Tag: Iraq

NOVANEWS By Andrew Korybko and Hamsa Haddad Oriental Review The political future of Iraq is uncertain because of the intensified domestic splits between its constituent Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish communities which were exacerbated by Daesh over the past couple of years. Post-2003 Iraq has been continually plagued by communal violence, but never before had each of its three communities been so divided from one another. Up until this point, none of them were able to stake a plausible claim to quasi-independence, except of course the Kurds, but even so, Erbil would have been unlikely to succeed with this so long as the Iraqi Army projected an image of strength. Nevertheless, that’s exactly what it was – an image – since it’s well-known how quickly they retreated in the face of Daes...

NOVANEWS By South Front   On January 9, Iraqi security forces (ISF) took control of the al-Baladiyat district of Mosul and announced the liberation of Domiz. Separately, ISF units entered the district of Sukkar after a series of firefights with ISIS units in the area. Yarmjah, Mazari, and Palestine districts remained conten[d]ed areas between ISF and ISIS. Pro-government sources claimed that ISF had destroyed some 5 car bombs and killed over 40 ISIS members in the clashes. Now, ISF’s main goals are to secure Sukkar, to develop the advance in the direction of Kafaat in the northeastern part of Mosul, and to gain full control over Yarmjah, Mazari, and Palestine in southeastern Mosul. These moves will set the ground for taking control of the whole eastern Mosul area from ISIS te...