 3 others.” “Abu Azzam al-Iraqi, the commander of the so-called Anti-Aircraft Detachment, was among the dead,” the statement added.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Blue on blue: al-Nusra, ISIS troops battle it out in Qalamoun

2016-03-30

[ARA News] QALAMOUN – At least 17 militants of the Nusra Front (Syria’s branch of al-Qaeda) were killed during clashes with the radical group the Islamic State (ISIS) in western Qalamoun near Syria’s capital Damascus, local sources reported on Tuesday. “The Nusra Front launched a surprise attack on ISIS strongholds in the valleys of az-Zamrani and Martiba in the western Qalamoun near the Lebanese border, led to the outbreak of fierce clashes between the two sides. The clashes continued until Tuesday midnight,” media activist Yasser Hussein told ARA News in Qalamoun. “ISIS was able to repel the Nusra attack, killing 17 militants of the Nusra and injuring over a dozen more, forcing it to retreat from the region,” Hussein reported, citing pro-ISIS military sources. On the other hand, sources close to ISIS confirmed that at least 12 militants from ISIS were killed during the clashes, including the group’s military commander in Qalamoun”Abu Azzam”. Over the past few days, the areas in western Qalamoun witnessed fierce battles between the two radical groups, especially after the Nusra Front, along with other rebel factions, waged a military campaign against ISIS in the area in a bid to eliminate its presence in the region. The Nusra Front is leading a united militant entity in Idlib province and the Qalamoun Hights under the banner of al-Fatih Army ــwhich has made a significant progress at the expense of pro-regime forces, especially in Idlib. In 2015, the leadership of al-Nusra Front called on Syrian rebel factions in Damascus to unify under one military entity similar to al-Fatih Army in Idlib and Qalamoun.

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Iraq

Baghdad booms bundled

2015-10-13

(IraqiNews.com) Baghdad – A source in the police announced on Monday, that a civilian was killed and four others were wounded in a bomb blast south of Baghdad. The source said in an interview for IraqiNews.com, “a bomb exploded, today, in al-Makasib area in Radwaniyah south of the capital Baghdad, killing one civilian and wounding four others.” The source, who asked not to be named, added, “security forces cordoned off the scene, while the body of the dead man was transferred to the forensic medicine department and the wounded to the nearest hospital for treatment.” 4 more kaboomed in Mahmoudiya (IraqiNews.com) A source in the Iraqi police said on Monday, that a person has been killed and three others were wounded in a car bomb in Mahmoudiya south of the capital Baghdad. The source informed IraqiNews.com, “A car bomb exploded, this evening, in Mahmoudiya, killing one person and wounding three others,” pointing out that, “The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital and the body of the dead man to the forensic medicine department.” 9 ISIS Air-Zapped (IraqiNews.com) The Falcons Intelligence Cell announced on Monday the killing of nine ISIS leaders during the aerial bombing that targeted the convey of the ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, while also added that the bombing resulted in the death of a large number of al-Baghdadi bodyguards. The cell said in a statement received by IraqiNews.com, “Further to a statement by The Falcons Intelligence Cell of the Interior Ministry issued on Sunday about the operation that targeted the convey of the criminal Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and a group of ISIS leaders in the region of Karabilah by the air force; the operation resulted in killing a number of leaders belonging to ISIS and bodyguards of al-Baghdadi.” The statement added, “Abu Azzam al-Iraqi, the special security committee official in Iraq and the Levant, Abu Marwa al-Ansari, a military leader, the so-called Haji Abu Ammar, one of al-Baghdadi, military advisers, Abu Saad al-Anbari, Walid Ahmed Saleh Karbouli (also known as Abu Hussein), Abu Abdullah al-Saudi, Abu Banan al-Gazrawy, Abu Qatada al-Shaiybani and Abu Ahmed al-Shami were among the dead.”

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Saudi youngster blows himself up in Syria

2014-11-09

[ARABNEWS] Fahad Al-Hajiri, a Saudi high school student, was involved in a suicide kaboom at the beginning of this month after IS chose him and three others to carry out an operation inside an oilfield in Homs. Terminated his short, pointless existence, did he? Al-Hajiri, nicknamed Abu Azzam Al-Sharqi, lived in Dammam, where he went to school, but he left his studies to fly to Syria and join IS. Prior to his departure, Al-Hajiri tried to communicate with members of IS in Syria via Internet, to arrange his stay there. He participated in a number of battles after he finished his intensive training, or what IS calls Shariah training. Abu Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, a man who fought with him for IS and has since returned, said they were told that they would "carry out the operation in Al-Shaer oilfield in rural Homs."

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Syrian Army Readying Assault on Last Rebel-Held Areas in Qalamoun

2014-03-18

[An Nahar] Syrian regime forces were on Monday readying an assault on the last rebel-held areas in the Qalamoun mountains, strategically located on the Lebanese border, after overrunning key opposition bastion Yabrud. The capture of Yabrud on Sunday by Syrian troops and Hizbullah ...Party of God, a Leb militia inspired, founded, funded and directed by Iran. Hizbullah refers to itself as The Resistance and purports to defend Leb against Israel, with whom it has started and lost one disastrous war to date, though it did claim victory... fighters came shortly after the conflict entered its fourth year and marked a significant setback for the rebels as it severs their supply lines from across the border. A security source in Damascus said the army would soon launch operations "in all areas where Death Eaters are to be found," using the regime's term for rebels battling to topple the Assad regime. "The aim of the army operation is to entirely secure the border and to close all corridors to Leb." The fighting along the border has sparked a fresh flight of civilians into Leb, which is already hosting nearly a million refugees, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. "So far 150 families have crossed the border since Yabrud fell," said the UNHCR's Lisa Abu Khaled. "NGOs there were on standby so they have handed out food, blankets, etc, and the U.N. plans to register the arrivals this week." Speaking to Agence La Belle France Presse via the Internet from the Qalamoun mountains, activist Jawad al-Sayed said all civilians were "evacuated" from Yabrud before the town fell, either to areas nearby or to neighboring Leb. The road, he said, was dangerous, echoing reports from a day earlier that at least six people, including two children, were killed in air strikes as they fled for Leb. "The situation of the civilians is very sad... So we have two options, either to go to Leb... or to stay here and resist," said Sayed. Nineteen Syrian men and two Lebanese were tossed in the clink Keep yer hands where we can see 'em, if yez please! Monday after crossing the border illegally, said the Lebanese Army, adding that the men had in their possession an assault rifle, two pistols, cash and 30 mobile phones. The fall of Yabrud came after five months of Syrian army operations in the Qalamoun region, and more than 30 days of heavy aerial bombardment of the town. An AFP news hound entered Yabrud, north of Damascus, on Sunday after the army declared it had seized full control of the town. Exhausted Syrian soldiers sat in the streets after seizing the town in fierce festivities with the support of battle-hardened Hizbullah fighters and pro-regime militiamen. "It was a very difficult battle, possibly the most difficult we have faced," a soldier who identified himself as Abu Mohammed told AFP in Yabrud's central square between puffs from a water-pipe. A source close to Hizbullah in Leb's Bekaa Valley told AFP that the victory came after a Hizbullah commando raid on Yabrud during which 13 rebel leaders were killed, leaving their forces in disarray. Among those killed, said the source, was Abu Azzam al-Kuwaiti, a key commander in al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda's official Syrian affiliate. Yabrud was once home to some 30,000 people, including a Christian minority, and had been a rebel bastion since early in the Syrian uprising, which began in March 2011 in the form of peaceful protests.

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