Iraq. Whereas the battle in Mosulcontinues, ISIS
has controlled a highway between Iraq and Jordan, planting landmines
and explosives. In Anbar province ISIS still controls areas and is able
to carry out attacks. On 26th Iraqi paramilitary forces have captured Hatra,
a 2,000-year-old historical site near the northern city of Mosul, where
U.S.-backed forces have been battling ISIS for months. A key actor in
the fight against ISIS is the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)—over 60,000 Shia fighters who stepped in to secure Iraq after state forces collapsed in 2014.
Turkey. On 25th Turkish warplanes struck Kurdish militant
positions in Iraq and Syria in an operation meant to disrupt the
rebels’ supply lines and prevent them from infiltrating Turkey. The
airstrikes were Turkey’s first in Syria since it ended a land incursion
against Kurdish militants and Islamic State there in March. The military
said the attacks centered on Mount Sinjar in Iraq and Mount Karakoc in
Syria, south of Turkey’s shared borders with both countries. Although
the United States and Russia were informed of the attack, it caused
concerns in Washington because it was not coordinated and caused victims
among partner forces. Moreover, Turkey is worried about the
collaboration between Russian and American forces with Kurds
Syria. The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) penetrated ISIS’s bastion of Tabqa in northern Syria on 24th, overrunning territory in the town’s south. The SDF entered Tabqa for the first time after besieging it from all sides. On 27th Israeli air strikes
have hit an arms depot operated by the Lebanese Hezbollah group near
Damascus airport. Israeli Intelligence Minister Israel Katz confirmed
the attack saying that it “corresponds completely with Israel’s policy
to act to prevent Iran’s smuggling of advanced weapons via Syria to
Hezbollah”. A similar operation was carried out on January 13 when
Israel targeted the Mezze military airbase.
Russia. A Russian navy spy ship sank on 27th
in the Black Sea off the coast of Turkey after hitting another vessel,
but coastguards rescued all of its crew. The Liman was a former research
ship re-fitted as an intelligence vessel. Turkish media said the area
where the ships collided was shrouded in thick fog at the time,
suggesting that the incident was accidental. The Lima has taken part in
Russian operation in Syria and in monitoring NATO forces in the area.
Tunisia. The southeastern Tataouine province on 27th was paralyses by a general strike
held in response to perceived government foot-dragging in providing
residents with job opportunities. This is not the first of such protests
in the province and in the country due to high rate of unemployment.
Egypt. On 28th Pope Francis visited Egypt.
The visit happened in a volatile situation due to two bloody attacks
that killed scores of Egyptian Christian Coptic two weeks ago. However,
the visit is seen as an opportunity to promote better relations between Christians and Muslims.
