Iraq's Shia Militias vs. the Islamic State (Video Report On The Front Lines)

VICE News: The Battle for Iraq: Shia Militias vs. the Islamic State

Last summer, the group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) swept from Syria into northern Iraq, routing Iraqi security forces and seizing the city of Mosul. Soon afterward, the group declared the establishment of a dubious "caliphate" in the area it controls and rebranded itself the Islamic State. With Iraq's army weakened and radical militants advancing on Baghdad, the country's Iran-backed Shia militias — which have their own history of sectarian abuses — fought back, halting the Islamic State's progress.

WNU Editor: Kudos to VICE News for bringing this front line report.

Islamic State Claims To Have Captured An Israeli Arab Mossad Spy

An Islamic State publication released on February 12, 2015, claims Muhammad Said Ismail Musallam is a Mossad informant from Jerusalem.

Times Of Israel: Islamic State claims it captured Mossad spy in Syria

Propaganda magazine says East Jerusalemite, 19, confessed to being an Israeli informant; family denies he worked for Mossad

WNU Editor: There are too many contradictions in this story .... but I doubt that the Islamic State cares. In their minds they have a spy, and as we all know .... they do not treat their prisoners well.

More News On The Islamic State Claiming That They Have Captured A Mossad Spy

ISIS Claims to Have Caught an Israeli Arab Mossad Spy -- Arutz Sheva
Islamic State says it's holding 'Israeli spy' in Syria -- Rueters
ISIS claims to have captured Israeli Arab from Jerusalem working with Mossad -- Jerusalem Post
Islamic State claims to capture Jerusalem resident acting as Mossad spy -- YNet News
Family of Israeli Arab in ISIS captivity: He went to Syria, but he's no Mossad spy -- Haaretz

Top U.S. Official: Iraqi Forces Are Preparing To Launch A Massive Offensive Against the Islamic State In The Next Few Weeks

Al Jazeera: Iraq anti-ISIL ground offensive to begin 'within weeks'

US co-ordinator for anti-ISIL coalition says operation will start "in weeks ahead" and be backed by "major firepower".

More News On Reports That The Iraqi Military And Militias Will Be Launching A Massive Offensive Against the Islamic State In The Next Few Weeks

Iraq to launch major ground offensive against IS group -- France 24
Iraqi PM: Plans for Mosul offensive against Islamic State take shape -- Stars and Stripes
Iraq To Launch Ground Offensive Against ISIS As Jordan Pounds Group's Strongholds In Syria -- IBTimes
Coalition Chief: Iraqi Ground Offensive Against IS 'Within Weeks' -- Radio Free Europe
Backed by US-led Coalition, Iraqi Army to Launch Offensive to Eradicate ISIS 'Within Weeks' -- IBTimes
Ground offensive on IS to start soon: US envoy -- CCTV
The US has been leading an aerial campaign against Islamic State jihadists and says an Iraqi ground offensive will begin within weeks. -- SBS

Is The Islamic State Abandoning Aleppo?

Reuters: Islamic State pulls forces and hardware from Syria's Aleppo: rebels

(Reuters) - Islamic State has withdrawn some of its insurgents and equipment from areas northeast of the Syrian city of Aleppo, rebels and residents say, adding to signs of strain in the Syrian provinces of its self-declared caliphate.

The group, which has recently lost ground to Kurdish and Syrian government forces elsewhere in Syria, has pulled fighters and hardware from several villages in areas northeast of Aleppo, they said. But it has not fully withdrawn from area.

WNU Editor: I understand that this is a tactical withdrawal .... but to do this right now tells me that they must be hurting, and that coalition airstrikes are probably making a difference. But it should be noted that we have heard these reports of defeat before.

More News On Reports That The Islamic State Is Abandoning Certain Positions Near Aleppo?

ISIS withdrawing forces, equipment from northeast of Aleppo -- New York Daily News
Daesh pulls forces out of Aleppo, rebels say -- Al Bawaba
ISIL pulls forces and hardware from Syria’s Aleppo , rebels say -- Today's Zaman

Islamic State Loses Territory Outside Of Kobane To Kurdish And Syrain Free Army Forces

AFP: Syria Kurds seize from IS a third of villages around Kobane

Beirut (AFP) - Syrian Kurdish forces have recaptured more than a third of the villages around Kobane from the Islamic State group since routing the jihadists from the town a fortnight ago, a monitor said Sunday.

WNU Editor: With Islamic State forces absent outside of Kobane, there may be some truth to this report .... Experts: Kobane defeat a sign of ISIS weakening (Al Arabiya)

More News On The Battle For The Countryside Of Kobane

Kurdish forces advance miles outside Kobane, retake 100 villages -- Rudaw
YPG in control of a third of villages around Kobane: report -- Rudaw
Syrian Kurds recapture third of Kobani villages from Daesh -- Al Bawaba
Kurdish forces regain 30km of Kobane’s countryside, pushing ISIS back -- Ara News

Iraq's Shiite Militias Are Helping To Divide Iraq

Iraqi Shiite Muslim men from Shi'ite Badr organisation march during a parade marking the annual al-Quds Day, or Jerusalem Day, on the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Baghdad, July 25, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Thaier al-Sudani

New York Times: Shiite Militia Drives Back Islamic State, but Divides Much of Iraq

CAMP ASHRAF, Iraq — At their victory rally, the Shiite militiamen used poetry, song and swagger to sweeten their celebration of an ugly battle.

More than a hundred fighters from the militia, the Badr Organization, had been killed in the farms and villages of Diyala Province in recent fighting against the Sunni extremists of the Islamic State. During the battle, thousands of residents had been forced from their homes — including Sunni families who accused Shiite paramilitary groups like Badr of forced displacement and summary executions.

WNU Editor: Sunni - Shiite animosities goes back generations, these militias can only exacerbate these tensions.

The War Against The Islamic State Is Going To Take A Long Time

Smoke raises behind an Islamic State flag after Iraqi security forces and Shiite fighters took control of Saadiya in Diyala province from Islamist State militants, November 24, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Stringer

The Economist: The war against Islamic State: It will be a long haul.

The fight against Islamic State is making some progress, but the jihadists are hardly on the back foot

WNU Editor: Reuters is also reporting the same thing .... Islamic State in Syria seen under strain but far from collapse (Reuters). What is ecven more eye-opening .... and in my opinion accurate .... if Iraq's Sunnis do not turn against the Islamic State .... defeating the Islamic State will be impossible .... UAE sees no defeat of Islamic State without Iraq's Sunnis: Etihad paper (Reuters)

More News On The War Against The Islamic State

U.N. Report: Islamic State Has Buried Children Alive -- WSJ
U.S.-led forces target Islamic State with airstrikes in Iraq, Syria: U.S. military. -- Reuters
Islamic State claims American hostage killed in bombing in Syria -- Washington Post
Jordan rages against Islamic State as military vows to expand airstrikes -- Washington Post
Islamic State punishes cleric who objected to pilot's killing: monitor -- Reuters
Jordan pilot murder: Islamic State deploys asymmetry of fear -- BBC
Defeating the Islamic State is a challenge to unite US and Arab nations -- McClatchy News/Kansas City
How much of a state is the Islamic State? -- Quinn Mecham, Washington Post

Islamic State Now Claiming That Their Female American Hostage Was Killed In Jordanian Airstrike

New York Times: ISIS Claims U.S. Captive Died in Jordanian Airstrike

Update: ISIS Claims Female American Hostage Killed in Airstrike -- ABC News

WNU Editor: The White House is aware of the reports .... but are issuing no comment. My gut is telling me that she is dead.

U.S. Moves More Search-and-Rescue Helicopters To Northern Iraq

CNN: Official: U.S. Military moved search and rescue assets to Northern Iraq

Update #1: U.S. Sends More Search-and-Rescue Helicopters to Northern Iraq -- NYT
Update #2: US military moving more military assets into Iraq to fight ISIS -- FOX News

WNU Editor: I guess complaints on the lack of search and rescue assets from the UAE hit home .... United Arab Emirates Suspended Airstrikes Against The Islamic State After Jordanian Pilot Capture.

United Arab Emirates Suspended Airstrikes Against The Islamic State After Jordanian Pilot Capture

Fighter jets belonging to the Jordanian Royal Air Force fly over the headquarters of the family clan of Jordanian pilot Maaz Al Kassasbeh in the city of Karak on Wednesday. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) pulled out of the air campaign fighting IS militants after the capture of a Jordanian pilot who has since been killed by the extremists, the New York Times reported on Wednesday. Photo - Reuters

New York Times: United Arab Emirates, Key U.S. Ally in ISIS Effort, Disengaged in December

WASHINGTON — The United Arab Emirates, a crucial Arab ally in the American-led coalition against the Islamic State, suspended airstrikes against the Sunni extremist group in December, citing fears for its pilots’ safety after a Jordanian pilot was captured and who the extremists said had been burned to death, United States officials said Tuesday.

WNU Editor: Apparently this is the reason why the UAE dropped out of the coalition ....

.... The United Arab Emirates are demanding that the Pentagon improve its search-and-rescue efforts, including the use of V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, in northern Iraq, closer to the battleground, instead of basing the missions in Kuwait, administration officials said.

In short .... and this is very revealing (rightly or wrongly) .... they dropped out because they did not see the U.S. committed to the fight against the Islamic State. The rest of the New York Times article adds more to the growing frustration in the Middle East on the White House's commitment in the war against the Islamic State and the role that Iran is playing.

More News On The United Arab Emirates Suspending Airstrikes Against The Islamic State After The Jordanian Pilot Capture

UAE pulled out of ISIS fight after pilot capture: report -- Daily Star/AFP
UAE halted Isis air attacks after pilot capture -- The Guardian
Blow to anti-Isil coalition as United Arab Emirates 'pull out' -- The Telegraph
UAE leaves coalition against Isis: US ally halted air strikes after Moaz al-Kasasbeh capture -- IBTimes
US: Key Arab ally no longer flying airstrikes over Syria -- AP
United Arab Emirates suspends airstrikes against Islamic State, asks U.S. for better rescue plans -- Washington Times
Pentagon Claims UAE Conducting Airstrikes in Syria Despite Denials -- Weekly Standard
Concern Over Iranian Influence Cited as a Key Reason for UAE’s Suspension of Anti-ISIS Operations -- The Tower
Pilots weigh in on UAE suspending airstrikes against IS -- Military Times

Jordan's King Abdullah II Quotes Clint Eastwood: 'I'm Going To Kill His Wife And All His Friends And Burn His Damn House Down'

REVENGE: 'Any son of a bitch takes a shot at me, I'm not only going to kill him, I'm going to kill his wife and all his friends and burn his damn house down,' Clint Eastwood says in 'Unforgiven,' and the King of Jordan quoted him Tuesday in response to ISIS

Daily Mail: 'I'm going to kill his wife and all his friends and burn his damn house down': King of Jordan quotes Clint Eastwood as he addresses US lawmakers

* Jordan's King Abdullah II quoted film character saying 'I'm not only going to kill him, I'm going to kill his wife and all his friends and burn his damn house down'
* Abdullah told members of Congress how his only problem would be running out of fuel and bullets
* 'He said there is going to be retribution like ISIS hasn't seen,' one congressman said
* The king was in Washington for meetings with members of Congress
* When video emerged showing the brutal execution of Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kassasbeh, he was brought to the White House for a last-minute meeting
* Obama administration has announced a new $1 billion aid package to Jordan

WNU Editor: I can hear it now in Washington and some European capitals .... Jordan's King should not have said that. What's my take .... if he said it I am glad that he did.

More News On Jordan King Abdullah II Quoting Clint Eastwood

Jordan king cites Clint Eastwood film as model for Islamic State fight -- CSM
Angry King Abdullah of Jordan quotes Clint Eastwood to U.S. lawmakers -- Washington Times
After ISIS execution, angry King Abdullah quotes Clint Eastwood to U.S. lawmakers -- Washington Examiner
King Abdullah Vows to Go Full Clint Eastwood on ISIS -- PJ Media

Islamic State Continues Their Retreat From Kobane

Reuters: Syrian Kurds push back Islamic State around Kobani: monitor, Kurds

WNU Editor: The Kurds may have been successful in Kobane .... but they are having problems elsewhere .... Kurdish fighters in Iraq struggle to hold gains against ISIS (FOX News/AP).

The above BBC video looks at the aftermath on the battle for Kobane.

Is The Islamic State Losing The War?

Members of the Islamic State group have admitted for the first time that they were defeated in the Syrian town of Kobane

Peter Bergen and Emily Schneider, CNN: Is U.S. coalition winning war vs. ISIS?

WNU Editor: According to Peter Bergen and Emily Schneider the campaign against the Islamic State has succeeded but only to a modest degree, and that "the introduction of American forward air controllers to call in precise U.S. airstrikes and of U.S. Special Forces embedded with Iraqi units on the front lines will ultimately be necessary if the goal of American policy is to defeat ISIS, rather than simply playing for a draw with the group, which is, de facto, the current Obama administration policy".

As to what is my take .... I am not even optimistic that even such a U.S. combat presence would make a difference in the long run. Iraq's sectarian split is now complete, and even if the Islamic State is defeated, Iraq will be facing and enduring a terrorist campaign that will probably last for years. In the meantime .... the U.S. coalition airstrikes continue.

Islamic State Militants Admit For The First Time That They Have Lost Kobane

The failure to capture Kobane was a major blow to the extremists, whose hopes for an easy victory turned into a costly siege under airstrikes by coalition forces and an assault by Kurdish militiamen

Radio Free Europe: U.S. General Says Kobani Taken From IS Militants

More News On Islamic State Militants Admitting For The First Time That They Have Lost Kobane

U.S. general says Syrian town of Kobani taken from Islamic State -- Reuters
Islamic State fighters admit defeat in Kobani -- AP
Islamic State Fighters Admit Kobani Defeat -- VOA
Islamic State fighters finally admit they WERE defeated in Kobane stand-off because of US-led airstrikes -- Daily Mail
Kurds retake Kobani as ISIS admits retreat -- RT
Islamic State admits defeat in Kobani; blames airstrikes -- USA Today
ISIS bodies line Kobani streets after Kurdish forces take control of destroyed city -- New York Daily News

Islamic State Launches Surprise Attack On The Northern Iraqi City Of Kirkuk

Reuters: Islamic State attacks Kurdish outposts across Iraq

WNU Editor: The reason why ISIS wants Kirkuk is explained here.

More News On The Islamic State Launching A Surprise Attack On The Northern Iraqi City Of Kirkuk

ISIS Launches Surprise Attack on Kirkuk, Killing Top Kurdish Commander -- New York Times
Battle with IS kills senior Kurdish general, 8 of his troops -- Washington Post/AP
Islamic State launches surprise attack on oil-rich Kirkuk -- UPI
ISIS launches attack on oil-rich northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk -- CNN
Top Kurdish Commander Killed as Islamic State Launches Surprise Offensive on Kirkuk -- Vice News
ISIL militants attack Kurdish forces near Kirkuk -- Euronews
Top Kurdish Commander Killed in Major IS Attack on Iraqi Oil-Producing City -- Sputnik
Islamic State Militants Launch Offensive Outside Kurdish-Controlled Kirkuk -- WSJ
Iraqi cities rocked by deadly attacks -- Al Jazeera
Iraq's Kirkuk has curfew imposed amid fierce fighting -- BBC

Mopping-Up Operations Continue Around Kobane

Wall Street Journal: Kurds Scour Kobani for Bombs and Bodies

Scene of Destruction Inflicted During 134-Day Siege

WNU Editor: The countryside outside of Kobane is Islamic State territory. Making forays into these regions is going to be difficult at best.

More News On Mopping-Up Operations Continuing Around Kobane

U.S. raids hit ISIS units in the countryside of Kobane -- ARA News
Syrian Kurds kill 22 jihadis -- Arab Times
Hopes of return muted in devastated Syrian Kurdish town -- Reuters
Despite Kobani's Liberation From ISIS, Many Syrians See Little To Celebrate -- Huffington Post
This is what Kobane looks like after Kurds drove out Islamic State -- Herald Sun

The Islamic State Has Set Up Their Own `Sniper Battalion`

The IS' Ninawa division published photos of fighters in its sniper battalion. pic.twitter.com/PDYQiDm5v2
— SITE Intel Group (@siteintelgroup) January 27, 2015

Daily Mail: Islamic State sniper: ISIS sets up sharp-shooter battalion inspired by infamous Iraqi killer who took out 40 Americans in Baghdad

* Islamic State reveals its own 'sniper battalion' on social media accounts
* Militants step up propaganda battle after American Sniper film released
* One unit is allegedly continuing the legacy of infamous 'Juba the Sniper' - and a similar sniper is featured as Chris Kyle's rival in hit film
* The Sunni insurgent reportedly killed 40 American soldiers in Baghdad
* ISIS snipers responsible for the deaths of both Kurdish and Iraqi fighters

Update: The Islamic State’s Dragunov sniper rifles, in photos -- Washington Post

WNU Editor: I have a bad feeling that they this "sniper battalion" have the men who can give the proper training .... Up to ten former French soldiers 'have defected to Islamic State (The Telegraph).

An Analysis On The Fallout From The Islamic State's Defeat At Kobane

Richard Hall, USA Today/Global Post: How the Islamic State was halted in Kobani

WNU Editor: The victory at Kobane is a symbolic victory .... but it is also a sign that the battle against the Islamic State will be long and bloody.

A Look At The Fallout From The Islamic State's Defeat At Kobane

A small victory in Syria is no reason to celebrate as the Islamic State gets stronger -- Washington Post editorial
IS suffers 'devastating' blows but biggest fighting still ahead -- AFP
Despite Losses in Kobane and Diyala, ISIS Looks to Expand Its Reach -- The Tower
ISIS Still Strong Despite Major Defeat in Kobani -- Time
Islamic State suffers setback in Kobane but battle continues -- Jim Muir, BBC
For ISIS, tough times as it seeks to regroup -- Tim Lister, CNN
US aims to exploit IS defeat in Kobane to deter foreign fighters -- Sydney Morning Herald
Isis has finally been defeated in Kobani — but what happens next? -- Ranj Alaaldin, The Independent
3 lessons in Islamic State’s retreat -- Noah Feldman, Bloomberg News

A Look At Kobane After Islamic State Forces Were Driven Out

Daily Mail: Flags that show Isis has gone: Fighters celebrate planting Syrian and Kurdish banners above Kobane after jihadis are driven out

* Local fighters marked victory by raising symbolic flags on the hill where Islamic State's black banner had flown
* Children return to the streets of Kobane after fanatical militants are driven out of their home town
* Kobane is in pieces following the four-month long battle against IS and constant air-strikes on militants' positions
* People's Protection Units, a Kurdish militia group, are now trawling through rubble to dismantle bombs left behind
* US Central Command believes 90 per cent of the war-ravaged town is now controlled by Kurdish fighters

WNU Editor: In the "Kobane war zone" expect the conflict to now shift into the regions around the town .... U.S. Says Air Strikes Pound Islamic State Targets Near Kobani (Radio Free Europe).

More News On Kobane After Islamic State Were Driven Out

Al Bawaba: Battle for Kobani: the aftermath
Syria crisis: Massive destruction revealed in Kobane after Kurds drive out Islamic State militants -- ABC News (Australia)
Taking control of Kobani from ISIS -- MSNBC
Unbeaten but in ruins: Kobane appeals for world help to rebuild -- The Australian/AFP
Kobane in ruins after Kurds drive out Islamist State -- Economic Times/AFP
Massive destruction in Kobani after Daesh exit -- Gulf News/AFP
Syria crisis: Pictures of Kobane's destruction (Photo gallery) -- BBC
Inside Kobani (Photo gallery) -- Reuters

After Four Months Of Heavy Fighting Kurdish Forces Have Defeated The Islamic State In Kobane

Reuters: Kurds push Islamic State out of Kobani after four-month battle

WNU Editor:The war will now shift elsewhere .... but this is a big and symbolic win for the Kurds.

More News On The Defeat Of Islamic State Forces In Kobane

Celebrations on Turkish border as Kurdish troops raise their flag in Kobane after driving out the Islamic State following four months of heavy fighting -- Daily Mail
Islamic State group pushed out of Syria's Kobani -- FOX News/AP
Monitor: Kurds Push IS Out of Kobani -- VOA
Kurdish Forces Declare Complete Victory in Kobani -- WSJ
Syrian Kurds 'drive Islamic State out of Kobane' -- BBC
Kurdish forces ‘drive ISIL out of Kobani’ in Syria -- Euronews
Kurds press offensive after driving IS group from Syria town -- AP
Battles continue outside Syria's Kobani after Kurds claim victory -- Reuters
Kurds Defeat ISIS in Four-Months-Long Battle for Kobane; Over 1,300 Fighters Dead -- CP World
The liberation of Kobane and other signs of trouble for the Islamic State -- Dan Murphy, CSM
Recapture of Kobani a huge symbolic victory over Daesh -- Gulf News editorial