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Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

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Hundreds of Sunni Muslim Arab Iraqi Civilians Killed in Al-Anbar by US-Iraqi Government Air Strikes, Ethnic Cleansing Continues in Villages

August 7, 2017 

Editor's Note:

The US-led coalition which fights the Islamic State in northern Iraq consists of US-led NATO forces, Iraqi Shi'i government forces, Iranian-backed Shi'i militias, and Kurdish Peshmerga forces. The coalition's continuous attacks have resulted in the killing of tens of thousands of Iraqi Sunni Muslim Arabs and the eviction of hundreds of thousands as a result of the destruction of their cities and villages.

Millions of Iraqi Sunni Muslim Arabs have left their cities and villages as the fighting intensified towards an all-attack by the US-led coalition on Mosul. The end outcome has been evicting (ethnic cleansing of) Sunni Muslim Arabs from the upper Euphrates region of northwestern Iraq and northeastern Syria.

The larger context for understanding the Iraq-Syrian wars is that these wars contribute to the implementation of the Zionist-Israeli plan of destroying the Arab Middle Eastern states in preparation for the establishment of the greater Israeli empire, from the Nile of Egypt to the Euphrates of Iraq.  

The following news stories from the official US and Iraqi websites do not mention any civilian casualties, as all reported deaths are claimed to be for ISIS members, who are killed in air strikes and bombardment on cities! Needless to say that independent sources are hard to find or report from. Thus, the following is a documentation of the death and destruction, as reported basically in such official website. Other independent reporting will be presented whenever available. One of these independent websites, which provides some reporting on Iraq is yaqein, whose stories are also posted here but in Arabic, with English headlnes.

 

For a background, read: 

Zionist Creative Destruction of the Middle East for the Benefit of the Apartheid Israeli Regime

 

 
Sunni Muslim Arab Iraqi families forced out of their villages in Al-Anbar province by Iraqi government Shi'i militias, August 6, 2017  

 

The following are news stories from the independent Iraqi Arabic news agency, Yaqein ( http://yaqein.net/ ):

***

Persecution of Sunni Muslim Arabs continues in Iraq since the 2003 US invasion

متى يتوقف العقاب الظالم لعرب العراق السنة

01 أغسطس 2017 | الكاتب:ماجد السامرائي  

لا بد من الإشارة إلى أن الدفاع عن حقوق المواطنة المسلوبة للعرب السنة في العراق وتبيان أوضاعهم المزرية منذ عام 2003 لا يعني موقفا طائفيا مناوئا للسلطة الحاكمة باسم الشيعة رغم إن السنة لم يحكموا العراق أو يشاركوا في حكمه تحت راية طائفتهم.

ولهذا الاعتبار وبعد كل ما جرى ضدهم لا يجوز إخراس صوت الحقيقة أو اتهام رافعيها بأنهم منحازون أو لهم أغراض تستهدف إزاحة الحكم، فليس من يؤشر على تلك الأوضاع من العراقيين أو منظمات الأمم المتحدة أو الدول الكبرى أو المنظمات إنسانية يُتهم “بالداعشية” أو “المؤامرة” فقد احترقت ورقة داعش، أو أنهم يريدون اختطاف الانتصار في الموصل.

http://yaqein.net/articles/50517

170 Sunni Muslim Arab Iraqis killed in Sharqat by US-Iraqi government air strikes

عشرات القتلى في قصف للقوات المشتركة على قضاء الشرقاط

06 أغسطس 2017  

قتل 170 شخصا ، اليوم الأحد ، في قصف جوي شنته الطائرات الحربية  التابعة للقوات المشتركة على قضاء الشرقاط التابع لمحافظة صلاح الدين .

وقال مصدر صحفي في تصريح له إن ” 170 شخصا  قتلوا بقصف شنه طيران الجيش في قضاء الشرقاط الواقع شمالي المحافظة”.

واوضح المصدر ان “طيران الجيش وجه، اليوم، ضربات استهدفت عدة مناطق في قضاء الشرقاط ما اسفر عن وقوع عشرات الجرحى ايضا وتدمير عدد كبير من منازل المدنيين”.

المصدر:وكالة يقين

http://yaqein.net/politics/51480  

Sunni Muslim Arab Iraqi families forced out of their villages in Al-Anbar province by Iraqi government Shi'i militias, August 6, 2017

ميليشيا الحشد ترحل عائلات من مناطق سجارية وجويبه وحصيبة والمضيق في الانبار

06 أغسطس 2017

تمارس ميليشيا الحشد الشعبي سياسة تعمل على احداث تغيير ديموغرافي في العديد من المناطق على خلفية طائفية وفي هذا الإطار أقدمت ميليشيا مسلحة تتبع مستشار ” رشيد فليح”، المسؤول في هيئة ميليشيا الحشد الشعبي على ترحيل عائلات من مناطق سجارية وجويبه وحصيبة والمضيق في الأنبار.

وقال مراسل وكالة يقين للأنباء في تصريح له إن “مجموعة مسلحة تابعة “لرافع عبد الكريم الفهداوي”،  مستشار المسؤول في هيئة الحشد الشعبي “رشيد فليح”، قامت بترحيل عوائل بذريعة أنهم مطلوبون للقضاء”.

وأضاف المراسل أن “أغلب العائلات المرحلة هم نساء وأطفال نزحو بعد تهجيرهم من مناطق (سجارية وجويبه وحصيبة والمضيق في الانبار)، الى الصحراء الغربية وفي ظروف انسانية صعبة للغاية.

المصدر:وكالة يقين

http://yaqein.net/politics/51419  

***

The following are news stories from a pro-Iraqi government website (http://www.iraqinews.com/), which usually reports those who are killed by Iraqi government attacks as Islamic State fighters, implying no civilians were killed by bombing residential neighborhoods:

***

Parliament to question PM Abadi on rumored Blackwater comeback

by Mohamed Mostafa Aug 7, 2017, 11:55 am

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) --

An Iraqi parliament committee will meet with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to inquire about the veracity of rumors about the return of notorious security company Blackwater for work in Iraq.

The parliament’s Security and Defense Committee said Monday it was going to seek more information about the activities of U.S. security companies operating in Iraq.

Committee member Niazi Meamaroglu told Almaalomah website that a meeting will be held with Abadi to inquire about the truthfulness of reports that the government had contracted Blackwater,  a private security company whose contractors opened fire at civilians in central Baghdad in 2007, leaving 14 dead, including women and children.

“So far, the government has not briefed us on the arrival of private security firms for securing the highway between Anbar and Jordan, and we only heard about it from some members,” said Meamaroglu.

Iraq dismissed Blackwater with a parliament vote after company agents opened fire at a convoy of civilian vehicles in Baghdad’s al-Mansour district in September 2007, killing and wounding 41 people.

A U.S. federal appeals court cancelled on Saturday life and 30-year prison sentences against four Blackwater members involved in the massacre, and ordered to reconsider the verdicts. The defendants had said in a trial session in 2014 that they had acted in self-defense, but no evidence emerged then that they were under a threat that required the shooting. They were found guilty of murder and attempted murder.

Last month, London-based The New Arab said Blackwater was returning to Iraq through Olive Group, an Emirati front for the notorious company. The Iraqi cabinet has yet to comment on the rumors, but the government is already negotiating with Jordan to reopen the vital Treibil border crossing, and plans to entrust its security to private foreign firms.

At least 170 Iraqis killed in army airstrikes, north of Salahuddin

by Nehal Mostafa Aug 6, 2017, 7:12 pm2 Comments

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) --

At least 170 Iraqis (alleged as Islamic State militants without any evidence) were killed in airstrikes launched by the Iraqi army jets in north of Salahuddin province, the Qatari QENA news agency reported.

In a statement on Sunday, the Iraqi Defense Ministry said more than 170 IS militants were killed, while several havens and vehicles were destroyed as Iraqi jets launched airstrikes at the military manufacturing region in Shirqat town, north of Salahuddin.

Earlier on Sunday, the media service of the pro-government al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) said security troops, along with the PMUs, attacked IS militants who were trying to infiltrate into north of Salahuddin.

The eastern coast of Shirqat, which lies on the west bank of the Tigris river in Salahuddin province, is still under the IS control, after liberating the western coast few months ago.

In September, Iraqi army said its forces recaptured the town, located south of Mosul, after being surrounded for months by Iraqi troops and the pro-government Shi’ite militias.

IS holds pivotal regions that link between each of Diyala, Salahuddin and Kirkuk, posing threats to the liberated regions. IS havens are expected to be targeted by the Iraqi government, after security achieved victory in Mosul, the group’s biggest stronghold in Iraq.

U.S. forces evacuate spies planted within IS from Mosul

by Mohamed Mostafa Aug 5, 2017, 4:53 pm2 Comments

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) --

United States forces have recently made an airdrop of troops to evacuate spies it had planted within Islamic State ranks from Mosul, a military source was quoted saying.

Lonon-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi quoted an unnamed Iraqi military source saying that U.S. forces, which had backed Iraqi government troops operations against IS militants, recently conducted an airdrop of troops west of al-Shura region, south of Mosul, to evacuate a number of informants planted within the extremist group’s ranks.

The same source added that the coalition’s warplanes carried out an airstrike three kilometers away from the scene of the evacuation operation, targeting an underground tunnel used by the group in Zalhafa village.

“Iraqi Forces received notices from the American forces saying they were heading to the scene of the strike to get DNA samples from the dead militants’ for analysis,” the source told the newspaper. It appeared that most of the leaders killed in the raid were former detainees by the United States between 2003 and 2011, the source revealed, adding that DNA tests identified one of them as Abu Yahia al-Iraqi, then the Islamic State’s “mayor of Mosul”.

There have been occasional reports of the Islamic State executing civilians, security agents and even its members for collaborating with security authorities.

US-led coalition air raid kills 15 Iraqis (alleged Islamic State militants) in Kirkuk

by Mohamed Mostafa Aug 5, 2017, 4:20 pm

Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) --

An airstrike by warplanes from the United States-led coalition killed 15 Iraqis (alleged Islamic State members) in Kirkuk on Saturday, a security source said.

The source told Dijlah TV that the strike targeted group locations in al-Dabas region, 55 Km northwest of the province.

Seven militants were also wounded in the raid, according to the source.

He said coalition jets escalated raids recently after the command had detected an increase in militants’ activity in al-Rashad and Daqouq regions, south of the province.

Islamic State has held a few havens in southwestern Kirkuk, most notably the town of Hawija, since 2014, when the group proclaimed an “Islamic caliphate” on a third of Iraq and Syria. The group had reportedly relocated commands of areas lost to security forces to Kirkuk, with some sources previously quoted saying it became the group’s new capital.

The Iraqi government declared victory over Islamic State militants in Mosul, the group’s former capital in Iraq, last month, and said it was going to proceed towards other group holdouts, including Kirkuk.

The group lost more than 25.000 members in military operations since their launch in October, according to Iraqi generals. A few thousands are thought to remain in Kirkuk, Anbar, Salahuddin and Tal Afar.

Armed conflicts in Iraq killed and wounded more than 500 during July, according to a monthly count by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI).

***

The following are news stories from the US Department of Defense website (http://www.defense.gov/News) :

***

US-Led Military Strikes Target ISIS Territories in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 6, 2017 —

U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting air strikes and engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 28 strikes consisting of 30 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, three strikes destroyed three ISIS wellheads, two oil storage tanks and a pumpjack.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike destroyed eight ISIS wellheads, a excavator, a crane and a vehicle.

-- Near Raqqa, 23 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed 19 fighting positions, five ISIS-held buildings, three improvised explosive device factories, an ISIS communications tower and a unmanned aerial system launch site.

-- Near Shadaddi, a strike destroyed three IED factories.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of nine engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Qaim, a strike destroyed an ISIS vehicle.

-- Near Rawah, a strike suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

-- Near Tal Afar, two strikes destroyed five ISIS tunnel entrances and a mortar system.

Aug. 4 Strikes

Additionally, 15 strikes consisting of 17 engagements were conducted in Syria and Iraq on Aug. 3 that closed within the last 24 hours.

-- Near Raqqa, Syria, 11 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed seven fighting positions, a staging area and a tunnel.

-- Near Shadaddi, Syria, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a command-and-control node.

-- Near Mosul, Iraq, a strike illuminated an area.

-- Near Rawah, Iraq, a strike suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

-- Near Tal Afar, Iraq, a strike destroyed three IEDs.

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 5, 2017

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted four strikes consisting of four engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed an ISIS headquarters.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike destroyed four ISIS oil stills.

-- Near Shadaddi, two strikes suppressed two ISIS mortar teams.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of seven engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Huwayjah, two strikes destroyed an ISIS-held building and an ISIS headquarters.

-- Near Kisik, a strike illuminated an area.

-- Near Rawah, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS-held building, a vehicle-borne bomb and a vehicle-borne-bomb storage facility.

-- Near Tal Afar, two strikes destroyed five VBIED facilities.

Aug. 3 Strikes

Additionally, 27 strikes consisting of 33 engagements were conducted in Syria and Iraq on Aug. 3 that closed within the last 24 hours.

-- Near Abu Kamal, Syria, a strike destroyed 11 ISIS oil stills.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike destroyed an ISIS financial headquarters.

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 4, 2017 —

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 16 strikes consisting of 19 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, three strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed five oil stills, two vehicles, and an improvised-bomb facility.

-- Near Shadaddi, a strike destroyed an ISIS weapon cache.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike destroyed a ISIS financial headquarters.

-- Near Raqqa, 11 strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, a mortar system, a vehicle, a vehicle-borne bomb and a supply route.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted five strikes consisting of seven engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Kirkuk, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.

-- Near Kisik, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a command-and-control node, a vehicle, an artillery system and a recoilless rifle.

-- Near Tal Afar, two strikes destroyed three ISIS fighting positions, an improvised-bomb facility and a weapons cache.

Other Recent Strikes

Officials also provided details today on 40 other recent strikes consisting of 48 engagements for which the information was unavailable in time to be included in previous reports.

-- On Aug. 1 near Raqqa, 17 strikes engaged 13 ISIS tactical units, destroyed two staging areas and an ISIS headquarters, and damaged a vehicle-borne-bomb factory.

-- On Aug. 2 near Abu Kamal, two strikes destroyed an ISIS improvised-bomb factory and two oil stills.

-- On Aug. 2 near Raqqa, 20 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions, two supply caches, a tactical vehicle, a tunnel, a vehicle-borne-bomb  factory and a command-and-control node.

-- On Aug. 2 near Kisik, a strike illuminated an area.

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 3, 2017 —

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 21 strikes consisting of 26 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, three strikes destroyed three ISIS oil storage tanks, three wellheads, an oil pump and a front-end loader.

-- Near Raqqa, 14 strikes engaged 10 ISIS tactical units and destroyed nine fighting positions, two vehicles, a supply cache, a vehicle-borne bomb, a mortar position, an ISIS unmanned aerial system site and a generator.

-- Near Shadaddi, four strikes destroyed two ISIS-held buildings, a staging area and a vehicle and damaged an ISIS headquarters.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of seven engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Huwayjah, a strike destroyed a vehicle-borne-bomb facility.

-- Near Qaim, a strike destroyed two ISIS-held buildings and a staging area.

-- Near Rawah, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle and a vehicle-borne-bomb facility.

-- Near Tal Afar, two strikes destroyed an ISIS headquarters, four tunnels, and two improvised explosive devices.

Aug. 1 Strikes

Additionally, 27 strikes consisting of 33 engagements were conducted in Syria and Iraq on Aug. 1 that closed within the last 24 hours.

-- Near Abu Kamal, Syria, a strike destroyed three ISIS oil separator tanks.

-- Near Shadaddi, Syria, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed two rocket sites, two ISIS-held buildings, and a command and control node.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, two strikes destroyed 16 ISIS oil stills and an oil tanker truck.

-- Near Raqqa, Syria, 17 strikes engaged 14 ISIS tactical units; destroyed eight fighting positions, two ammunition caches, and a vehicle-borne-bomb factory; and damaged a fighting position.

-- Near Kisik, Iraq, a strike illuminated an area.

-- Near Tal Afar, Iraq, a strike destroyed an improvised explosive device facility.

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 2, 2017 —

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted nine strikes consisting of 10 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed three ISIS wellheads.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike destroyed an ISIS oil refinery.

-- Near Raqqa, seven strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units and destroyed four fighting positions, two ISIS headquarters, an improvised explosive device, an ammunition cache and a fuel supply point.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted three strikes consisting of six engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Huwayjah, a strike destroyed a piece of ISIS engineering equipment and a front-end loader.

-- Near Rawah, a strike destroyed a vehicle-borne bomb.

-- Near Tal Afar, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed four front-end loaders, a supply cache and a command-and-control node.

Previous Strikes

Additionally, seven strikes consisting of 10 engagements were conducted in Syria and Iraq on July 30-31 that closed within the last 24 hours.

-- On July 30, near Raqqa, Syria, four strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units.

-- On July 31, near Raqqa, Syria, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units.

-- On July 31, near Kisik, Iraq, a strike illuminated an area.

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Aug. 1, 2017 —

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes consisting of 23 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes destroyed 13 ISIS oil stills, an oil storage barrel and an ISIS chemical weapons factory.

-- Near Raqqa, 16 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 14 fighting positions, a tactical vehicle, a mortar system and a vehicle-borne-bomb facility.

-- Near Shadaddi, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a command-and-control node and an ISIS-held building.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted nine strikes consisting of 12 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Huwayjah, three strikes destroyed two ISIS financial headquarters, three vehicle-borne-bomb factories and an explosives cache.

-- Near Mosul, a strike suppressed a mortar team.

-- Near Qaim, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two staging areas.

-- Near Rawah, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle-borne-bomb storage facility, a vehicle and a weapons storage facility.

-- Near Tal Afar, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed four fighting positions and two supply caches.

Previous Strikes

Additionally, five strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on July 29-30 that closed within the last 24 hours.

-- On July 29, near Raqqa, Syria, 10 strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed three command-and-control nodes, a storage facility and a fighting position; and damaged nine fighting positions.

-- On July 30, near Huwayjah, Iraq, a strike destroyed a vehicle-borne-bomb factory.

-- On July 30, near Shadaddi, Syria, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed six vehicle-borne bombs, four ISIS-held buildings and a command-and-control node.

SOUTHWEST ASIA, July 31, 2017 —

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 16 strikes consisting of 17 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS-held building.

-- Near Raqqa, 14 strikes engaged 12 ISIS tactical units; destroyed nine fighting positions, three supply caches, two ISIS-held buildings, a vehicle, a tunnel and a command-and-control node; and suppressed a fighting position.

-- Near Shadaddi, a strike destroyed an ISIS vehicle.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted seven strikes consisting of 10 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Huwayjah, two strikes destroyed an ISIS oil refinement still and a front-end loader and suppressed a front-end loader.

-- Near Beiji, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.

-- Near Kisik, a strike engaged an ISIS mortar team and damaged two command-and-control nodes and two ISIS-held buildings.

-- Near Qaim, a strike destroyed an ISIS vehicle.

-- Near Rawah, a strike destroyed an ISIS-held building and a tactical vehicle.

-- Near Tal Afar, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.

July 29 Strikes

Additionally, five strikes were conducted in Syria and Iraq on July 29 that closed within the last 24 hours.

-- Near Qaim, Iraq, a strike destroyed an ISIS headquarters.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, Syria, a strike destroyed five ISIS oil refinement stills.

-- Near Kisik, Iraq, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit.

-- Near Rawah, Iraq, a strike destroyed a command-and-control node.

***

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