A video purported to show three ISIS members on their way to Ahvaz to commit a terror attack emerged on Sunday in the wake of the attack in the southwestern Iranian city. The attack targeted a military parade of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that marked the Iran-Iraq war, like reported by jpost.com.

The video put out by the ISIS Amaq media shows three men in a vehicle. Two of them speak Arabic and one speaks Farsi. The video seems to have been made during the middle of the day, while the attack took place in the morning, which leaves questions about when it was made. The video further complicates the question of who carried out the attack. Initial accounts claimed the Ahwazi Democratic Popular Front had taken credit. The Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz also claimed on September 22 that any ISIS claims were not true. The Patritoic Arab Democratic Movement in Ahvaz also denied responsibility.

A statement by ISIS that accompanied the video reveals that they thought 100 Iranian forces were “killed and injured.” Some on social media have sought to compare photos that circulated of the dead perpetrators with the men in the video. But the photos are inconclusive. Two men appear similar, but one has more hair in his eyebrows than the man whose dead body was circulated on social media the day of the attack. Also the dead man wears a purple shirt whereas the men in the video wear fatigues.

Iranian state media has not mentioned the new ISIS claims, preferring to focus on the official state narrative which blames the US for the attacks. Iranian media has highlighted the involvement of Saudi Arabia, gulf countries, the UK, Denmark and Holland in hosting or supporting Ahvaz opposition groups. Ahvaz is an area of Iran home to a large, mostly Shi’ite, Arab minority. On September 23 a Foreign Ministry spokesman in Tehran blamed the US for the “phenomenon of terrorism in the world.” Iranian president Hassan Rouhani also said Iran was ready to confront the US after the attack, even as his plane touched down in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. Tehran also reprimanded the UAE after a political advisor of the emirate named Abdulkhaleq Abdulla had suggested the attack in Ahvaz was aimed at a “military target.”

Tehran appears to want to ignore the ISIS claims of responsibility in the hopes of scapegoating the US and Israel, as it expands its rhetoric following the attack. Iran also wants sympathy at home and abroad. It has been a long term narrative of the Iranian regime that the US “created ISIS,” a claim that Ayatollah Khamenei made last year. Therefore from Tehran’s view an ISIS claim of responsibility would only stoke its own worldview that sees ISIS, the US and other opposition groups as all part of the same network.

The seventy national anti-ISIS US-led Coalition has not responded to the ISIS claim of responsibility. If ISIS did carry out the attack it would be second large attack after the assault on Iran’s parliament in June 2017. Tehran claims it has uncovered a large “network” responsible for the Ahvaz attacks. But it has provided no names or affiliations for the perpetrators. Because many of the Ahvaz Arab opposition groups in Khuzestan province are made up of Shi’ites it would be odd for them to join an ISIS group. However a group known as Ansar al-Sharia in Ahvaz did pledge support for ISIS in 2013, as documented by a research carried out by Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi.

An Iraqi military commander said on Monday that six Islamic State militants were killed in an airstrike on the outskirts of Khanaqin district in Diyala, like reported by iraqinews.com.

Speaking to AlSumaria News, commander of Tigris Operations Mazhar al-Izzawi said, “Iraqi warplanes launched a successful air raid on the outskirts of Khanaqin, leaving six IS militants killed.”

Izzawi added that the airstrike was launched upon accurate intelligence reports.

In January 2015, Iraqi forces announced liberation of Diyala province from Islamic State extremist militants who proclaimed an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

The province has seen months of fighting between Iraqi troops and IS militants especially in the Jalawla and Saadiyah areas in the province’s north and areas near the town of Muqdadiyah.

IS declared a self-styled “caliphate” in a third of Iraq and neighboring Syria in 2014. A government campaign, backed by a U.S.-led international coalition and paramilitary forces, was launched in 2016 to retake IS-held regions, managing to retake all havens, most notably the city of Mosul, the group’s previously proclaimed capital.

Despite the group’s crushing defeat at its main havens across Iraq, Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks against troops with security reports warning that the militant group still poses a threat against stability in the country.

In the northern countryside of Aleppo, the factions of the “Free Army” have announced capturing an “Islamic State” cell, after it entered the area from the regions controlled by the “Syrian Democratic Forces” (SDF), like reported by enabbaladi.net.

Enab Baladi’s reporter in rural Aleppo has today, Wednesday (September 19), said that the “Ahrar al-Sharqia” faction has captured a cell near one of the refugee camps in rural Aleppo.

A commander of the faction was quoted as saying that the cell constitutes of five personnel, including a commander, who managed to arrive at the Shamarin camp after they passed through the Awn al-Dadat checkpoint, the rural parts of the city of Jarabulus, after getting the help of smugglers who facilitated their way in.

The commander said that the cell came from the areas held by the “Syrian Democratic Forces” (SDF), pointing out that they are being investigated now, and the first information delivered indicate that they were planning to enter the Turkish territories.

In the past months, the cities and towns of northern rural Aleppo were a target for several explosive devices and car bombs, and the blame was pointed at “Islamic State” and “SDF” affiliate cells as the responsible entity for the bombings.

The reporter stated that the incident of capturing the cell is not the first of its kind for several similar incidents happened before, pointing out to the smugglers who are transporting the “Islamic State” troops from the Kurdish forces’ control areas to the Turkish territories.

Turkey supported the “Free Army” factions in the northern and eastern countryside of Aleppo to seize large areas from the grip of the “Islamic State,” the last of which was the city of al-Bab and the towns and the villages surrounding it.

Following the control over the northern countryside of Aleppo, several campaigns were launched as to capture sleeper cells affiliated with the “Islamic State,” the last of which took place in the city of Jarabulus, early this year.

Late in 2017, the local councils at the northern countryside of Aleppo have issued a decree providing for preventing the “Islamic State” troops and their wives from returning to the cities and towns of northern rural Aleppo.

According to the decree, the return of any of the armed troops who functioned under the “Islamic State” with their families was prohibited regardless of the circumstances.

The women married to “Islamic State” troops or those who are married to former “Islamic State” troops are also not allowed to enter the city.

Five federal policemen were killed Tuesday in a bomb blast in Hawija district in Kirkuk, a security source was quoted as saying, like reported by iraqinews.com.

Speaking to the privately-owned Ayn Al Iraq news website, the source said that “an explosive charge targeted a bus carrying policemen on the highway between Kirkuk and Salahuddin.”

The blast, which took place in Azerban village in southern Hawija, left five policemen dead and several others wounded, added the source.

A total of 90 Iraqi civilians were killed, while 117 others were injured due to acts of violence and terrorism during the month of August, according to the monthly count by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

The worst affected province was Baghdad with 77 civilian casualties (24 killed and 53 injured). Nineveh came second with 39 casualties (29 killed and 10 injured), while Anbar came in the third place with 32 casualties (6 killed and 26 injured).

Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks across Iraq against troops. Security reports indicate that the militant group still poses threat against stability in the country. The group still has dormant cells, through which it carries out attacks, across Iraq like it used to do before 2014.

Thousands of Islamic State militants as well as Iraqi civilians were killed since the government campaign, backed by paramilitary troops and the coalition was launched in October 2016.

As Russian and Syrian forces prepare an offensive to take the last remaining rebel stronghold, some refugees from Idlib province say Syrian rebels are stopping their families from fleeing the fighting, like reported by abc.net.au.

“We were forced to exile from our homes and our country because of the terrorists of Jabhat Al Nusra and Daesh [Islamic State],” one 53-year-old refugee, Ahmad, said.

He said he had been in Lebanon’s Bar Elias camp in the Bekaa Valley for five years. All the refugees in this part of the camp are from Idlib province, where Russian and Syrian forces are preparing an offensive against the last stronghold held by rebels.

Ahmad said he was frightened for his family remaining in Idlib.

“Right now there are no heavy bombardments as they are negotiating, they are meeting,” he said.

“But of course if the terrorists refuse to surrender, the Syrian Arab Army will advance and conquer Idlib. There is no other option and we back the Syrian Arab Army on that.”

The United Nations and the United States, among other nations, are urging the Syrian Government and its allies Russia and Iran to negotiate a peaceful solution in Idlib … but these refugees say the onus is on the rebels.

“The Syrian Arab Army has opened more than one corridor but the terrorists are not allowing anyone to leave because they are using them as human shields.”

International NGOs are far more critical of the regime and its allies.

Lama Fakih from Human Rights Watch in Lebanon said an offensive to take Idlib will inevitably lead to civilian casualties.

“We’ve seen that the [Syrian] Tiger Forces, which have been responsible for previous offensives like Eastern Ghouta, has deployed to Idlib so we are anticipating the same kinds of violations that have characterised Government offensives in other parts of the country,” she said.

“These are things like unlawful restrictions on humanitarian aid deliveries, indiscriminate bombings that have targeted hospitals and schools, as well as the use of prohibited weapons like cluster bombs and even chemical attacks.”

In the Bekaa Valley camp, another Idlib refugee, a 28-year-old who is also called Ahmad, said he was terrified for his sister and her children.

“My sister couldn’t escape as the terrorists are preventing civilians from leaving as they use them. If they’d allow them to leave they would leave,” he said.

“They could have come here, somewhere else, gone to Damascus, but they wouldn’t let them leave.”

Even if they were able to leave Idlib, refugees from the fighting can no longer come to Lebanon or Turkey.

Both nations have closed their borders after taking an estimated 4.5 million Syrian refugees.

Aid agencies said a new offensive could displace around 800,000 people.

They will likely head towards the closed Turkish border. Turkey does not want that and is urging a negotiated ceasefire. Russia’s Syria envoy Alexander Lavrentiev says his nation will “eliminate the rebels”.

Asked what he meant by “eliminate”, Mr Lavrentiev replied: “If they surrender, that would be the best decision.”

A surrender seems unlikely.

Moderate groups may consider it, but the trapped rebels include thousands of fighters linked to jihadist groups like the renamed Al Nusra Front.

Observers say those fighters are bound to make Idlib their last stand.

The UAE-backed Yemeni Navy claims to have intercepted and seized a booby-trapped, explosives-laden boat launched by Houthi rebels, like reported by maritime-executive.com.

According to UAE media outlet Khaleej Times, the Yemeni Navy intercepted the boat as it was on its way to intercept a merchant ship in the Red Sea. A Yemeni military source claimed that the boat was making about 30 knots.

The claim mirrors a report from the UAE/Saudi coalition in late August. According to coalition spokesman Col. Turki al-Maliki, the force foiled a plan to attack commercial shipping on August 23, when “a booby-trapped boat was launched from the shores of [rebel-held] Hodeida.”

Houthi rebel forces have attacked vessels in the Red Sea before, including both merchant ships and UAE/Saudi-coalition warships. In July, after a series of strikes on Saudi-owned VLCCs, state oil firm Bahri temporarily suspended transits through the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb, citing security concerns.

The rebels’ methods have included conventional anti-ship missiles, improvised naval mines and remote-controlled bomb boats. In January 2017, Houthi forces successfully struck and damaged the Saudi frigate Al-Madinah with an unmanned drone boat. According to competing reports, they may have attempted a boat strike on a Saudi petroleum product terminal in April 2017; struck a pier at Mokha in July 2017; and (according to Houthi sources, and not verified) may have struck a UAE warship off Mokha in July 2017. Al Arabiya reported a third, unsuccessful bomb boat attempt on a military vessel in August 2017.

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats testified last year that the U.S. believes that Iran is supplying the technology for Houthi remote-controlled boats. Tehran does not admit to providing military support for the Houthi cause, but it is widely believed to be funneling arms and funding to the rebel forces.

Two members of the Tribal Mobilization Forces were killed on Tuesday in an attack by a group of Islamic State militants on Hawija district in Kirkuk, a security source was quoted as saying according to iraqinews.com.

Speaking to Ayn Al Iraq news website, the source said that, “a group of IS militants broke into a house owned by a member of the Tribal Mobilization Forces at a village in Hawija district in southwestern Kirkuk early Tuesday, leaving two tribal fighters dead and a woman injured.”

The source said that the injured woman was moved to a nearby hospital for treatment.

According to the source, “The IS attackers fled the scene into an unknown location after the attack.”

The Islamic State group appeared on the international scene in 2014 when it seized large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, declaring the establishment of an Islamic “caliphate” from Mosul city.

Later on, the group has become notorious for its brutality, including mass killings, abductions and beheadings, prompting the U.S. to lead an international coalition to destroy it

Despite the group’s crushing defeat at its main havens across Iraq, Islamic State continues to launch sporadic attacks against troops with security reports warning that the militant group still poses a threat against stability in the country.

Fighting near the Yemeni city of Hodeidah intensified at the weekend after peace talks in Geneva were abandoned before they had even begun, like reported by al-bab.com.

The talks foundered over a dispute about travel arrangements which meant that representatives of the Houthi rebels who control much of northern Yemen failed to arrive.

The plan had been to fly them from the Yemeni capital to Geneva in an Omani plane chartered by the UN. The Houthis say they asked for guarantees that the plane would not be diverted to Djibouti for inspection by the Saudi-led coalition (which they say happened once before) and that they would be allowed to return home after the talks. They also wanted to use the flight to evacuate some of their wounded to Oman or Europe.

In the form described by news reports, the Houthis’ demands don’t sound unreasonable and it’s unclear why they were rejected. Speaking at a news conference in Geneva, UN special envoy Martin Griffiths said the Houthis “would have liked” to attend but “we didn’t make conditions sufficiently correct to get them here”. He declined to elaborate.

The talks, which had been due to start last Thursday, were abandoned on Saturday after a three-day wait for the Houthis to arrive. Griffiths maintained a hopeful appearance, however, saying this did not mean the peace process was deadlocked and he was planning to meet Houthi leaders in Yemen or Oman shortly.

Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition which is fighting against the Houthis in support of the ousted government of Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi has interpreted the collapse of peace talks as a signal to intensify its efforts to capture or isolate the Houthi-held city of Hodeidah on the Red Sea coast.

Coalition forces had been poised for a major assault on the city in June but were persuaded to hold back while the UN tried to organise peace talks.

Hodeidah port is seen as the Houthis’ economic lifeline, not only for essential supplies but also as a major source of revenue, since they tax goods entering their territory. If deprived of Hodeidah the Houthis will be seriously weakened – or so the argument goes.

Meanwhile, humanitarian organisations have been warning that the effects of a battle over Hodeidah could be catastrophic. One major concern is for the civilian population – it is Yemen’s fourth largest city, with around 600,000 inhabitants. Another is that closure of the port would cut the humanitarian supplies that have been keeping starvation at bay in other parts of the country.

On Sunday, hospitals reported that 84 people – mostly fighters on the Houthi side – had been killed since the talks collapsed, with dozens more wounded.

Latest reports indicate that coalition forces which are south of the city have been pushing in a north-easterly direction in the hope of blocking the road between Hodeidah and the capital, Sanaa. The Amaliqa (“Giants”) Brigades – a section of the Yemeni army affiliated to the coalition – is said to be advancing towards a point 16 km east of Hodeidah city where the road from Taizz in the south intersects with the road to Sanaa.

A report from the Saudi government news agency on Sunday indicated that the Amaliqa have not yet reached this point.

The Jeddah-based Arab News said the operation so far had killed “dozens of Houthi militants” and continued:

“During the operation, the Amaliqa Brigades captured several militants, including leaders, as well as weapons and equipment left behind by the fleeing militia, according to a statement on the Yemeni Armed Forces official website …

“The army also announced that the Amaliqa Brigades opened safe routes for displaced civilians to leave the areas of Kilo 16 and Kilo 10.

“The military source said a large number of families fled the area where their homes were at risk of crossfire, and were escorted to safe zones where they were given medical treatment and food.”

Isolating Hodeidah by blocking the road may avoid the bloodbath that a more direct attack on the city is likely to cause, but it would also have the effect of cutting off humanitarian supplies to other Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen.

Around 180 Islamic State (IS) militants have recently infiltrated Iraq’s Diyala province from Mosul, a source said according to basnews.com.

“Information from security departments confirmed that 180 Islamic State members sneaked from Mosul into some regions in Diyala,” Awad Rubai’e, head of the security committee of Abu Sayda town, was quoted by Baghdad Today.

He said these sleeper cells would continue challenging the security in the province, and that they are responsible for frequent attacks.

In Diyala and many other areas of Iraq, security remains on decline as IS continues to conduct attacks. According to Iraqi News, two senior officers were killed on Wednesday in an armed attack in northeast of Baquba in Diyala. On Tuesday, an Iraqi soldier was killed, while four workers were wounded in two bomb blasts in Diyala.

Suicide attack on checkpoint near the Syrian border claimed by IS, which is still mounting attacks in the region, like reported by middleeasteye.net

A suicide car bomber killed at least 16 people and wounded more than a dozen others at a checkpoint in the town of al-Qaim in western Iraq’s Anbar province on Wednesday.

The Islamic State group (IS) claimed the attack hours after it took place via its mouthpiece Amaq news agency.

Iraqi police officials told AFP that 11 civilians and five security personnel died when an explosives-laden car was driven into a checkpoint in the town on the Iraqi-Syrian border.

Following the incident, Iraqi authorities announced a curfew in the area.

The checkpoint was being manned by Iraqi army soldiers and government-backed militiamen.

Security officials told Reuters news agency that the death toll could climb as some of the wounded were in a critical condition.

Sky News Arabia reported that the death toll had climbed to 21 people.

Al-Qaim, which lies some 340 kilometres from the capital Baghdad, was one of the last towns in Iraq to be controlled by IS, and was recaptured by Iraqi forces in November.

One month later, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over the IS militants.

Since then, though, security forces have announced some campaigns to flush out the last remaining IS fighters from sparsely populated areas from which they have continued to mount attacks.

The vast desert that straddles the border with Syria on either side of the Euphrates valley town of al-Qaim has been one of IS’s main hideouts.

Home to approximately 150,000 people, the town is notorious for being a crossing point for arms and money used to fuel the group’s operations.