Slutspel i Irak? ISIS och allierade erövrar Mosul

Franska Rafale-plan som lyfte från hangarfartyget Charles de Gaulle på tisdagen sägs ha förstört Islamiska statens kommandocenter i Tal Afar väster om Mosul i Irak.

The changes in the battlefield, Warren said, include a reduction of personnel at ISIL checkpoints. That is an indication, he said, that perhaps ISIL can't get as many people out to the posts and "maybe things aren't as good as they could be in ISIL-land."

Other changes, he said, include ISIL sending out civilians as bait to get Iraqi Security Forces to respond.

Warren said Iraqi forces in Ramadi observed 22 civilians trying to get away from the fighting on Nov. 18.

"As the civilians neared the [Iraqi forces], ISIL opened fire at the crowd. In the process, they shot and wounded a nine-year-old, little boy," he said, adding Iraqi forces safely evacuated the civilians. The boy was stabilized and taken to a hospital.

It appeared, Warren said, that ISIL was using the civilians as bait to get the Iraqi forces to come out so they could fire on them.

"This enemy has no regard for human decency, even for the people they claim to be protecting under their so-called caliphate," he said.

A dispute then erupted between Yezidi Peshmerga of the SKU and Muslim Peshmerga fighters who let the Muslim Kurds pass and protected them. One fighter of the SKU was killed together with a truck driver from Dohuk in following clashes, as an EzidiPress correspondent has told. Four more fighters of the SKU were partially seriously wounded. The SKU has announced to mobilize for further clashes. Yezidi commanders are currently trying to calm the situation. The Muslim Peshmerga are said to be part of the Zerevani Peshmerga who are under the control of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

The situation already threatened to escalate in the last few days as Yezidis accused the Peshmerga of covering Muslim Kurds who collaborated with the Islamic State in Shingal.

Maha träffade IS-krigare från hela världen, de skämdes inte att säga sina namn eller nationaliteter

– De kom från Kina, Afghanistan, Saudiarabien och Ryssland. Jag såg det själv, de sade till oss varifrån de kom och vad de hette, säger Maha.

Under this political cover, Barzani’s party seeks to “threaten” its opponents away. After accusing Gorran of organizing attacks on its offices, KDP security forces blocked the movement’s parliamentarians — including the parliamentary speaker Yousif Mohammed — from entering Erbil. The KDP has intimidated journalists, sacked opposition MPs, and threatened to establish separate governments in the KRG, which would mean de facto partition. Carnegie’s Kawa Hassan concludes: “Rather than the unifying leader Kurds so desperately need, Barzani has become a source of division.”

As Iraqi Kurdistan faces increasing economic and security challenges, the region’s political problems raise serious questions about its future stability. Although Barzani undoubtedly feels secure with his foreign military backing, his disregard for political process leaves the KRG on a rotting foundation. Forced or simulated stability, legitimized with external support, exacerbates persistent tensions between Iraqi Kurdistan’s ruling parties. The region needs to remain united against ISIS and other actors who undermine its prosperity. Yet current policies are pushing apart the parties whose combined forces have hitherto proven their strength on the battlefield.