DAILY SUMMARY – 27 FEBRUARY 2017

1. Security forces reach the Fourth Bridge in 2. Multiple demonstrations affecting key commercial route between and Baghdad 3. Multiple IS attacks repelled along Diyala – Salah ad Din corridor 4. IS destroys four electrical towers in eastern Diyala 5. Multiple Coalition and Iraqi airstrikes near Rawah 6. Two killed in under vehicle IED attack southeast of Baghdad 7. Demonstration at border crossing in Wasit 8. Pharmacy robberies reported in multiple locations in

North: Developments in West Mosul during this period were highlighted by Federal Police Emergency Response units completing the seizure of the Jawsaq neighborhood, and securing the entrance of the southernmost Fourth Bridge on 27 February. Heavy resistance continues to be faced from IS snipers, anti-tank missile fire, and suicide vehicle borne IEDs. It remains to be seen when extensive repair efforts for this bridge will commence as security officials seek to improve supply lines for advancing forces. Additional advances were said to be continuing in the Dindan neighborhood just to the north. Major General Thamir al-Hussaini stated Emergency Response units are now 400 meters away from the main government buildings in central West Mosul, with further verification required based on varying accounts pertaining to the forward line of troops.

It is clear that while security forces continue to incrementally advance along multiple axes of advance in the city, forces advancing along the Tigris River towards the main government facilities form the most heavily supported main effort. It is important to note that advances along this key axis are expected to remain some of the most heavily resisted of the campaign, with security forces likely to require at least one distinct pause to refit prior to being able to contest the main government area. Friendly casualty accounts continue to be largely withheld. Incomplete reporting from hospital sources indicated 30 security personnel and 200 civilians have been killed or wounded over a 72-hour period, with actual counts likely even higher. Security forces are also said to be struggling in some instances to evacuate casualties along roadways congested with escaping civilians. The latest UNHCR IDP counts for the Mosul Campaign has risen to 163,896 individuals.

Multiple demonstrations were reported during this period influential to different segments of Highway 2 (Route Cheyenne) between Erbil and Baghdad. Dozens of truck drivers assembled and blocked the to Hawli Road in order to demonstrate against the different taxes they are forced to pay in order to pass through checkpoints. In a second event, dozens of truck drivers blocked Highway 2 in the vicinity of al-Khalis, in order to denounce Iraqi government customs payments. In a third event, dozens of Altun Kopri residents conducted a demonstration disrupting traffic along Highway 2, demanding improvements in basic services and other issues. Commercial organizations are advised to be aware of an increased potential for route disruptions over the near-term in respective segments of this major commercial route.

Multiple IS attacks were repelled along Diyala – Salah ad Din corridor, with large numbers of IS casualties claimed and security force casualty counts largely withheld in accordance with established patterns On 26 February, IS employed IEDs to destroy four electrical towers in an area of eastern Diyala. Attacks such as this form an established IS line of effort to target relatively vulnerable electrical infrastructure in Diyala and Salah ad Din in order to increase the potential for localized unrest, and encourage additional commitments of resources to security-related tasks. The 26 February attacks follow a set of attacks near in late January, and a more recent set of attacks on 23 February located less than 3km from the named area mentioned in these latest incidents.

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Central: On 26 February, one Coalition strike destroyed a weapons cache and a supply cache near Rawah. On 27 February, unofficially reported Iraqi airstrikes destroyed three IED factories, two weapons and munitions depots, and killed a number of insurgents in the area. Although the latter effects are more difficult to confirm, routine strikes in the vicinity of Rawah and al-Qaim remain important for disrupting IS support zones in western Anbar influential to both the Central and Northern Regions. The head of the Hit District Council called for additional police in the area, stating there are only 300 policemen whereas 900 are required to fully secure the district. Although routine IS-related threats continue to fairly readably be mitigated in Hit and surrounding areas, these accounts underline an increasing demand for policing functions concerning rarely discussed criminal threats.

Three IED attacks in and around Baghdad killed at least four individuals and wounded four others. In the most effective attack, an under vehicle IED detonated against a civilian vehicle in Jisr Diyala, southeast of Baghdad, reportedly killing the civilian and his wife. On 27 February, unidentified individuals shot and wounded a local private electricity generator owner in al-Rashidiyah, north of Baghdad. Security forces also found the bodies of two individuals with gunshot wounds in different areas of East Baghdad. Multiple security operations during this period included arrests of individuals on abduction and theft related charges, while security forces continue to focus on operations in the Baghdad Belts uncovering caches containing IED materials.

South: There were a number of arrests reported in Basra over the review period, to include the detention of one individual for a murder in Zubayr as well as another during tribal clashes in Maysan. Another detention north of Basra in Qurna comprised the arrest of an individual believed to be responsible for IED detonations in areas of Zubayr, though the arrest was reportedly based on intelligence information which can vary widely in terms of veracity, and it remains questionable whether this arrest will impact future incidents of low-yield IED detonations. On 27 February, the Pharmacist's Union in Basra, reported that a number of pharmacies have been robbed during the evening hours by unidentified individuals. Robberies were reported in Briha, al-Abasiya, al-Hakimiya and al-Janina, with the locks broken and money taken from the pharmacy safes.

On 27 February, a number of Dhi Qar residents and tribal leaders gathered for a demonstration, calling on prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to intervene and halt the systematic destruction of orchards and houses which have been positioned on government properties. Tribal leaders stated that the municipality bulldozed a number of orchards and houses south of the city without any warning over the weekend, claiming that Basra, Dhi Qar and Maysan are particularly hard struck by such decisions as the residents in these areas remain poor with few options for relocating, also claiming such clearance does not take place in other southern provinces.

On 27 February, dozens of truck drivers cut off access to the highway leading to the Zarbatiyah Crossing Point with Iran in eastern Wasit. Participants were reportedly disputing crossing procedures which have resulted in difficulties for drivers, and called for an immediate investigation into corruption

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which takes place regularly at the crossing. This gathering or additional related events are unlikely to significantly impact commercial operations directly, though the potential exists for demonstrators to shift future gatherings westward to the intersection of Highways 15 and 13 south east of Badra, with such a shift more significantly impacting access and transit through the area as a means of gaining additional attention to the demands made by protesters.

International: signs $500 million electricity deal with ABB: PM – Reuters Iraq signed a $500 million agreement with ABB to implement energy projects, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s office said in a statement on Sunday. “An electricity agreement was signed between the government of Iraq and the Swedish company ABB for the implementation of energy transmission for … the Ministry of Electricity,” Abadi’s office said, valuing the contract at $500 million.

Syrian regime, opposition to agree against Kurdish-brokered federalism – K24 The delegation of the Turkey-backed Syrian opposition group at peace talks in Geneva on Sunday said federalism would be rejected as long as Bashar al-Assad was in power. Mohammad Alloush, the chief peace negotiator of Syria’s mainstream opposition, told Kurdistan24 the system voted on by Kurds and other factions in northern Syria could not be accepted before toppling the Syrian regime and its president.

YPG-led forces make headway in Deir al-Zor Province – K24 The Kurdish-led, US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Sunday said they liberated dozens of villages in the Deir al-Zor Province gaining ground in an offensive to retake the city of Raqqa from Islamic State (IS) insurgents. “About 30 villages and dozens of farms were liberated in the province of Deir al-Zor from [IS],” said Dijwar Khabat, an SDF commander.

US drone strike in Syria kills top al-Qaida leader, jihadis say – Guardian One of al-Qaida’s most senior global leaders has been killed by a US drone strike in north-west Syria, jihadi leaders have said. Abu al-Khayr al-Masri – who has been part of the global jihadi organisation for three decades and was a son-in-law of its founder, Osama bin Laden – was killed on Sunday when a missile fired from a drone hit the small car in which he was travelling. Masri had also been a close aide to al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, a fellow Egyptian.

Army presses IS in north Syria: monitor, military source – AFP Syrian government forces seized territory from the Islamic State group on several fronts in the country's north on Monday, a monitor and military source told AFP. Fighting rocked the strategic province of Aleppo, which borders Turkey and has seen some of the worst violence of Syria's nearly six-year conflict. On Monday, troops "seized 18 towns and villages, including the town of Taduf and a number of strategic hilltops in eastern Aleppo province, totalling about 600 square kilometres (230 square miles)," a Syrian military source said.

PKK explosive hits freight train in southeastern Turkey – AA A bomb planted by the PKK terrorist group exploded striking a passing freight train in the southeastern CONFIDENTIAL – FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY Page 4 of 5

province of Diyarbakir on Monday, according to Turkish security sources. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to media, said the explosive had been planted on the railway track in the province's Sur district.

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