Saturday 12 July 2014

Iraq civil war - update- 07/11/2014

Kurdistan Seizes Two Oil Fields Near Kirkuk

Iraq Oil Ministry Fumes Over Latest Takeovers






12 July, 2014

Peshmerga forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) moved into the production facilities of two major oil fields near Kirkuk today, seizing control of the sites as part of their continuing takeover of the region.

Combined, the oil fields produce 195,000 barrels of oil per day. The KRG says the move was aimed at preventing any attempts by the Iraqi Oil Ministry to “sabotage” the fields or the adjoining pipeline, which goes through Kurdistan into Turkey, and is expected to be the primary source of revenue for an independent Kurdish state.

The Oil Ministry issued a furious statement accusing the Kurds of expelling all Arab workers, and encroaching on “the national wealth.” The KRG insisted no workers were ousted at all, but rather that the Peshmerga took de facto control over the sites.

The central government and the KRG are in a major political battle over a number of issues, but most prominently the fate of Kirkuk. The KRG is also complaining that the Oil Ministry has stopped all payments of oil revenue shares to them, violating a profit-sharing agreement in the Iraqi constitution.

The KRG has been making efforts to sell oil abroad on its own in the absence of the revenue sharing, though so far legal threats from the Maliki government has scared off most potential customers. One Kurdish tanker successfully transferred oil to an Israeli port, part of a deal for an as-yet-unknown customer.


Maliki Replaces Kurd FM as Relations Disintegrate

12 July, 2014


Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, today announced he is replacing long-time Foreign Minister Heshyar Zebari, a top Kurdish politician. He has named State of Law MP Hussain al-Shahristani as acting FM.

As tensions between Maliki and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) continue to rise, the Kurdish members of his outgoing government have been boycotting cabinet meetings, meaning cabinet meetings have no trade or health ministers, nor a president.

The Kurds announced the boycott earlier this week, after Maliki accused them of providing aid to ISIS, and of allowing ISIS to use Arbil, the Kurdish capital, as a base of operations.

There is no evidence of any of Maliki’s claims, which seem farfetched given the substantial US presence in Arbil. Rather it seems likely Maliki is making allegations because of tensions over the KRG seizing several disputed cities in recent weeks, including oil-rich Kirkuk.

The KRG is also openly talking about having a referendum on outright secession from Iraq, so Maliki seems to be gambling that he can hurt the changes of such a vote by portraying the Kurds as pro-terrorist.

So far, it’s only meant growing acrimony between the two sides, and today’s replacement of Zebari, a lame-duck FM at any rate, is likely to convince the Kurds that they won’t get much out of a new power-sharing deal, and are better off on their own.


July 11th Iraq SITREP: Tug of War



11 July, 2014


I would like to thank the Saker for allowing these Iraq SITREPs. As I've stated before they are a compilation or summary of Iraqi news. If anybody finds anything missing or amiss please point it out and it will be added/corrected in the next days SITREP.

10th July: Kurdish officials declare that they will boycott parliament after Maliki accused them of harbouring terrorists. Massoud Barzani referred to Maliki as having become "hysterical" and that he needed to step down.

10th July: State of the Law Coalition (SLC) the biggest partner in the Shia National Alliance (NA) has accused other members of the alliance of putting forward names of alternate candidates for the post of Prime Minister. SLC states that it is backing Maliki alone.

10th July: Kurdish politicians claim that the Baghdad government has blocked transport flights to Iraqi Kurdistan. The Iraqi Transport Ministed, Hadi Al Amiri, “This is baseless and lies; no decision about stopping any flights to these two airports has been made."

10th July: Daash/rebel fighters fire mortars into a village in Northern Baqouba killing 5 civilians and injuring 8. The mortars were fired after militants were driven out from the village by Security Forces and tribal fighters.

11th July: Peshmerga forces have taken over two oil fields in the north of Iraq: the Bai Hassan and Kirkuk oil fields. The combined oil production of these two fields is 400000 bpd. The Iraqi government stated that it expected the Kurds to help fight Daash and not grab oil fields.

11th July: Two new malls costing 100 million USD each are being built in the Kurdish city of Suleimani. The malls have seen 60% occupancy already with Kurds, Turkish nationals, Iranians, and Europeans investing in them.

11th July: An Iranian delegation in Iraqi Kurdistan is asking the Kurds to open up an offensive against the DI of Daash. The Kurds have so far politely declined the Iranian invitation to fight. The Iranians also met with Sunni politicians from Northern Iraq; the Sunnis asked Iran to urge government forces from advancing on the north.

11th July: Clashes between Security. Personnel and Rebel/Daash fighters have been reported in Ramadi, Anbar province, 110 km west of the capital Baghdad. Rebels/Daash fighters have taken over parts of the city and a police station as well. Eleven police personnel are reported killed while fighting the rebels and 24 are injured. The rebels destroyed one police station in addition to the one they seized.

11th July: The Iraqi army has repulsed an attack north of Samarra with the help of allied militias and the airforce.

11th July: Two pro government militia members are killed and five injured in clashes with Rebel/Daash fighters in Northern Hilla, south of Baghdad.

11th July: Daash/Rebel fighters kill three civilians and display their bodies on the road in Northern Tikrit

11th July: Daash/rebel fighters kill three civilians kill three civilians north east of Baqouba by firing on the vehicle they were travelling in.

11th July: Daash/rebel fighters loot and then destroy 200 homes in Azwija village, north of Tikrit

11th July: Atta's/government claims for the day:

  • 6 rebel fighters are killed and two vehicles destroyed near Baiji refinery
  • Unspecified number of rebels killed and three vehicles destroyed in air raids on Baiji
  • Security forces kill 10 Daash fighters in norther Hilla when raiding the home of a suspected militant
  • Anti terrorism forces have arrested five foreign fighters from Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and Egypt in Northern Babel 

Related: 

11th July: 1000 strong rebel Dawud Brigade has pledged allegiance to the DI of Daash in Syria. 

11th July: Two rockets are fired by pro Palestinian groups from Lebanon into Israel. Israel responds with artillery strikes on "suspicious" (code for anything not Hezbollah) positions. The Lebanese army locates a rocket launch site and disables rockets pointed at Israel.

11th July: Morocco, the land of Milk and a lot of "Honey" for Saudi Rulers, has declared an alert for returning Jihadist fighters from fronts in Syria and Iraq. Suspected Moroccan Jihadist referring "reverently" to his king, ""We will bring this back to you in the kingdom of Mohammed VI." 

11th July: Turkey restarts the peace process with Kurdish separatist groups in the East. It is seen as a move by Erdogan to guarantee votes in upcoming elections.
11th July: Sunni militant groups have started to appear in Beirut. Authorities in Lebanon are being more vigilant in the face of increased cases of car and suicide bombings mainly targeting the Shia.

11th July: Hezbollah in Lebanon is on a heightened state of alert. Israel's air raids on Gaza, Daash threats of Suicide bomb attacks, and the conflicts in Syria and Iraq is keeping the organisation on its toes.

11th July: Syrian refugee women are facing increased cases of sexual abuse, depression, and suicidal tendencies. As a coping mechanism most Syrian women are marrying early, and not having access to sex education, contributing to a higher birth rate. 

Unrelated Short Analysis:

Islam requires its followers to be obedient to the state they live in. As long as the state does not infringe on their individual religious freedoms. An example I've stated before is Marjas asking Shias not to slaughter cows in India, I believe there is a similar Salafi Fatwa; since cows are sacred to Hindus. 

A state that does not allow for mosques to be built or public processions is acceptable/tolerable. But a state that is forcing Muslims not to Fast in Ramadan is pushing it too far. China should know what needs controlling (content being taught at Religious schools) and what needs encouragement or empathy (fasting). 



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