08.08.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

The U.S. military says it has killed 32 militants with suspected ties to Iran in Baghdad's mostly Shi'ite neighbourhood of Al-Sadr City ("U.S. Forces Kill 32 Militants In Baghdad") [ID 21578]

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04.06.2007 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Baghdad: Clashes between rival Sunni militant groups; Iraqi authorities and US forces impose curfew ("Curfew leaves Bagdhad suburb residents in trouble") [ID 20680]

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30.01.2007 - Source: Guardian

An end to major combat operations near Najaf, where US and Iraqi forces have fought obscure Islamic splinter groups ("Najaf 'under control' after Iraqi forces defeat mystery fighters") [ID 19544]

"The Iraqi government yesterday declared an end to major combat operations near Najaf, where US and Iraqi forces had fought hundreds of fighters from an obscure Islamic splinter group suspected of planning attacks on the Shia clerical establishment during today's Ashura celebrations in nearby Kerbala. Defence ministry officials said 200 militants, including the cult's leader, had been killed in the fighting and 60 were wounded. The site of the battle, in an agricultural area north of Najaf, was said to be under the control of Iraqi security forces by early yesterday morning."

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29.01.2007 - Source: BBC News

US and Iraqi troops kill some 300 militants in fierce fighting around the holy city of Najaf, Iraqi police say ("'Hundreds' killed in Iraq battles") [ID 19545]

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24.01.2007 - Source: BBC News

Baghdad: Iraqi forces backed by US helicopters battle insurgents as part of the new US-led security plan ("New push to control Baghdad areas") [ID 19555]

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16.01.2007 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Anbar province: More violence in Anbar province than in any other since late 2003; ongoing battles between Sunni insurgent groups and US and Iraqi forces have prevented NGOs and aid agencies from reaching people who need food and medical supplies ("Anbar province worst for violence") [ID 18642]

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10.01.2007 - Source: Guardian

Baghdad: Iraqi forces backed by US troops and air power in clashes with Sunni militants ("Baghdad fighting leaves 50 dead") [ID 19142]

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09.01.2007 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Soldiers backed by US forces battled gunmen in central Baghdad ("Iraqi, U.S. Forces Battle Gunmen In Central Baghdad") [ID 19139]

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09.01.2007 - Source: BBC News

Baghdad: US and Iraqi troops backed by aircraft clash with Sunni fighters in the centre ("Fierce clashes shake Baghdad") [ID 19141]

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22.12.2006 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Diyala province: Baquba: Insurgents increasingly call the shots in the Sunni stronghold; schools and most government institutions now shut; clashes between Sunni insurgents on one side and US troops, Iraqi forces and Shia militias on the other, occur on a daily basis ("Militants Taking Control of Baquba") [ID 18193]

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09.12.2006 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Mosul: Sunni insurgents to try to establish an Islamic state in Iraq; residents are forced to comply with puritanical Islamic laws as they tighten their grip on Mosul ("Sunni Militants Issue Religious Edicts in Mosul") [ID 18202]

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10.05.2005 - Source: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

Mosul: Normality Returns to Mosul ("original document (English)") [ID 10732]

"Residents breathe sigh of relief as security forces regain control of city rocked by insurgent violence."

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02.03.2005 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

US forces hand over security to Iraqi army in capital and provinces ("original document") [ID 10733]

"The US army handed over authority in several areas of the capital, Baghdad, to the 40th Brigade of the Iraqi army last week, Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials said. The US military has already begun to transfer authority to Iraqi security forces in 14 of 18 provinces in the country. Coalition force officials told IRIN that they believed the Iraqi army had now reached advanced stages of training. Iraqi soldiers will now be responsible for patrolling the streets of the capital in order to reduce the US presence in the city. (...)"

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24.02.2005 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Ramadi residents flee city after latest US-led attacks ("original document") [ID 10734]

"Residents of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province some 100 km east of Baghdad, have started to flee the city following the latest offensive launched by US Marines and the Iraqi army.

The military have carried out raids in the province over the past few days in an attempt to crack down on insurgents, with the main focus of operations being Ramadi, a rebel stronghold."

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07.12.2004 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Mosul: Militants continue to intimidate Mosul residents ("original document") [ID 10735]

"Government offices, businesses, and schools in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul remain closed due to the continued insurgency there, "Al-Zaman" reported on 27 November. The daily reported that gunmen have expanded their network throughout the city and are distributing their directives house-to-house and district-to-district, leaving residents with no choice but to obey orders, which recently included a call for people to remain indoors on 24 November.

The militant group Tanzim Qa'idat Al-Jihad in Bilad al-Rafidayn -- which is led by fugitive Jordanian terrorist Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi -- posted a statement on a website on 28 November claiming responsibility for the killing of 17 Iraqi forces and a Kurdish peshmerga in the city, AP reported on 29 November. Some 50 Iraqis have been killed in Mosul in the past 10 days, AP reported, while the "Chicago Tribune" reported on 28 November that as many as 70 Iraqis were found dead in the city in a little more than a week, with many bodies dumped in the city center. U.S. Lieutenant Colonel Erik Kurilla said the surge in violence has led to an increase in the number of residents coming forward with information on the insurgents, the "Chicago Tribune" reported. (Kathleen Ridolfo)"

Document(s): original document

19.11.2004 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Mosul: growing insurgency in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul ("original document") [ID 10736]

"IRAQI POLICE AIDED MILITANTS IN MOSUL INSURGENCY. The growing insurgency in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul took a turn in recent days as many police in the city reportedly deserted their positions and took up arms alongside militants. Sources told RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq (RFI) that multinational forces arrested General Muhammad Khayri al-Birhawi, the director-general of Mosul police, accusing him of cooperating with terrorists in the city, RFI reported on 15 November."

Document(s): original document

15.07.2004 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

MILITANTS TAKE OVER SAMARRA ("original document") [ID 10738]

"MILITANTS TAKE OVER SAMARRA. Reports emanating from Samarra in recent days blame both Hussein loyalists and Islamic militants for the surge in violence there, with many Iraqi media outlets reporting that the militants have gained control over the city, located 125 kilometers north of Baghdad. A look at the attacks in recent days sheds light on the violence that is plaguing the town, violence that is reminiscent of that which occurred in Al-Fallujah in April and May.

Five 1st Infantry Division soldiers and two Iraqi National Guardsmen were killed in Samarra on 8 July, and 20 soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division and four Iraqi National Guardsmen were wounded when militants attacked the Iraqi National Guard headquarters in Samarra on July 8 at about 10:30 a.m., U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported. AP reported that militants detonated a car bomb at the National Guard headquarters before launching some 38 mortars at a U.S. military base.

A contributor to the Global Islamic Media website (http://www.ansarnet.ws/vb) posted "Communique Number 16" to the site on 11 July. The communique, issued by Jama'at Al-Tawhid wa Al-Jihad -- a militant group associated with suspected Jordanian terrorist Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi -- claimed the group was responsible for the 8 July attacks. Two Turkish truck drivers were also killed on 8 July while transporting supplies near Samarra, NTV reported on 9 July. On 11 July, two U.S. soldiers were killed and three wounded by a roadside bomb outside the city, CENTCOM reported. International media reported that the Iraqi National Guard headquarters was hit by four mortar strikes, which essentially leveled the building. By 12 July, U.S. troops surrounded the city. Families trying to flee the fighting were caught between U.S. forces and gunmen, LBC satellite television reported.

So who is behind the violence in Samarra? Some media reports contend that Hussein loyalists -- more precisely, former Iraqi army members -- have organized themselves into well armed groups and are launching coordinated attacks, such as the 8 July attacks mentioned above. Other evidence points to Islamic militants. The U.K.-based "The Daily Telegraph" reported on 11 July that Hussein loyalists had seized control of the town two weeks earlier. The report cited a "synchronized" attack organized by a former general of the Iraqi army, noting: "Professional soldiers who knew how to gauge and range an artillery piece were in charge." The former soldiers were reportedly easily identified in their Hussein-era army uniforms. One militant, manning a makeshift checkpoint, told "The Daily Telegraph," "The National Guard are traitors, they work with the Americans but are afraid to come in here. We control Samarra now." The same soldier said that his colleagues had begun to force the Kurdish population out of the city, saying that Kurds constituted a pro-American fifth column.

The Shi'ite News Agency website (http://www.ebaa.net) reported on 10 July that hundreds of Islamic militants had come to Samarra from other cities. The fighters were reportedly armed with "tens of antiaircraft guns and armor-piercing and antiaircraft shells." The report contends that militants loyal to Ansar Al-Islam have teamed up with the Jama'at Al-Tawhid wa Al-Jihad. The report also claims that the two Sunni groups have joined forces with 200 of the city's local fighters, "who have full control of the city in the absence of any Iraqi authority." According to ebaa.net, the city has experienced chaos since the fall of the Hussein regime, when armed gangs and criminals arrived on the scene threatening locals. "Sources" told the website that militants in recent days have blown up the headquarters of the Iraqi National Movement Party led by Interior Minister Falah al-Naqib, the City Council, the headquarters of the peshmerga forces, and the home of Municipal Council Chairman Adnan Thabit, among other sites.

Meanwhile, Baghdad's "Al-Manar" reported on 12 July that flyers had been posted on buildings and mosques throughout the city urging people working for the multinational forces in Iraq to repent. The flyers, issued by "The Legitimate Committee for the Islamic Resistance -- the Mujahidin Shura Council," said a decision was made on 25 June that a pardon would be granted to those "spies, translators, contractors, defense force members," and others loyal to coalition forces who repented.

The flyers advised such people to "declare their sincere repentance, perform the legal vow according to the Shari'a, and make [a] written pledge that they will not return to such acts in the Grand Mosque in the center of the city or in the Al-Razzaq Mosque in [the] east of Samarra city." The flyer marked 8 July as the last day for a pardon. The flyers also contended that the mujahedin in Samarra had obtained "files, documents, and confessions" that identify the names and positions of those working with multinational forces in the city. "Al-Manar" reported that the Islamic militants in the city accuse some 300 Iraqis of working with U.S. forces there. Mosque officials told the daily that "no one has seized the opportunity" to repent. It is difficult to imagine any Iraqis would, since they and their families would be labeled "collaborators" and likely be targeted by insurgents.

It is unclear how long it might take multinational forces to gain control over the city. Eyewitnesses told "Al-Mada" on 14 July that masked gunmen remained in control of the city and were continuing to target National Guard forces stationed there. Samarra is a city with large Shi'a and Kurdish populations; the city suffered under the Hussein regime. The volatile city of Al-Fallujah lies just across the river, and some media reports indicate that fighters from the city have regularly crossed into Samarra in recent months."

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