A New Turn of Facing Daesh in Iraq: the Endless Security Problem

Ortadoğu Araştırmaları Merkezi Policy Brief ORSAM Center for Middle Eastern Studies No:74 / August 2018

ORSAM Yayınları A NEW TURN OF FACING DAESH IN IRAQ: THE ENDLESS SECURITY PROBLEM

ORTADOĞU ARAŞTIRMALARI MERKEZİ

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Center for Middle Eastern Studies Adress : Mustafa Kemal Mah. 2128 Sk. No: 3 Çankaya, ANKARA Phone: +90 (312) 430 26 09 Faks: +90 (312) 430 39 48 Email: [email protected] Photos: Associated Press POLICY BRIEF

A NEW TURN OF FACING DAESH IN IRAQ: THE ENDLESS SECURITY PROBLEM

About the Author

Watheq Al-Sadoon He works as Iraq Studies Expert at ORSAM Since 2015. He worked as faculty member at University of Mosul and senior researcher in the Regional Studies Center, Mosul between 2008 and 2018. He also worked in College of Political Science in University of Mosul as a vis- iting faculty member between 2008 and 2017. He is the author of “Weakness and Strength Factors in Iraqi-Turkish Modern Relations” (2017) and “The Security Dimension in the Con- temporary Iraqi-Turkish Relations” (2014). His articles were published in Iraqi, Turkish aca- demic journals, periodicals, online outlets and newspapers. He obtained research fellowship and scholarship from Institute of International Education (IIE) in New York between 2014 and 2017.

August 2018 2 A New Turn of Facing DAESH in Iraq: The Endless Security Problem

Introduction and Hashdi Shaabi. Daesh conducts an average Thanks to the backing of international of two terrorist attacks per week. Among the coalition forces, the Iraqi Armed Forces regions that these attacks are carried out are the reestablished control in all cities and regions roads connecting the Kirkuk province with the under the control of the terrorist organization Havica township, the road between Baghdad- Daesh in late 2017. With this result, the Iraqi Kirkuk and Diyala-Al-Mar and the road between government, suppressed the organization the Diyala-Baghdad (south of Buhraz). Besides, founder of which is Ebu Bekir al-Baghdadi, three there have been attacks in the remote villages years after the organization was established. of Nineveh, Salahuddin, Kirkuk, Al-Anbar However, the armed assault of the organization and Diyala provinces. These terrorist attacks, began again in February 2018. During the past inevitably, have uncovered many problems few months in Iraq, there have been attacks regarding the current security situation and such as kidnapping, murder, roadblock, attacks political and social conditions in Iraq. against government forces and distant villages by armed groups allegedly linked to the Daesh Daesh’s most dangerous terrorist organization. Daesh carried out three deadly attacks attacks in this process: Firstly, wearing uniforms similar to that of the Iraqi central government The most dangerous attack that was forces a group of armed elements linked to the organized by Daesh in the past few months and terrorist organization set up fake control points attracted so much attention, especially in the on major roads, kidnapped and killed a group social media, took place on February 11, 2018. of people. Secondly, they attacked the security Members of the organization who ambushed forces and Hashdi Shaabi patrols, kidnapped around the Havice township kidnapped and men who patroled, and set up ambushes in the killed 27 people from the armed patrol of rugged remote areas. Thirdly, it carried out Hashidi Shaabi. sudden attacks on the tribal peasants around On June 17, 2018, Daesh members attacked the cities under the control of Daesh, especially the villages in the regions where the Salahuddin those who cooperated with government forces and Nineveh provinces are located and killed

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7 out of 30 civilians from Shammar, Camila used either by government forces or members and Aniza tribes. One day after the incident of the Hashdi Shaabi. The number of Daesh of Telol al-Bac, the Daesh members set up a members who performed each attack varies fake checkpoint on the Baghdad-Kirkuk road between 15-20 people. It can be argued that the and abducted 7 people from the Al-Anbar and Daesh terrorist organization has two purposes: Karbala provinces. Later on, it posted a video (i) to give a new spirit to the organization after a showing the abductees on the internet. It was series of recent defeats, and (ii) the participation demanded on the video that the women who of new members in the organization in Iraq. were taken into custody for being a member of Daesh were released so that those who were Where are the Daesh members kidnapped would be released. Nevertheless, hiding in Iraq? the Iraqi security forces found the bodies of the abductees in the Hamrin district located in It is known that the international coalition between the Diyala-Kirkuk province on June forces under the control of the United States and Iraqi military forces have paved the way 27. for heavy losses in the terrorist organization Late at night on July 6, a group of Daesh as a result of operations against it between members set up a fake checkpoint on the road June 2014 and December 2017. According south of the Bukhari province, which linked to the data of international coalition forces, the Baghdad and Diyala provinces. At this fake 2,600 Daesh targets were destroyed and 10,000 control point, the group kidnapped 8 people terrorists were killed in Iraq between September from Diyala. Following this attack, Diyala 2014 and January 2015. It is estimated that Police Commander (7th Protection Regiment) 30,000 people are still contained in the terrorist was removed from the post. On the same day, organization according to the reports prepared

These terrorist attacks, inevitably, have uncovered many problems regarding the current security situation and political and social conditions in Iraq

in the mid-2015 and published by Iraq and the a group blocked the Baghdad-Kirkuk road and US. According to recent reports, the number kidnapped 3 passengers of Filipino origin, 2 of Daesh members in Iraq has fallen to 5,000 men and 1 woman. after the liberalization of the cities under the The Daesh terrorist organization also control of Daesh. Therefore, more than 25.000 attacked remote villages such as Eblic in the members of the Daesh have been either killed Kayravan province on the northwestern side of or arrested or have fled to Syria or returned to Mosul on May 20, Mubarak al-Ferhan between their own countries or passed to other countries. the Salahuddin and Diyala provinces on June Here we encounter with an important question: 29, and el-Ramane in the Havice province on Where are the 5,000 members of Daesh now in January 30. On July 6, Daesh members made Iraq? a sudden attack on the Emamu military zone in Before responding to the question given the east of Baqubah in the Diyala province, and above, it should be remembered that an important seven policemen were wounded in the attack. event occurred during the liberation of the Iraqi These examples are just some of the most cities from the control of Daesh: Many Daesh significant terrorist attacks carried out by Daesh members who were killed in Mosul, Rawa, Ane, in recent months. Those who played a part in Qaim and Havica, cleared from the terrorist these attacks by Daesh wore military uniforms organization in late 2017, were either foreigners

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(except Syrians) or Arabs. Very few were from region, called Batı Badiye, located between Syria, which shows that the latest conflicts have the northern part of Syria (Rawa, Qaim) and been mostly carried out by foreign militants, the southwestern part of al-Shirkat. This area while local militants have withdrawn and contains natural refuges, valleys and natural integrated into the civilian population. The tunnels. These shelters allow terrorists to move Daesh terrorist organization preserves its Iraqi without being caught in air surveillance radar. and Syrian members from Deir ez-Zor and Abu Furthermore, the organization uses this region Kamal who do not have different dialects. The as an armoury and training area. The second aim here is to keep militants active in sleeping hiding place of the Daesh terrorist organization cells in the period following the defeat of the is the region starting from Tikrit (east) to al- organization. The stage we are now witnessing Azim (south) and Tooz district (south) to is the end of the Caliphate State in Iraq and the Kirkuk and Havica (west). Daesh benefits from return of Daesh to its secret organization. At the mountain range Hamrin and rugged terrain the same time, this phase is the phase in which to hide its activities and operations. The third Daesh ends the possibility of providing control hiding place is Mountain Badush and the areas over the cities or launching large-scale attacks north of Mosul. and guerilla warfare. There is not much choice In June last year, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider for terrorist members in Iraq to hide. Since there al-Abadi explained the government’s decision are only remote and geographically difficult to destroy the members of the Daesh terrorist areas like valleys, caves, mountainous areas organization across Iraq: “We will destroy the and deserts for the militants to hide. There are remaining cells of the terrorist organization and a few shelters in some regions for the members kill them. We will follow them everywhere, in of the organization to hide, such as the desert the mountains and in the deserts.”

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The response of the Iraqi security and Mosul. General Joseph Fotill, Commander forces to the recent Daesh attacks of the US Central Command, said that 774 of On July 6, 2018, Iraqi security forces the Iraqi armed forces were killed and 4,600 launched a major military operation called were wounded during the battle of Mosul. “Revenge of the Martyrs” against the members However, many observers who look at the of the Daesh terrorist organization in the areas security situation in Iraq think that the reaction between the Diyala, Kirkuk and Salahaddin of the Iraqi security forces to the new attack provinces and the rugged Hamrin mountain is within the framework of traditional security ranges. “Revenge of the Martyrs” refers to 8 work based on co-operation and co-ordination members of the security forces killed by Daesh with the people in the area where they are active, militants on the Kirkuk-Baghdad road. that requires more sophisticated intelligence The Security Information Center has issued efforts. The reaction of Iraqi security forces the following statement in its recently released needs more proactive security work. report on the operation that was launched to The Diyala province is the region that has ensure the security of the road where similar been most exposed to the new Daesh attacks. incidents do take place: “The operation backed For this reason, in Şarku’l-Evsat newspaper up by the army, federal police, emergency action published on July 7, two politicians from Diyala units, Hashdi Shaabi forces, Diyala police, explained the security problem as follows: Salahuddin police and Kurdistan Peshmerga “The operation is carried out in remote areas, forces and US-led coalition forces and Iraqi and security forces cannot protect the local fighter jets aims to clear areas between Diyala people even if their current capacity is tripled.” and Kirkuk. “ According to al-Sumeydiyi, the solution to the The Iraqi people are confident that the Iraqi problem is to arm the people in these regions armed forces will be able to cope with the new threatened by Daesh in part with light and small activities of the aesh terrorist organization. weapons, and to ensure that people protect The Iraqi armed forces carried out violent themselves against the attacks carried out by Despite the recent increase in operations, we want to draw attention to the fact that there is a strange decline in air monitoring and air bombardment towards the fixed and mobile Daesh elements in Iraq attacks against Daesh from June 2014 to the the organization. In addition to the arming of end of 2017, and during these attacks, they the tribal sheiks, small security points put high effort to rescue the cities from the must also be established by the government in Daesh control. At the same time, the Iraqi collaboration with the residents to ensure the armed forces have made great sacrifices to safety of these areas. liberate the cities and eliminate the Daesh In the same context, the former Iraqi terrorist organization’s existence and activities Parliament member (Diyala) Salah al-Cuburi in Iraq. The American Army Times newspaper said: “The area between the Salahuddin and published a document on financing, arming and Diyala provinces, where security violations training of Iraqi counterterrorism forces through take place and fake control points have been the US Department of Defense Fund program. established, is not safe at all and there exist no According to this document, Iraqi anti-terrorist command units for security forces to control the forces lost about 40% (dead and wounded) of its region.” al-Juburi said that the Daesh terrorist units during the liberation of Al-Anbar, Fallujah organization has often used weak control points,

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which helped the establishment of false control the village and city centers where security points and the achievement of valuable goals for problems are experienced. Daesh follows a the organization. Cuburi put an end to his words mixed organizational approach, functioning saying: “Controls without land acquisition in central and regional manners in Iraq. For prompt us to make great efforts in the field the organization is known to have central and of intelligence. We also need drones and the branch command posts in Iraq. In the meantime, arming of people to identify the operations there are individual cells working outside the performed by Daesh.” central control. There are various forms of Despite the recent increase in operations, communication between the armed members we want to draw attention to the fact that there living in the cells or shelters in the villages and is a strange decline in air monitoring and air cities and the headquarters of the organization. bombardment towards the fixed and mobile The continuation of the new operations by Daesh Daesh elements in Iraq. There is also a noticeable is mostly based on the attitude of the citizens decline in the political interest in Daesh’s new against the new operations of the terrorist organization and the fact that the inhabitants actions in Iraq or in the American press. of the region do not uncover the attacks of the organization. Social, political and security In fact, until now, Daesh has been struggling factors to prevent Daesh attacks to cooperate with the residents living in areas in Iraq close to where the attacks are organized and As mentioned at the beginning of this article, to acquire new members. All city and village the reports show that around 5,000 members dwellers that have been in control over the of Daesh have been left in Iraq. However, last three years hate the organization and its many of these members have not yet passed to activities after their painful experiences. That’s desert or mountainous regions. These members why the organization strives to find appropriate live as cells sleeping with other citizens in conditions and atmosphere in order to carry

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out its activities in areas where it carries out or local authorities to solve the problems they its activities by taking advantage of security face following the liberation of the cities. The inconveniences or political and sociological lives of the people living in these regions have crises. According to former Nineveh Governor become very difficult due to the wars against Atheel al-Nujaifi’s statement on Facebook, Daesh and the houses, shops and livelihoods “the intelligence reports point out that only in were destroyed or demolished. Furthermore, the Iraqi territory there are about 700 Daesh water, electricity and municipal services are also militants in the Nineveh and Salahuddin in a very bad situation. In contrast, the central provinces. The members of the organization government does not take serious steps to help have been separated from one another and people in this region and solve their problems. live in a stable manner within the boundaries It is certain that the Iraqi government is quite of these two provinces, and in addition to the aware of the seriousness of these problems. The numerous sleeping cells in the cities, they also writing of this article coincided with the first conduct terrorist activities in cooperation with anniversary of the liberation of Mosul from the forces coming from Syria. As known, Daesh the control of Daesh. On this anniversary, a makes its living through crises and allows crises statement was issued by Iraqi Prime Minister to stay alive by waiting for the growth of any Haidar al-Abadi announcing that the first steps administrative, ideological, national, political or were taken to reconstruct the territories rescued international conflict in Iraq. It does not matter from the control of Daesh. However, the real what kind of conflict it is or what its purpose is, steps to rebuild the zones liberated from the it eventually finds an environment that can carry control of Daesh are to be implemented only out its important activities.” after the next government is formed. The people in the regions rescued from the The practices that are incompatible with the control of Daesh are now experiencing a great democracy in the last elections in the current disappointment. For there is no real action, political process in Iraq and the controversies and effort or initiative by the central government confusion over the outcomes of these elections

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have caused disappointment and despair among crime of abduction by the terrorist organization the inhabitants of those regions and, in general, is the implementation of required intelligence all Iraqis. Iraqi citizens’ confidence in the and military efforts to protect the rights of the current political process has been shaken, and citizens in the regions where the operations are the majority of people believe that elections are carried out and to trace the terrorists, and to not true, election results have been manipulated, control these zones according to the determined the public opinion is not an influential factor, plans, and arrest the terrorists and bring them to and the factors affecting the election results are justice.” the political tasking of corruption funds and the armament strength of the militias affiliated with political parties. Conclusion On the other hand, Subhan al-Juburi, the The final settlement regarding the activities of District Governor of the Havice township in Daesh terrorist organization and the provision of Kirkuk, explained after the security breaches its sustainable security in this country will only in various parts of Kirkuk that “it is a great be reached through serious and comprehensive recklessness of some security authorities to let steps that take into account the security, political, the return of Daesh supporters and those who social and economic dimensions of this problem are wanted to Havice. He also added that “the and other related issues. All of the elements for majority of security schemes facilitated by the ensuring the security of Iraq should focus on government and security authorities as well as social and national interests and a strong basis certain political parties and tribal leaders and should be established with all segments of violated by Daesh are required to be revised. society for harmony and understanding between The presence of sleeping cells in these regions the parties of political forces that are included requires decisive solutions and precise and in the political process in Iraq. The principle dissuasive measures of the relevant security of social justice should be strengthened and authorities.” These factors, intertwined in terms the rights of all segments of the Iraqi people of political, social and security manners, are should be protected. The security solutions to among the most dangerous factors that constitute this problem must be at the level of threat posed a feasible environment for the reemergence of by terrorist organizations, and modern means Daesh activities. of a fight against terrorism should be applied. At the end of June last month, Sheik Abdul The most important measure that the next Iraqi Mahdi al-Karbalai (Representative of Ali al- government should take to solve this security Sistani High Shiite Authority) said in his sermon problem is to put an end to the concept of during Friday prayer: “Even if Daesh moves spreading armed militias and to the chaos of the away from its main goal, the war is not over proliferation of weapons and to limit weapons yet. The correct and meaningful answer to the to only government security forces.

Policy Brief No:74 Notes Ortadoğu Araştırmaları Merkezi ORSAM Center for Middle Eastern Studies

ORSAM Publishes Middle East Analysis and Middle Eastern Studies as periodical journals. Middle East Analysis, which is published bimonthly in Turkish, covers the expert opinions on contemporary developments in the Middle East. Middle Eastern Studies is a semi-annual journal on international relations. As a scholarly and refereed journal, published in both Turkish and English, Middle Eastern Studies is composed of the contributions of academics who are experts in their ﬁeld. Middle Eastern Studies, where respectable, national and international level academics publishes their papers, is indexed by Applied Social Sciences and Abstracts (ASSIA), EBSCO Host, Index Islamicus, International Bibliogra- phy of Social Sciences (IBBS), Worldwide Political Science Abstracts (WPSA).

ORTADOĞU ARAŞTIRMALARI MERKEZİ

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Policy Brief No:74 Ortadoğu Araştırmaları Merkezi ORSAM Center for Middle Eastern Studies

ORTADOĞU ARAŞTIRMALARI MERKEZİ

Telefon: +90 (312) 430 26 09 Faks: +90 (312) 430 39 48

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