UNSC unanimously adopts French-proposed resolution against ISIL

File photo: United Nations Security Council in session  [photo: UN.org]

According to the UN News Centre, dated 20NOV15:

The United Nations Security Council this evening called on all countries that can do so to take the war on terrorism to Islamic State-controlled territory in Syria and Iraq and destroy its safe haven, warning that the group intends to mount further terror attacks like those that devastated Paris and Beirut last week.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the 15-member body declared the group’s terrorist attacks abroad “a global and unprecedented threat to international peace and security” following the “horrifying terrorist attacks” it perpetrated recently in Sousse (Tunisia), Ankara (Turkey), over Sinai (Egypt) with the downing of a Russian plane, and in Beirut and Paris.

It warned that the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), or Da’esh as it is also known, “has the capability and intention to carry out” further strikes and called upon “Member States that have the capacity to do so to take all necessary measures, in compliance with international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law” on its territory.

Condemning “in the strongest terms” ISIL and other terrorist groups in the region such Al-Nusrah Front, the Council Member States “to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Iraq and Syria.”

It called on Member States to intensify efforts to stem the flow of foreign terrorist fighters to Iraq and Syria and to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorism, and reaffirmed that those responsible for terrorist acts, violations of international humanitarian law or violations or abuses of human rights must be held accountable.

COMMENTARY: The full text of the resolution hadn't been uploaded by the UN at the time of this posting but it appears the the government of the Syrian Arab Republic was not condemned in the resolution, which is significant. According to Russia Today, dated 20NOV15:

Syria’s UN Ambassador, Bashar Ja’afari, hinted prior to Friday’s vote that this resolution was long overdue. “Welcome to everybody who finally woke up and joined the club of combating terrorists.”

Meanwhile, Russia is continuing its work on a draft resolution proposing international military campaigns to fight against Islamic State. The current text is an updated version of a document submitted on September 30.

Previously on 19NOV15 the UNGA human rights committee Thursday adopted a Saudi-proposed resolution condemning certain foreign interventions in Syria

According to Reuters, dated 19NOV15:

The U.N. General Assembly’s human rights committee Thursday adopted a Saudi-drafted resolution condemning Iranian and Russian intervention in Syria, a decision that the Syrian and Iranian delegations rejected as unhelpful and unjustified. The nonbinding resolution, authored by Saudi Arabia and sponsored by Qatar and other Arab nations, the United States and other Western powers, passed by the 193-nation assembly’s third committee.

There were 115 votes in favor, 15 against and 51 abstentions.

Without explicitly naming Russia, it said the General Assembly “strongly condemns all attacks against the Syrian moderate opposition and calls for their immediate cessation, given that such attacks benefit so-called ISIS and other terrorist groups, such as Al-Nusra Front.”

The resolution’s language is clearly aimed at Russia, which has been bombing opposition forces in Syria for two months. Moscow says it is attacking ISIS but Western officials say they have targeted other rebel forces and Western-backed groups.

The resolution also condemned the presence in Syria of “all foreign terrorist fighters ... and foreign forces fighting on behalf of the Syrian regime, particularly the Al-Quds Brigades, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps [of Iran] and other groups such as Hezbollah.”

[…]

The resolution demands foreign militias leave Syria immediately.

It also blasts ISIS and other Islamist militant groups for rights abuses and atrocities.

But most of the criticism in the resolution is aimed at the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad, whom Western and many Arab nations would like to see ousted.

COMMENTARY: Predictably, the Syrians and Iranians rejected the resolution. The Iranian response was put forward by Iran’s Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Gholam Hossein Dehqani. According to PressTV, dated 20NOV15:

Dehqani warned of the “adverse consequences” of the resolution on the UN reputation and said Iranian military forces are present in Syria upon an official request by the Syrian government to provide consultations to the war-hit country.

“Therefore, the adoption of such a text is a violation of international regulations and a breach of governments’ right to establish peace in their own territory,” the Iranian envoy pointed out.

He said such claims are aimed at taking revenge against forces that have so far played the most effective role in the battle against terrorism and extremism, adding that Daesh terrorists would have overran more areas in the Middle East in the absence of such forces.

The Iranian diplomat once again reiterated that the resolution would act as an award for extremists and terrorists as well as all those who use financial and logistical resources to spread extremist and terrorist ideologies.

The Syrian response was put forward by Syria's U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari. According to Reuters, dated 19NOV15:

Syria's U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari rejected the resolution and accused its Saudi authors of hypocrisy about what he said are widespread human rights in the kingdom. He referred to "decapitation and flogging in public squares," saying they were like abuses of Islamic State.

He accused the Saudis, along with Qatar and Turkey, of supporting what he said were terrorists in Syria.

The delegates of Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia rejected the charges.

Pro-Syrian fighting forces reestablish LOC to Aleppo

Syrian Arab Republic media on 04NOV15 claimed its forces have reestablished line of communication (LOC) to western Aleppo, by means of securing the Ithriya-Khannaser highway.

SOHR confirmed the Syrian Arab Republic frontline with ISIL had been successfully pushed forward about 10 kilometers from the route.

Following consists of social media imagery uploaded this week depicting Pro-Syrian government and Iran-backed forces on the southern approaches to Aleppo:

Pro-Syrian government T-72 main battle tank display ISIL flag trophy, claimed depiction on the Ithriya-Khannaser Highway.

Pro-government supply vehicle claimed carrying supplies on the Ithriya-Khannaser Highway, on 04NOV15 breaking the siege imposed on Western Aleppo by ISIL.

Syrian Arab Republic supply convoy along Ithriya-Khannaser Highway

Syrian Arab Republic forces along Ithriya-Khannaser Highway

Light infantry belonging to force fighting on the side of the Syrian Arab Republic, securing the Ithriya-Khannaser Highway.

Armor and motorized infantry belonging to forces of fighting on the side of Syrian Arab Republic, at the Ithriya-Khannaser Highway.  [photo:AFP]

Iran-backed forces equipped with Iran-supplied Safir ("Ambassador") tactical vehicles; claimed depiction at the southern approaches to Aleppo.

Iran-backed forces equipped with Iran-supplied Safir ("Ambassador") tactical vehicles; claimed depiction at the southern approaches to Aleppo.

Motorized infantry on motorbikes in manner of deployment consistent with IRGC/Basij; claimed depiction at the southern approaches to Aleppo.

Iran-backed forces deploying 2S1 Gvozdika ("Carnation") type 122 mm self-propelled howitzers,;claimed depiction at the southern approaches to Aleppo.

Iran-backed forces deploying improvised rocket-assisted munition (IRAM) launcher vehicles; claimed depiction at the southern approaches to Aleppo.

Iran-backed Iraqi Katai'b Hezbollah fighting force fielding T-72 main battle tanks; claimed depiction at the southern approaches to Aleppo.

Iran-backed Iraqi Katai'b Hezbollah fighting force members equipped with M16 type assault rifle and PKM general purpose machine gun; claimed depiction at the southern approaches to Aleppo.

Iran-backed Iraqi Katai'b Hezbollah fighting force member equipped with SPG-9 Kopye (“Spear”) 73 mm recoilless gun; claimed depiction at the southern approaches to Aleppo.

IRIAF Lockheed C-130H Hercules (L-382), serial 5-8552 (cn 382-4594) at a Syrian airbase, supporting Iranian mission in Syria. Figure in foreground is a SyAAF colonel, possibly base commandfer.

Iran-backed Iraqi and Palestinian fighting forces, Syrian conflict

Social media imagery uploaded this week of Iran-backed Iraqi and Palestinian fighting forces allied with Syrian Arab Republic:

Iran-backed Kata'ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada fighting force members pose before just-visible dome on the shrine of Sayyidah Zainab near Damascus, Syria. Note the unfurled Iraqi national flag.

It appears to be a customary refrain for Iran-backed Shia fighting forces to claim "in defense of the shrine of Sayyidah Zainab," in similar manner to the culturally dissimilar refrain of American fighting forces waging war "in defense of freedom."

Claimed depiction near Aleppo of Iran-backed Iraqi fighting force member, beside Iran-supplied Safir ("Ambassador") jeep-type vehicle equipped with M40 type recoilless gun. This type of tactical vehicle, which has been seen in quantity at Iraq, is now being observed in Syria, as well.

Iran-backed Kata'ib al-Imam Ali fighting force members photographed near Aleppo, Syria. Note again, promotion of the Iraqi national flag.

Iran-backed Kata'ib al-Imam Ali fighting force members photographed near Aleppo. Individual in foreground wears identification patch bearing the Iraqi national flag.

In the foreground can be seen SyAA 2S1 Gvozdika type 122-mm self-propelled howitzer.

Iran-backed Kata'ib al-Imam Ali fighting force member (individual appearing in all three related images), posing before ISIL flag wall painting, near Aleppo, Syria.

Image claiming to depict member of Palestinian "Jerusalem Commando Forces" near Aleppo, beside two recently Iran-supplied Safir ("Ambassador") jeep-type vehicles. Safir on right equipped with M40 type recoilless gun, on left equipped with 107 mm MRL.

Image claiming to depict members of Palestinian "Jerusalem Commando Forces" fighting on the side of Syrian Arab Republic, near Aleppo.

Image claiming to depict Iranian volunteer, possibly IRGC-QF, with T-72 type main battle tank. Note signage for Abtin, which is located roughly 20 km south of Aleppo. Syrian media reported the recapture of Abtin village on 16OCT15.

Iraq's prime minister with Iran-backed PMF during Ashura

Following success at the Battle of Baiji, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi (R2) observed Day of Ashura with participating Iran-backed Popular Mobilzation Forces members, including Iran-backed Badr President Hadi Al-Amiri (L3) and Iran-backed PMF Director Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis (L4)

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi among Iran-backed PMF leaders during Day of Ashura, following success at Battle of Baiji.

Among audience of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Iran-backed PMF leaders, members of PMF following success at Battle of Baiji.

IRGC-QF commander and PMF operations chief at Imam Husayn Shrine in Iraq

 

IRGC-QF Commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani (in blue civvies) with Iran-backed PMF Operations Chief Abu Mahdi al Muhandis (in light olive shirt), seen at the Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala, Iraq. Claimed photo date is 21AUG15.

Soleimani's depicted demeanor appears refreshed coming from the renowned Shia shrine, access to which had been a very high-casualty goal of the IRGC and a youthful Soleimani during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988). Operation Iraqi Freedom inadvertently served to realize this much coveted Iranian war aim.

Last year, Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi estimated the number of pilgrims in the city of Karbala for the annual Arbaeen commemoration reached a record 17.5 million, by far the biggest majority of non-Iraqis being Iranian. It's easy to see why popular support inside Iran for the war against ISIL remains high, across the breadth of Iran's relevant political spectrum.

Earlier this week in Tehran, ISCI President Seyed Ammar al- Hakim praised Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani's fatwa and the creation of PMF, which he states was helped by Iran, specifically identifying IRGC-QF Commander Soleimani for his role in "Iraq's recovery." [source: ABNA] Sistani is Iranian-born.

Iran Military & allied Iraq Shia Militia perspectives on Iraqi political reform

Brief perspectives on Iraqi political reform offered by Iranian Maj. Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi at Sepah News, and Iraqi Shia Militias as surveyed by Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Very brief commentary provided at end of post.

According to Sepah News:

[T]he Basij commander, Maj. Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces explained in an interview: “evaluations of Iraq’ central government [show] that it has operated very well; by obtaining important achievements in stabilizing Iraq’s sovereignty and protecting its territorial integrity and independence, [the government] has been successful against the enemies of the nation of Iraq.”

[Firouzabadi] pointed to the formation of some mischievous activities in the country… “calling for street protests by stimulating specific and sometimes non-Muslim groups, and the blowing up of Iran-Iraq power lines and other vandalism.”

Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces said that each successful revolution has seen such noise and obstructions against itself… The revolutionary people of Iraq should show self-restraint more than ever, and must help the central government on the path of progress and overcoming the enemies.”

-------------------------

According to Theodore Bell, Patrick Martin, Jessica Lewis McFate, and Kimberly Kagan at ISW:

Iranian-backed Badr Organization endorsed the peaceful protests on August 6, prior to Ayatollah Sistani’s sermon, but did not declare its intent to participate and warned against losing focus on the anti-ISIS fight. Badr issued a brief statement following the sermon in support of Sistani’s call for reform, without providing any additional details on either the sermon or the demonstrations. Amiri stated that he “added his voice” to the demonstrators, but that he could not participate because he was “busy” with the fight against ISIS, in line with Badr’s ongoing political agenda to promote itself as a capable national military force that will liberate tracts of ISIS-occupied Iraq. Kata’ib Hizbollah (KH), another Iranian-backed militia, did not issue a statement on the subject at all, despite having stated its interest on July 18 in interrogating the Electricity Minister, seeking to punish corruption, and ending the electricity crisis. The Nujaba Movement (NM), another Iranian proxy militia, had stated its intent to participate in the Friday protests but there was little indication of significant Iranian proxy participation in the largely-peaceful protests on Friday. The Iranian proxy groups’ limited public responses to the unfolding political developments are likely due their inability to rally direct opposition to Ayatollah Sistani as well as their preoccupation with anti-ISIS operations.

While AAH did not overtly participate in the demonstrations, AAH leader Qais al-Khazali, in a speech delivered on August 7, asserted that PM Abadi faced “a major historic responsibility” and that the PM should submit his resignation if he is unable to address the need for reforms. Khazali also used the speech to repeat AAH’s call for the transition to a presidential system, an initiative championed by AAH and widely regarded as a method by which to empower VP Maliki, whose relationship with AAH is well-established. In this context, Ayatollah Sistani’s sermon may be seen as an effort to empower PM Abadi against the political designs of AAH, its patrons in Qom and Tehran, and VP Maliki. AAH’s rhetoric therefore indicates the group’s political divergence from the majority of Iraq’s major Shi’a political actors and point to AAH’s intention to leverage the protests against PM Abadi to obstruct political reform by calling for the PM’s resignation and a transition to a presidential system, an initiative VP Maliki himself advocates. It will therefore remain important to monitor the development of protests in southern Iraq, where VP Maliki’s SLA is dominant, given that VP Maliki and AAH may seek to leverage the localized demonstrations against the national government.

COMMENTARY:  With current military efforts directed at Ramadi and Fallujah by ISF and PMF, it has to be conceded that popular unrest against the Iraqi government is viewed favorably as a potential lifeline by ISIL.

Political instability at a time when the country is occupied to such an extent by enemy forces would present a further challenge to all parties involved in military activities, aiming to defeat ISIL.

Iraqi Security Forces Assault ISIL in Ramadi

Iraqi government forces have begun assaulting Islamic State insurgents based at the University of Anbar campus in the city of Ramadi. The university complex serves as a key command headquarters for ISIL in the city.

The Iraqi Security Force offensive in Ramadi, backed by U.S.-led airstrikes on ISIL positions, is part of the government’s operations to retake Anbar province. Concurrently, Hashd Shaabi or the PMF, the predominantly Shia militias, under the command of Iran’s Quds Force, and backed by Iraqi air force, have been conducting operations around Fallujah in the past few weeks in an attempt to retake the city, but have faced stiff resistance from ISIL. UPI reported that dozens of militiamen were killed near Fallujah last week.

Photo credit: An Iraqi Security Force soldier takes position near the Green Zone in Baghdad; 26 July 2015 (Mitchell Prothero/UPI)

Iraqi Troops, Militias Pause in the Battle of Tikrit

Iran-led coalition of Shia militias and Iraqi security forces battling the Islamic State insurgents in Tikrit paused their offensive for a second day on Saturday as they awaited reinforcements, Reuters reported today.

Iraqi military officials told Reuters that more “well-trained forces” were needed for the street-by-street battles that recapturing the city would require.

“We do not need a large number, just one or two thousand. We need professional personnel and soldiers,” a military source in the operation command center said. (Reuters, 14 March)

More than 20,000 Shia militia fighters and some 3,000 Iraqi soldiers entered Tikrit on Wednesday. The source at the military command center told Reuters that they have already retaken areas to the north and south in Iraq’s biggest offensive against ISIL insurgents yet. ISIL fighters still hold half the city, including central districts and a complex of palaces built by Saddam Hussein, and have booby-trapped buildings and laid IEDs and roadside bombs.

In the environs of Tikrit, ISIL forces were fighting the PMF (Shia militias’ umbrella organization) fighters and the Iraqi federal police forces near Beiji oil refinery and towns north of al-Malha.

Meanwhile, the Kurdish Peshmerga forces have also been attacking towns and villages south and west of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, backed by sustained airstrikes from the U.S.-led coalition, Reuters reported on Saturday. The Peshmerga offensive appears to be aimed at dislodging ISIL from Kirkuk province rather than solely creating a strategic depth to protect Kirkuk.

The Pershmerga, backed by Iraqi federal police and PMF fighters, also engaged ISIL at Hawija, an ISIL stronghold in southwestern Kirkuk, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported. This is the first time that Iraqi federal forces have entered the province in coordination with Peshmerga forces, ISW said.

Photo credit: PMF fighters launch a rocket during clashes with Islamic State militants on the outskirts of Al-Alam; 8 March 2015 (Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters)

Iraqi Forces Slowed by Bombs, Snipers in Tikrit

Iran-led coalition of predominantly Shia militias (PMF) and Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) came under heavy mortar shelling, sniper and machine-gun fire by ISIL insurgents in northwest of Tikrit today. The army and the militias struggled to advance from parts of the city they captured yesterday, Reuters reported.

The insurgents still hold the presidential palace and at least three other districts in the center of Tikrit, an Iraqi military source told Reuters. ISIL has also booby-trapped abandoned buildings.

Despite lack of progress on Thursday, the Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi said on a visit to the frontline that operations were going according to plan.

“Now the second phase of the battle commences,” Obeidi told state TV Iraqiya. “All branches of the security forces are engaged in the battle as well as (Sunni) tribal fighters and the Hashid Shaabi (predominantly Shia PMF).” The minister did not mention the Quds Force leading role in the fighting.

More than 20,000 Iran-led Shia militia and nearly 5,000 Iraqi security forces and elements of Sunni tribes launched the biggest ground offensive to date against ISIL to liberate Tikrit 10 days ago. On Tuesday, they took the strategic town of al-Alam on the northern edge of Tikrit, paving the way for the attack on the city itself.

Photo credit: Shia militia fighters walk after an explosive-laden military vehicle driven by an ISIL suicide bomber exploded during an attack on the southern edge of Tikrit; 12 March 2015 (Thaier Al-Sudani/Reuters)

Iraqi Shia Militia and Security Forces Retake Al-Alam

Major Victory for General Soleimani

Iran-led coalition of Iraq’s People’s Mobilization Forces (PMF), the umbrella organization of the country’s predominantly Shia militias, Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), elements of Sunni tribal fighters and the Quds Force advisers and personnel, under the command of Quds Force Commander General Qasem Soleimani, today retook the town of al-Alam, on the northern edge of Tikrit.

The coalition had already blocked ISIL’s positions north, south, and west of Tikrit, and has now encircled the city held by ISIL insurgents. The recapture of al-Alam was the immediate goal of the operation, which would be used as the staging ground to enter into Tikrit City. This is a major victory for Soleimani and his forces.

Photo credit: PMF and ISF fighters preparing to launch mortar shells and rockets against ISIL positions outside Tikrit; 4 March 2015 (AP)