Conditions for ISIS resurgence still exist in Iraq: Pentagon
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Conditions conducive to a resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS) group still exist in Iraq, the latest Pentagon inspector general report to Congress said as the country experiences an uptick of ISIS attacks across several provinces.
A member of Peshmerga forces was killed in a clash against ISIS in Iraq's Diyala province on Tuesday night. Two members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashid al Shaabi) were wounded in a separate attack that occurred in Jalawla.
"The [Defense Intelligence Agency] DIA reported that the conditions that fostered ISIS's rise in 2014 still exist and may help promote ISIS's recruiting efforts among Iraqi Sunnis," the Pentagon report, released on May 4, noted.
The report highlighted resentment against the PMF in predominantly Sunni provinces over incidences of mistreatment against the local population as a cause for support for ISIS.
“Shia militia groups belonging to the PMF continue to operate in Sunni areas against the will of the local populations," it added.
Tuesday’s attack follows a series of similar attacks against Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces in recent weeks with around two dozen fighters killed by the militants across Kirkuk, Anbar, Diyala and Salahadin provinces.
"ISIS focused its activity during the quarter in Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, and Salahadin provinces, and in areas surrounding Baghdad and Mosul. The DIA said that ISIS used the mountainous regions in northern and north-central Iraq to conduct ambushes and IED attacks against the ISF [Iraqi Security Forces], the Peshmerga, and the PMF," reads the Pentagon report, which covered Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led anti-ISIS coalition over the first quarter of this year.
"In both countries [Iraq and Syria], ISIS continued to conduct small-scale IED and hit-and-run attacks against security forces, and assassinate military and civilian government leaders," the Pentagon report stated, noting that the US Department of Defence has spent nearly $50 billion to fund OIR.
The report adds that Iraqi Sunni areas often suffer from a lack of resources that prevent residents from returning from displacement camps, noting that the government has not taken the initiative in reconstructing predominantly Sunni communities.
Recent photos and videos of ISIS propaganda posted to the messaging app Telegram show groups of ISIS militants with covered faces in Anbar, Kirkuk and Diyala, holding American firearms, firing mortars and burning construction equipment.
The Pentagon report also states that cells from ISIS continue to pose a threat in the Syrian desert, with attacks occurring "almost daily."
Russian forces and pro-Syrian regime troops carried out numerous operations in the area, but efforts to contain ISIS cells in the region still waver and they have been unable to contain an escalation of attacks.
A member of Peshmerga forces was killed in a clash against ISIS in Iraq's Diyala province on Tuesday night. Two members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashid al Shaabi) were wounded in a separate attack that occurred in Jalawla.
"The [Defense Intelligence Agency] DIA reported that the conditions that fostered ISIS's rise in 2014 still exist and may help promote ISIS's recruiting efforts among Iraqi Sunnis," the Pentagon report, released on May 4, noted.
The report highlighted resentment against the PMF in predominantly Sunni provinces over incidences of mistreatment against the local population as a cause for support for ISIS.
“Shia militia groups belonging to the PMF continue to operate in Sunni areas against the will of the local populations," it added.
Tuesday’s attack follows a series of similar attacks against Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces in recent weeks with around two dozen fighters killed by the militants across Kirkuk, Anbar, Diyala and Salahadin provinces.
"ISIS focused its activity during the quarter in Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, and Salahadin provinces, and in areas surrounding Baghdad and Mosul. The DIA said that ISIS used the mountainous regions in northern and north-central Iraq to conduct ambushes and IED attacks against the ISF [Iraqi Security Forces], the Peshmerga, and the PMF," reads the Pentagon report, which covered Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led anti-ISIS coalition over the first quarter of this year.
"In both countries [Iraq and Syria], ISIS continued to conduct small-scale IED and hit-and-run attacks against security forces, and assassinate military and civilian government leaders," the Pentagon report stated, noting that the US Department of Defence has spent nearly $50 billion to fund OIR.
The report adds that Iraqi Sunni areas often suffer from a lack of resources that prevent residents from returning from displacement camps, noting that the government has not taken the initiative in reconstructing predominantly Sunni communities.
Recent photos and videos of ISIS propaganda posted to the messaging app Telegram show groups of ISIS militants with covered faces in Anbar, Kirkuk and Diyala, holding American firearms, firing mortars and burning construction equipment.
The Pentagon report also states that cells from ISIS continue to pose a threat in the Syrian desert, with attacks occurring "almost daily."
Russian forces and pro-Syrian regime troops carried out numerous operations in the area, but efforts to contain ISIS cells in the region still waver and they have been unable to contain an escalation of attacks.