March 1 -15, 2017
International Terrorism
Mosul Liberation Campaign
The ongoing anti-Daesh military campaign in Mosul witnessed a significant progress during the first fortnight of March with the ISF gaining firm control in the northern and southern parts of this Iraqi city. On March 7, the security forces recaptured some of the important establishments, including main government complex, central bank branch and the museum. Daesh had, three years ago, destroyed several statues and artefacts from this museum. The recaptured structures also included the building that housed Daesh’s main court of justice, which was unpopularly known for carrying out harsh sentences, including stoning, “throwing people off building roofs and chopping off hands”. As a result of this progress, some of the top-level United States (US) commanders expressed hopes of retaking Mosul within months. In their assessment, the liberation campaign has “proceeded much faster than expected”.
After penetrating southern Mosul, the focus has shifted towards the Old City located in central Mosul. The elite Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) played a crucial role in this operation due to which they could establish control in southwestern Mosul as well. Despite this positive development, the fights in the days to come (particularly in the Old City) are likely to face some hurdles considering the narrow the streets in this city posing difficulties with manoeuvring of vehicles, higher risks of ambushes and civilian casualties. Some reports mentioned about thousands of people who could make their way to safer areas out of this trouble zone. However, there are reports of Daesh re-establishing their network and capabilities in other cities, such as Tikrit and Baiji. On March 8, a bomb blast ripped through a wedding party near Tikrit and killed more than 20 people. Given the serious deterioration of security order, the US and other coalition partners face a huge challenge in order restoring stability in the entire country, and not only in Mosul. Therefore, constant efforts are required to prevent Daesh militias from re-grouping and regaining strength even after they are defeated in Mosul.
The United States and Anti-Daesh campaign in Syria
The involvement of the United States (US) in anti-Daesh operation in Syria has also witnessed some developments in the last fortnight. With almost all the territories under this outfit’s control in Iraq getting recaptured, attention has been given towards retaking Raqqa (in Syria), the de facto headquarters of Daesh. The noticeable delay in making headway in this area is mainly due to different vested interests of both regional and international actors involved in the Syrian conflict. Similar to the Russians, the Trump administration has given some indications about stepping up their military efforts inside Syria. US has reportedly deployed roughly 400 soldiers, drawn from the 75th US Army Ranger Regiment and 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to Northern Syria. This is in addition to an estimated 300 to 500 US Special Operations Forces (SOF) who are currently cooperating with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), mostly located in the northern part of the country.
In order to intensify cooperation, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Joseph Dunford met with his Russian and Turkish counterparts on March 7 to sort out details of the upcoming anti-Daesh campaign. For the moment, the immediate concern raised by these leaders is on the “the tactical situation in and around the northeastern Syrian town of Manbij, where various and opposing forces supported by the U.S., Russia and Turkey are close to "within hand grenade range of one another”. Recently, reports of US deploying roughly 1,000 soldiers in northern Syria in the coming weeks have surfaced.
This move will increase the US troops’ presence in this country where the “conflict that has been characterized by confusion and competing priorities among disparate forces”. This is going to be a dangerous and complex battlefield for the US troops, and undoubtedly, will mark a shift from the previous Obama administration approach that resisted sending more troops to Syria. In the initial period, these troops, if sent, would not play a direct combat role but are likely to support other players, particularly the Kurdish and Arab fighters who are anti-Daesh. These endeavors, if fruitful, will certainly be considered a "change” under the new administration.
Internal Security
Anti-terrorist Operation by ATS Lucknow
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) killed a suspected IS operative in a 12 hour long anti-terror operation on March 08, 2017 in Thakurganj area of Lucknow. The slain terrorist is identified as Saifullah who was an active member of the Khurasan module of the ISIS. He was suspected to be involved in a train blast incident in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh. After the encounter, the UP ATS recovered eight pistols, 650 live rounds of ammunition, 50 empty fired rounds, explosives, gold, cash, passports, sim cards and a detail train time table.
In a subsequent development, a message posted on a pro-Islamic State (IS) Telegram channel identified Saifullah, killed in an encounter in Lucknow, as a soldier of the Caliphate. UP ATS is checking the veracity of the post. US based intelligence website Site Intel Group posted a screen grab of the Telegram message on Twitter, which said, “Pro-#ISIS Telegram Channel Incites for Attacks in #India, Points to Suspected IS Fighter Saifullah as Example.” Giving details of the incident, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh informed the Parliament that in connection with the incident, 6 people were arrested and further investigation will be carried out by the National Investigation Agency, New Delhi.
Hizbul Mujahideen Commander killed in Kashmir
In a joint operation by the Army and J& K Police, a top Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander, Aqib Maulvi, and a Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) terrorist, Osama, were killed in Tral, district Phulwama, Jammu Kashmir in the early hours of March 05, 2017. In the intense gun battle, three security personnel including an Army Major were injured and a policeman Manzoor Ahmed lost his life. Tral is also a hometown of Burhan Wani, the HM commander who shot down by the security forces last year.
During the encounter protesters clashed with the security personnel and disrupted the operation by snatching a riffle from CRPF jawan on duty. Such disruptive activities were also noticed during an operation against HM’s deputy Chief Sabzar Ahmad and his associates who escaped from the encounter site in Tral. On March 06, 2017 IG, CRPF confirmed at a press conference that due to heavy stone pelting some militants had escaped from encounter site. Earlier, on March 4 also Security Forces had to call off anti-militancy operation in Shopian District of South Kashmir and militants holed up in a house managed to escape following intense protests and stone pelting from locals.
Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation Funds Terrorism Activities in J&K
Addressing the Asian Security Conference at New Delhi, Superintendent of Police, National Investigation Agency informed the audience on March 07, 2017 that Falah-e-Insaniyat, a charity outfit of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Lashkar-e-Toiba, collects and inducts huge funds to finance terror operations in J&K. NIA has also traced linkages between Al Rehmat trust and JeM which is spreading terror activities in Kashmir valley in India. The NIA officer informed the audience that these outfits collect donations from people in Pakistan and pass on the money to finance terrorism in Kashmir through their over ground workers.
Maoist Kill 12 CRPF Ppersonnel at Sukma
A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) contingent was attacked by Communist Party of India (Maoist) on March 11, 2017 in Bhejji area of District Sukma, Chattisgarh. Two CRPF personnel were injured in the ambush. Besides triggering IED blast and indiscriminate firing, Naxals also lobbed country-made mortars and explosive-headed-arrows on security personnel during the ambush. The rebels also looted ten weapons, including six INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) assault rifles, four AK-47 assault rifles, a light machine gun, 1,587 bullet rounds, an Under-Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), a 51mm mortar, two para bombs and two radio sets from the slain personnel.
After the attack, Security forces launched a massive search operation and arrested two key Naxal commanders active in the area, who were identified as Hidma and Sonu. Preliminary investigation suggests that the attack was pre-planned and executed by two military platoons of Maoists active in the Bhejji periphery. The CRPF seem to have walked into a trap and got ambushed. The heavy loss by the law enforcing agencies once again highlighted the intense need of overhauling of internal security apparatus and their vulnerabilities. It may be recalled, on the same day in 2014, the Maoist had attacked in Tahkawada region of Bastar in which 11 CRPF men, four police personnel and a civilian were killed.
