Islamic State War News Updates -- March 22, 2015

IBTimes: ISIS Battle: Islamic State No Longer 'On The March' In Iraq and Syria, CIA Director Says

The Islamic State group is no longer “on the march,” said CIA Director John Brennan, who argued Sunday the militant organization’s momentum in Iraq and Syria had been blunted by U.S. and Iraqi efforts at fighting the jihadist advance.

"Clearly ISIS's momentum inside of Iraq and Syria has been blunted, and it has been stopped. So they are not on the march as they were several months ago," Brennan said in an interview on "Fox News Sunday." "Our working with the Iraqis, and now the Iraqis trying to push back against it, it is having some great progress."

Islamic State War News Updates -- March 22, 2015

CIA'S Brennan: Islamic State's momentum blunted in Syria, Iraq -- Reuters
CIA Director Brennan: Islamic State is ‘ideology of violence,’ not of Muslim faith -- Washington Times
CIA Chief Speaks of Lengthy Effort to Repel Islamic State -- WSJ
ISIS momentum has been 'blunted,' CIA director says -- The Hill
Islamic State hit by U.S., allies in nine air strikes: statement -- Reuters
Carl Vinson Continues Airstrikes Against ISIS in Iraq, Syria -- Times of San Diego
Gen. Allen: Iran's Involvement Complicates Anti-ISIS Effort -- NPR
Anti-ISIS Fighters Terrorize, Drive Out Iraqi Civilians: Witnesses -- NBC
Isis destroys historic Christian and Muslim shrines in northern Iraq -- The Guardian
U.S. fears Islamic State is making serious inroads in Libya -- Reuters
ISIS capitalizes on Libya security vacuum, establishes ‘legitimate foothold’ – State Dept. -- RT
U.K. to Help Train Syrian Opposition Against ISIS; Stops Short of Airstrikes -- WSJ
Al Qaeda-Islamic State Rivalry Worsens Threat, de Kerchove Says -- Bloomberg
Al Qaeda in Fierce Competition With Islamic State, EU Official Says -- WSJ
Nine British medics enter Isis stronghold to work in hospitals -- The Guardian
Nine British medics feared to have crossed into Syria -- BBC
From Minneapolis to ISIS: An American’s Path to Jihad -- New York Times
Australia a Puzzling Hotbed of Islamic State Recruiting -- AP
Islamic State calls on backers to kill 100 U.S. military personnel -- Reuters
US urges vigilance after 'IS online threat' to military -- BBC
Poll: Americans increasingly concerned about ISIS -- CNN
Islamic State Uses App to Broadcast Message -- VOA
Where Are Pro-Islamic State Tweets Coming From? Read the Top 10 List — and Prepare to Be Shocked by No. 4 and No. 10. -- The Blaze
Three Steps To Destroy ISIS on Twitter -- Defense One
Islamic State Poses Grave New Threats to Middle East -- Sputnik
An explosive IS expansion into North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula -- i24 News
The Islamic State isn’t actually much of a threat to the United States -- Paul Waldman, Washington Post

The Islamic State War -- News Updates March 20, 2015

The Economist: The war against Islamic State

The caliphate cracks

Though Islamic State is still spreading terror, its weaknesses are becoming apparent

WHEN the jihadists of Islamic State (IS) seized Mosul and the Iraqi army fled last June, they became the world’s most dangerous terrorist organisation. Sweeping out of Syria and north-western Iraq, they stormed southward, and came close to taking Baghdad. They murdered male prisoners in gory videos and enslaved female ones. Groups from Nigeria to Libya and Afghanistan pledged allegiance to them. Devotees attacked innocent civilians in Western cities; this week at least 19 people were killed in an assault on tourists in Tunisia (though the culprits are unknown). The IS threat has pushed together unlikely allies: in Iraq America provides the air power while Iran musters the ground forces.

The Islamic State War -- News Updates March 20, 2015

Yemen Division of Islamic State Claims Suicide Bomb Attacks That Killed Scores -- WSJ
Yemen's Islamic State affiliate claims Sanaa attacks -- AP
Islamic State claims suicide attacks in Sana’a mosques -- Long War Journal
142 dead in Yemen mosque bombings claimed by Islamic State -- Straits Times
White House disputes Islamic State claims for suicide attacks on Yemeni mosques -- AP

Islamic State video purports to show Kurdish peshmerga beheadings -- Reuters
Islamic State video appears to show beheadings of 3 Kurdish fighters -- L.A. Times
ISIS behead three Peshmerga soldiers as a warning to their sworn enemies on Kurdish New Year -- Daily Mail

Car bombs kill 20 at Syrian Kurdish new year celebration -- Reuters
Suicide bomber kills 20 at Syria Kurdish festival -- AFP

‘Islamic State’ Claims Responsibility for Tunisia Attack -- VOA
White House says attacks in Tunisia are 'consistent' with Islamic State violence -- Reuters
Islamic State Find Allies Among Tunisia Militants -- AP

Islamic State Rises in Libya -- Washington Free Beacon
Libya Army chief warns IS will spread to Europe -- AP
Libya ISIS Crisis: 45,000 Egyptian Immigrants Flee Over Islamic State Threat, Political Turmoil -- IBTimes

More and More Killer Drones Take Aim at Islamic State‘s Bosses -- War Is Boring
U.S., allies launch eight airstrikes against Islamic State: task force -- Reuters
Attacks on Islamic State in Syrian Town Show Mounting Resistance -- Bloomberg
Islamic State Propaganda Video Showing ‘Army of Hardness’ Doing Drills Also Captures Major Goof -- The Blaze
Iraq drops hundreds of thousands of leaflets on Mosul promising liberation -- Washington Post

UN: Islamic State may have committed genocide against Yazidis in Iraq -- The Guardian
Islamic State group may be guilty of genocide, UN says -- France 24
UN: Islamic State suspected of genocide, war crimes against Yazidis -- Deutsche Welle
Islamic State suspected of genocide against Yazidis, says UN -- CSM

New global grouping meets to counter Islamic State finances -- Reuters
Italy hosts meeting to combat Islamic State group financing -- AP
New International Group Aims to Stop Islamic State Financing -- WSJ

EU, Balkan states move to stem flow of fighters joining jihad -- Irish Times
‘Perfect Storm’ for British Teenagers Lured by Islamic State -- Newsweek
Why US veterans are heading off to fight the Islamic State on their own -- Anna Mulrine

New Islamic State weapon: chlorine gas -- Military Times
Did ISIS use chlorine gas? -- Middle East Monitor

Sustaining a caliphate turns out to be much harder than declaring one. But Islamic State is not dead yet -- The Economist
Life under Isis: As long as its enemies remain divided the militants will not be defeated -- Patrick Cockburn, The Independent

The Battle For Tikrit -- March 16, 2015

New York Times: ISIS Maintains Hold in Tikrit as Iraq Pauses Offensive

BAGHDAD — Islamic State militants on Monday continued to hold parts of the city of Tikrit against a much larger pro-government force after two weeks of battle, as Iraqi officials said they were pausing their offensive to call for reinforcements and to preserve property and civilian lives.

The slowing of the operation came amid reports that the tomb of Saddam Hussein in the nearby village of Awja, a politically and emotionally charged symbol for all sides, had been destroyed in the recent fighting. Its roof appeared to have collapsed, with rubble strewn around the area, footage from The Associated Press showed.

WNU Editor: So the excuse that they are now using to delay their offensive to retake Tikrit is because of civilians. My prediction .... they will be blaming the weather in the next few days on why they are not making progress. But the real reason why the offensive is being delayed is simple .... the Islamic State are dug in deep, and the Iraqi military/Shiite militias are not ready to accept high casualties.

The Battle For Tikrit News Updates -- March 16, 2015

Iraqi forces struggle to retake Tikrit from IS group -- France 24
Iraqi forces halt Tikrit offensive to allow residents to leave -- USA Today
Tikrit Offensive On Hold So Civilians Can Flee -- SKY News
Iraqi offensive on hold to allow Tikrit civilians to leave -- Rudaw/AP
Shiite militiamen find mass graves in village near Tikrit -- CT
Kurds report more chlorine attacks, Iraq pauses Tikrit offensive -- Reuters
Saddam Hussein's Tomb Leveled in Tikrit as Iraqi Forces Fight ISIS -- NBC
Saddam Hussein's tomb destroyed as battle for Tikrit rages -- The Guardian
Is winning in Tikrit really the key for Iraq retaking Mosul? -- Dan Murphy, CSM
Iraqi Tikrit offensive stalls -- Rick Moran, American Thinker

Islamic State Vows To ‘Blow Up The White House, Big Ben And The Eiffel Tower’

Big Ben in London, the White House in Washington, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris are all on ISIS's hit list. National Post

Ynet News: ISIS spokesperson: We want Paris and Jerusalem

In new recording, Abu Mohammad al-Adnani rejects claims group suffering setbacks, vows attacks on White House, Big Ben, and Eiffel Tower.

A spokesperson for the Islamic State militants released a recording claiming the group was not deterred by reports that its forces were forced out of the Iraqi city of Tikrit.

"The Islamic State will remain, and it is only getting stronger and achieving more victories," said Abu Mohammad al-Adnani in the recording. He claimed that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi accepted the oath of allegiance by his Boko Haram counterpart and called on Muslims to immigrate to the area.

Update #1: ISIS wants to ‘blow up’ White House, Big Ben and Eiffel Tower, spokesman says in audio message -- National Post
Update #2: ISIS Vows To ‘Blow Up The White House, Big Ben And The Eiffel Tower’ -- CBS

WNU Editor: Big Ben ?!?!?!

Islamic State Is Losing Territory In Iraq

L.A. Times: Islamic State suffers serious reversals in northern Iraq

Peering from his trench on a ridgeline fortified with sandbags, the Kurdish commander gazed toward an Islamic State-held village next to a swath of territory recently seized from the extremist forces. Smoke wafted into the sky from natural gas burning off a well in a broad basin known as Wadi al Naft, or Valley of Oil, west of Kirkuk, Iraq's strategic northern energy hub.

"Daesh is weaker now, no doubt," said Hussein Yazdanpana, who heads an Iranian-Kurdish front-line unit, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State. "We've heard that many of their fighters are running away," said the militiaman, who incongruously wore an American flag pocket patch — a gift from "Jack," one of the U.S. military advisors here.

Update: ISIS Has Lost 25 Percent of Territory It Once Held in Iraq, US Says (AP)

WNU Editor: For the past few months I have been hearing the same story .... the Islamic State is losing ground, men, and influence .... but for some reason they always seem to rise from the ashes and surprise us with a new offensive. What is my take on the eventual outcome .... this is going to be a very long war .... and there is now a real possibility that parts of Iraq and Syria are going to be ungovernable by any central authority for decades .... in short .... territory that the Islamic State will probably always control.

Iraq's Offensive Against Tikrit Is Stalled For A Third Day

Reuters: Iraqi offensive on Tikrit stalled for third day

(Reuters) - Islamic State fighters traded sniper fire and mortar rounds with Iraqi troops and allied Shi'ite militia forces on Sunday in the city of Tikrit but no major advances were made by either side, a military official who returned from the front said.

The nearly two-week-old operation to win back the city from the radical Islamist militants occupying large parts of the country's north and west been stalled since Friday, when security officials said Iraqi forces and their militia allies would wait for reinforcements before moving forward.

WNU Editor: It appears that the Iraqi military needs air support in their fight for Tikrit .... Iraq army says coalition strikes on Tikrit needed (AFP). So much for yesterday's Iraqi claim that Tikrit would be liberated in three days .... Iraqi forces to take Tikrit 'within days' (SKY News).

More News On The Battle For Tikrit

Iraqi official: coalition airstrikes needed in Tikrit -- Al Jazeera
Iraqi Security Forces Plan to Free Tikrit From Islamic State in Days -- Sputnik
Final Tikrit assault looms as Iraq commanders plot ‘strategy’ -- Middle East Online
In Iraq's Tikrit, tensions flare over footage of death of an unknown soldier -- CNN
Iraqi Sunni preacher calls for end to Shia revenge attacks in Tikrit -- The Guardian
Battle for Tikrit: What happens if Iraqi forces retake city from ISIS? -- PBS
Civilians face fresh disaster if Iraqi forces push on north once Tikrit falls -- The Guardian
Tikrit Isn’t the Victory America Was Hoping For -- Joshua Keating, Slate

The Battle To Retake Tikrit From The Islamic State Has Been Stalled

Reuters: Iraqi offensive on Tikrit on hold for second day

(Reuters) - Iraqi forces and mainly Shi'ite militia battling to wrest full control of the city of Tikrit from Islamic State militants paused their offensive for a second day on Saturday as they awaited reinforcements.

A source in the local military command center told Reuters military commanders had "reached a decision to halt the operation until a suitable, carefully set plan is in place" to break into central Tikrit.

The source, speaking by phone from near Tikrit, said the Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias known as Hashid Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) were waiting for reinforcements from "well-trained forces". He did not give a timeline for the arrival of the reinforcements.

WNU Editor: Iraqi officials were boasting this past Monday that they had seized the center of the city and they were on the verge of taking the rest of the city .... now we know that these claims were not only completely wrong, but the offensive itself has been stalled with the excuse that they are waiting for reinforcements. That is why I am skeptical of new Iraqi claims that Tikrit will be liberated within 72 hours .... it took U.S forces a long time to conquer this territory, and they had better intelligence, firepower, and the equipment to do so .... I doubt that a few thousand Iraqi soldiers with Shiite militias backed by Iran would accomplish the same goal in a shorter time. My prediction .... the Islamic State will eventually be defeated in this battle .... the question that remains is .... how long will it take and how much of Tikrit will be destroyed when the fighting is finally over.

More News On The Battle For Tikrit

Iraqi offensive to dislodge ISIS from Tikrit appears to stall -- Asharq Al-Awsat
Iraq remains steadfast as Tikrit battle reportedly stalls -- CCTV
Report: Iraqi forces hope to take Tikrit within 72 hours -- USA Today
Iraqi forces to recapture Tikrit 'within 72 hours' -- Al Jazeera
Iraqi forces ’72 hours’ away from centre of ISIL-held Tikrit -- Euronews
Iraqi forces vow to liberate Tikrit within 72 hours -- Al Arabiya/AFP
Battle For Tikrit: Shia Militia Leader Claims City Would Be 'Liberated' In 3 Days -- IBTimes
Iraqi forces 'hope to take Tikrit from IS in a week' -- BBC
Analysis: The Battle for Tikrit Intensifies -- Stratfor

The Battle For The Iraqi Province Of Anbar Is Intensifying

NBC: 40 Iraqi Soldiers Die After ISIS Plants 300 IEDs Under Anbar Army HQ

BAGHDAD — More than 40 Iraqi soldiers were killed after ISIS militants dug a mile-long tunnel under a local army headquarters and planted around 300 explosives under the base, a top regional official told NBC News Friday. The IEDs caused a "huge" explosion at the site in Iraq's Anbar province on Thursday morning, chairman of the region's governing council Sabah Karhoot said via telephone.

The building also sustained considerable damage, he added. "ISIS militants needed a long time to dig this tunnel," Karhoot said. "ISIS militants were digging and planting IEDs under an HQ of an Iraqi army while the security forces knew nothing about it."

WNU Editor: The above video is a sobre analysis on how dangerous the war has become against the Islamic State in Iraq.

More News On The War In Iraq's Anbar Province

ISIS blows up Iraqi army HQ in battle for Ramadi -- CNN
Iraq troops killed in Anbar blast, U.S. says wasn't coalition strike -- Reuters
Sunni Tribes And Iraqi Military Score Victories Against ISIS In Anbar With 'Tunnel Warfare' -- IBTimes
Major Iraqi Military Operation Against IS In Anbar Expected -- Radio Free Europe
IS 'Trying To Negotiate Retreat' With Tribes In Iraq's Anbar Province -- Radio Free Europe
ISIS Caught in Vise As Battle For Iraq Rages -- NBC

Iraq's Offensive Into Tikrit Is Stalling Due To Islamic State Resistance

Reuters: Iraqi offensive to dislodge Islamic State from Tikrit appears to stall

(Reuters) - The offensive to retake Tikrit appeared to stall on Friday, two days after Iraqi security forces and mainly Shi'ite militia pushed into Saddam Hussein's home city in their biggest offensive yet against the militants.

A source in the Salahuddin Operations Command said Iraqi forces would not move forward until reinforcements reached Tikrit, of which Islamic State still holds around half.

Using guerrilla warfare tactics, the militants have turned the city into a labyrinth of home-made bombs and booby-trapped buildings, and are using snipers to halt their progress.

WNU Editor: It appears that this is not going to be the quick victory that Iraqi and Iranian officials were hoping for.

More News On The Battle For Tikrit

Islamic State conflict: Iraqi forces 'push into Tikrit' -- BBC
Iraqi forces push toward center of city held by ISIS -- CBS News
Iraqi forces, Shiite militias in final push to retake Tikrit -- France 24
Last Stand For IS Fighters In Tikrit Battle -- SKY News
'Islamic State' prepares for last stand in Tikrit -- Deutsche Welle
U.S. watching Tikrit blazes with concern as Iraqi fighters advance -- Reuters
Tikrit offensive vital in reversing Islamic State gains in Iraq and Syria, analysts say -- Washington Times
A Balancing Act as Iraq Claims Gains in Tikrit -- Tikrit
Shiite ‘Soldiers of God’ Color Tikrit Battle -- WSJ
As Battle in Iraq Against ISIS Broadens, So Do Backstage Moves -- Anne Barnard, WSJ

Why The Battle For Tikrit Is Important

Adam J. Tiffen, Task & Purpose: The Outcome Of The Ongoing Battle For Tikrit Could Be A Gamechanger In Iraq

A victory in Tikrit for the Iraqi army and Shiite militiamen could be a huge step in defeating not only ISIS’ military prowess, but its guiding vision as well.

The battle for the Iraqi city of Tikrit is underway after more than a week of fighting between Iraqi army soldiers and Shiite militias against ISIS militants. Over 30,000 soldiers and militiamen backed by jets and helicopters launched a much-anticipated offensive against the ISIS forces currently in control of the city.

For many, the city of Tikrit has special significance, being the birthplace of former dictator Saddam Hussein and his power base of supporters during his decades-long rule. It is also the birthplace of Saddam’s predecessor, former President Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, and the traditional seat of the Iraqi Ba’ath Party. For almost 40 years, Iraq’s politics and governance was dominated by natives of Tikrit. While al Anbar province may be the tribal “heart” of Sunni Iraq, Tikrit is its political and intellectual “head.”

WNU Editor: This battle is important as explained by the following analysis .... Expected Shiite victory in Tikrit seen as cementing Iran’s influence in Iraq (Mitchell Prothero, McClatchy)

The Battle For Tikrit Continues

Reuters: Iraqi forces slowed by snipers and bombs in Tikrit

(Reuters) - Iraqi security forces and mainly Shi'ite militia fought Islamic State fighters in Tikrit on Thursday, a day after they pushed into Saddam Hussein's home city in their biggest offensive yet against the militants.

A source at the military command said there was heavy mortar shelling, sniper and machine-gun fire in the industrial quarter in the northwest of the city. Three Islamic State insurgents were killed but the army and militias struggled to advance from parts of the city which they took 24 hours earlier.

WNU Editor: The impression that the Iraqi government gave yesterday was that they had taken the city .... it looks like that announcement was slightly premature .... major parts of the city are still under Islamic State control.

More News On The Battle For Tikrit

IS readies for Tikrit last stand -- 9 News
Iraqi Forces Claim Western Areas of Tikrit From ISIS -- NYT
Iraqi forces retake most of Tikrit from ISIS, militia leader says -- CNN
Islamic State conflict: Iraqi forces 'push into Tikrit' -- BBC
Battle escalates as Iraqi forces try to recapture Tikrit from Islamic State -- Washington Post
Iraqi offensive in Tikrit gaining ground, government backers say -- L.A. Times
Shiite ‘Soldiers of God’ Color Tikrit Battle -- WSJ
Iraqi Forces Have ISIS on the Run in Tikrit -- Fiscal Times

Iraq Military Forces And Shiite Militias Claim They Have Reached The Center Of Tikrit

Al Arabiya: Iraqi forces beat ISIS in Tikrit, reach city center

Iraqi military forces and Shitte militias entered central Tikrit, declaring it “liberated” from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on Tuesday, following 10 days of a major offensive on the hometown of former president Saddam Hussein.

Marwan al-Jabara, a tribal spokesman in the Salaheddin province, told Al Arabiya News Channel that the forces managed to reach the center of Tikrit after heavy clashes in which “dozens of ISIS militants were killed.”

Islamic State War News Updates -- March 11, 2015

Iraqi forces battle Islamic State in streets of strategic Tikrit -- Washington Post
Iraqi Forces, Militias Sweep Into Islamic State-Held Tikrit -- NYT
Iraqi Forces Inch Closer to Center of Tikrit -- WSJ
Iraqi forces enter IS-held Tikrit after 10-day push -- AFP
Islamic State conflict: Iraqi troops advance in Tikrit -- BBC
Iraqi forces advance on ISIL strongholds in Tikrit -- Al Jazeera
Iraqi forces take military hospital from ISIS as Tikrit offensive continues -- CNN
Iraqis in Tikrit feel trapped by war with ISIL -- USA Today
Iraqi forces push into Tikrit, bombers hit Ramadi -- Reuters
UN: Iraq violence kills at least 1,100 in February -- Al Jazeera
Worry over what follows swift Iraq win in Tikrit -top U.S. general -- Reuters

Islamic State Video Shows Teen Killing 'Mossad Spy'

Daily Mail: Riddle of ISIS video showing child 'shooting Mossad spy dead': Clever editing means boy may not have actually pulled trigger

* New clip purports to show execution of Muhammad Said Ismail Musallam
* The 19-year-old Israeli-Arab was captured by militants in Syria last year
* His family said he travelled to the region to join ranks of the terror group
* But in their propaganda, ISIS claim he has admitted to being an Israeli spy
* In edited video, a young boy, appears to shoot the hostage at close range
* But there are clues which raise doubts over whether he pulled the trigger
* The film never shows the boy's face in the moments leading to his death
* A scene showing the moment of shooting was filmed from behind gunman
* In this moment, the shooter's hand is clearly that of an adult, not a child

Islamic State militants have released a video purporting to show a boy executing an captive Israeli-Arab, but several key details in the film raise doubts over its authenticity.

The video claims to show the boy, who appears to be no older than 10, carrying out the execution of Muhammad Said Ismail Musallam with a gunshot to the 19-year-old's forehead

But heavy editing used to produce the film means it is likely he never pulled the trigger himself and was instead filmed only for scenes to be edited in and around Mr Musallam's death.

WNU Editor: With his death now confirmed, Israel is saying that he was not a Mossad spy .... Israel: Citizen shown in ISIS video had no ties to intelligence services (CNN). The edited version of the video is here.

More News On Islamic State Video Shows Teen Killing 'Mossad Spy'

Islamic State video shows killing of teen accused as Israeli spy -- Reuters
Islamic State video purports to show a child shooting an Arab Israeli ‘spy’ -- Washington Post
ISIS releases video purporting to show child soldier killing 'Israeli spy' -- Haaretz
IS video purports to show execution of Arab Israeli -- Deutsche Welle
Child kills alleged spy in latest Islamic State show of force -- UPI
Grim new ISIS video appears to show child executing alleged Mossad spy -- FOX News
Parents of Israeli slain by IS deny he was Mossad spy -- i24 News
ISIS releases video of child executing ‘Israeli spy’ -- RT
ISIL Releases Video Allegedly Showing Child Soldier Executing 'Mossad Spy' -- Sputnik
Father of Palestinian killed in Syria says son duped into ISIS -- Daily Star/AP
Family of Israeli killed by child in Isis video deny he was Mossad spy -- The Guardian
The Real Target of ISIS’s Child-Soldier Execution Video -- Jacob Siegel, Daily Beast
Does timing of latest IS video signal its growing fears of defections? -- Whitney Eulich, CSM
ISIS' use of children: Propaganda and military training -- CNN

The Battle For The Iraqi City Of Tikrit Continues

New York Times: Iraqi Forces Seize Large Parts of Tikrit From Islamic State Militants

BAGHDAD — Iraqi security forces and allied Shiite militias seized large parts of Tikrit on Tuesday, amid reports that most of the Islamic State militants battling to hold the city had begun retreating, security officials said.

The progress came after a week of heavy fighting to retake Tikrit, a city in the so-called Sunni Triangle that holds both strategic and emotional importance in the effort to roll back the Islamic State’s lightning advance toward Baghdad in June.

WNU Editor: The Islamic State is fighting back .... IS jihadists in Iraq blow up key Tikrit bridge (AFP), and they are preparing for their last stand .... ISIS Prepare to Make Last Stand as Iraqi Forces Close in on Tikrit (Newsweek).

More News On The Battle For The Iraqi City Of Tikrit

Iraqi forces say they've begun final push to retake Tikrit -- CNN
Iraq retakes strategic town -- Reuters
Iraq seizes town on outskirts of Islamic State-held Tikrit -- AP
Iraqi Forces Retake Parts of Tikrit -- WSJ
Iraqi Forces Advance Toward Tikrit -- VOA
Iraqi troops take step forward in bid to re-seize Tikrit -- Deutsche Welle
Iraq troops 'retake parts of Tikrit' from Islamic State -- BBC
Iraqi, Shiite Forces Gain Ground in Tikrit Against ISIL -- Sputnik
Iraqi army, volunteer forces enter Tikrit from multiple directions -- Press TV
Mayor hopes reclaimed Iraqi town can become springboard for Tikrit offensive -- FOX News
Tikrit: What’s next? -- Osama Al Sharif, Arab News
Why the Fight Against ISIS Has to Go Through the Cities -- Mark Thompson, Time
Analysis: Iraqi Forces Tighten the Noose on Tikrit -- Stratfor

Update: The following post illustrates the massive Iranian involvement in the battle for Tikrit .... In pictures: Shiite militias operating near Tikrit (Threat Matrix).

Islamic State Have Destroyed A Third Ancient City In Iraq

RT: ISIS destroys third ancient city, Iraq presses for US-led coalition protection

The Islamic state has reportedly destroyed and looted the ancient Assyrian city of Dur Sharrukin which was founded in 717 BC just as the Iraqi antiquities minister has said that US led anti-ISIS coalition airstrikes can save Iraq’s cultural heritage.

The Islamists blew up the ruins of the city Dur Sharrukin close to Khorsabad city in northern Iraq on Sunday, Jumaa Abdullah, official in the Antiquities Authority of Nineveh province, told DPA.

More News On The Islamic State Destroying A Third UNESCO Designated Historical Site

Iraqi minister concerned over IS looting 3rd ancient site -- AP
IS militants raze new archeological site in northern Iraq -- Xinhua
UN Chief Says Bulldozing Of Nimrud Is ‘War Crime’ -- Radio Free Europe
ISIS erasing history, culture in Syria and Iraq -- CBS/AP

Islamic State Leader Dodged An Airstrike In 2014 Due To Red Tape

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi made his first appearance on video when he gave a sermon in Mosul in July. BBC

Daily Mail: How coalition forces had the head of ISIS in their sights but missed him because of RED TAPE: Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi dodged airstrike thanks to bureaucracy bungle

* ISIS leader was attending nursery school in al-Qaim on Iraq-Syria border
* He was meeting with senior aides and dozens of men pledging allegiance
* Elite Iraqi intelligence unit 'Falcons cell' ordered Iraqi air force to strike
* But defence ministry didn't act after Falcons didn't reveal target's identity
* Office of Prime Minister then became involved - but not for another hour
* But by then Baghdadi had left meeting and Iraqi jets hit moving convoy
* Didn't know which vehicle contained Baghdadi, who escaped with injuries

The world’s most wanted man avoided a deadly airstrike in Iraq thanks to a bureaucratic dispute, it was claimed today.

Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was attending a nursery school in al-Qaim on the Iraq-Syria border, with senior aides and dozens of men set to pledge allegiance to him.

An elite Iraqi intelligence unit known as the ‘Falcons cell’ were aware of this thanks to their sources, and the Iraqi air force were ordered to strike the school – but the defence ministry did nothing.

Update: Al Baghdadi dodged 2014 air strike in Iraq -- Gulf News

WNU Editor: They may have missed .... but he will be killed one day .... that is something that I have no doubt about.

The Battle For The Iraqi City Of Tikrit Enters Its Second Week

Voice of America: Battle for Tikrit Enters Second Week

A week into the ground campaign for Tikrit, Iraqi forces and allied Shi'ite militias continue to clash with Islamic State group militants on the city's outskirts in an attempt to regain territory one outlying town at a time.

The coalition is battling for al-Dour and Albu Ajil, where IS snipers are hampering efforts to clear the towns of the rebel extremists.

Thousands of troops launched Iraq's largest anti-IS offensive last Sunday to reclaim Tikrit, a strategic stronghold between government-controlled Baghdad to the south and Islamic State-held Mosul to the north.

More News On the Battle For Tikrit

Iraq: The battle to regain control of Tikrit from Isis rages on -- IBTimes
Islamic State Fighters Hold Tikrit As Military Assault Enters Second Week -- NPR
Iraqi forces make advances against Islamic State near Tikrit -- Washington Post
Iraqi army retakes town north of Tikrit -- Al Arabiya
Tikrit igniting sectarian war in Iraq -- Abdulrahman al-Rashed, Al Arabiya
Win or lose Tikrit, Isis can only be defeated in Iraq by the Sunni -- Hassan Hassan, The Guardian
Tikrit igniting sectarian war in Iraq -- Abdulrahman al-Rashed, Al Arabiya

Top U.S. General: Iraqi Forces Will Retake Tikrit From The Islamic State

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey earlier this month. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters)

VOA: Iraqi Forces Will Prevail in Tikrit, US Joint Chiefs Chairman Says

The top U.S. military officer says Iraqi forces will take back the city of Tikrit from Islamic State militants, but only because of U.S.-led coalition airstrikes.

General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on his way to Baghdad that the number of Iraqi forces fighting the extremists was overwhelming. But he said he didn't think the Iraqis could have made progress in Tikrit had the militants not been slowed down by the U.S.-led airstrikes.

Tikrit, a major city near Baghdad, is the birthplace of the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

WNU Editor: I concur with the following analysis .... the Iraqi army backed by Shiite militias and Iranian support will retake Tikrit from the Islamic State .... but what comes after that will be much more difficult .... U.S. sees even bigger test for Iraq and Iran in the aftermath of Tikrit battle (Washington Post)

More News On U.S. general Dempsey Predicting That Iraqi Forces Will Retake Tikrit From The Islamic State

US general: Iraq will retake Tikrit with Iran's help, but then what? -- Robert Burns, AP
Iraq forces face IS resistance but US says Tikrit will fall -- AFP
US general cautious over Iran-led Tikrit offensive -- AFP
Islamic State will be forced out of Tikrit, says top US general -- The Guardian
US claims its air strikes enabled Iraqi push poised to retake Tikrit from Isis -- The Guardian
US’ Dempsey Voices Confidence Tikrit Campaign Will Prevail against ISIL -- Al Manar
Strains plague Iraqi, U.S. assessments of long-term fight against Islamic State -- Washington Post
Win or lose Tikrit, Isis can only be defeated in Iraq by the Sunni -- Hassan Hassan, The Guardian

The Battle For The Iraqi City Of Tikrit Continues

Voice of America: In IS Fight, Worries Grow Over Iran, Sectarian Divide

PENTAGON — As the battle for Tikrit rages between Islamic State militants and Iraqi security forces and Shi'ite militias, two major concerns have emerged: the role of Iran and the fear that sectarian divides will grow wider.

Days of fighting around Tikrit have yielded slow progress against Islamic State militants, who have held the city since last June.

''Our troops are now advancing according to the drawn up plan, though there are so many bombs planted by Islamic State militants to hinder our progress,” Iraqi Lieutenant General Abdul Amir al-Zaidi said.

More News On The Battle For Tikrit

Iraqi and Iranian forces push on toward Tikrit -- CBS/AP
Advancing Iraq troops enter strategic town on edge of Tikrit -- Reuters
Iranian general at the forefront of the Tikrit offensive -- Threat Matrix
Iraqi Forces Advance on ISIS in Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's Hometown -- NBC
Islamic State denies losing ground in Tikrit -- Threat Matrix
ISIS burns oil wells as Iraq troops push toward outskirts of Tikrit -- FOX News
Thousands Reportedly Flee Battle In Tikrit -- NPR
Thousands flee Tikrit battle -- Euronews
U.S. warns Tikrit offensive must not fuel sectarianism -- Al Arabiya/AFP
Why the US is sitting out Iraq’s most important assault on ISIL -- Michael Pizzi, Al Jazeera
The military assault on Tikrit, Iraq, in pictures -- Washington Post

Islamic State Fighters Are Now Attaching High-Definition Cameras To The Barrels Of Their Guns When Executing Prisoners

Savages: Depraved militants fighting for the Islamic State in Iraq are attaching high-definition cameras to the barrels of their guns in order to film barbaric executions in gruesome detail

Daily Mail: Is this ISIS' sickest execution video yet? Now terrorists put cameras on the end of their guns to make footage of killings look like a shoot 'em up computer game

* Depraved militants are now attaching HD cameras to their gun barrels
* Equipment allows them to film their savage murders in gruesome detail
* Unorthodox view makes terrorists' murder films look like video games
* Execution of several Iraqi prisoners was filmed on the ISIS gun cameras
* Men were brutally shot in the back of the head from point-blank range
* WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT

Depraved militants fighting for the Islamic State in Iraq are attaching high-definition cameras to the barrels of their guns in order to film barbaric executions in gruesome detail.

The shocking pictures were captured by the terror group's Tigris River branch, who are currently engaged in fierce battles with up to 30,000 Iraqi Army soldiers and Shia militia roughly 70 miles north of the ISIS-held city of Tikrit.

WNU Editor: Just when you think that it cannot get any worse .... it does. I have already seen one of these videos .... it is something that cannot be described.