Security | 2020-02-21 Militias impede IDP return in Ninawa Plains Displaced residents complain that Iran-backed militias operating in the region are preventing them from returning to their homes in the area. Security | 2020-02-21 Turkey seeks to defuse tension with Russia in Syria Moves to defuse tensions in north-western Syria come as Turkey and the 27 EU member states express alarm about a humanitarian crisis. Security | 2020-02-21 Iraq investigates ISIS mass grave near Tal Afar More than 1,000 victims killed by ISIS during its occupation of Mosul were discovered in a mass grave site near Tal Afar. Human Rights | 2020-02-21 170,000 people living in the open in NW Syria: UN Thousands of the newly displaced are living in the open or in unfinished buildings, with no access to basic services such as latrines. Education | 2020-02-20 Anti-ISIS ideology campaign under way in Anbar The province's local government is partnering with tribal leaders, educators and religious scholars to counter ISIS's extremist ideology. Society | 2020-02-20 Deir Ezzor residents decry regime's negligence Prices are soaring unchecked, poverty and unemployment are rampant, garbage is piling up in the streets, and many areas lack basic services. Terrorism | 2020-02-20 Iraqi government freezes assets of 93 terrorism supporting entities The freezing resolutions, issued February 13th, highlight Iraq's commitment to fighting terrorism financing and money laundering. Human Rights | 2020-02-19 Iraqi women condemn al-Sadr's call to ban mixed demonstrations Iraqi women marched in Najaf and Baghdad to protest Moqtada al-Sadr's remarks, which they said were aimed at excluding and undermining women. Terrorism | 2020-02-19 Exhumation under way at 17 Sinjar mass graves Authorities say they have completed the procedures to open 17 mass graves in Sinjar that contain the remains of Yazidis killed by ISIS. Refugees | 2020-02-19 Syrian activists call for help for displaced civilians Thousands have fled the fighting in recent days, with the newly displaced facing difficult conditions and a shortage of accommodation and aid. Education | 2020-02-18 Iraqi organisations help children scarred by terrorism Civil society organisations are working together to treat the effects of terrorism on children as they are the most susceptible to the psychological effects of violence. Refugees | 2020-02-18 Regime advance in Aleppo causes 900,000 Syrians to flee The UN is calling for a ceasefire and the establishment of humanitarian corridors as civilians continue to suffer from the relentless violence and freezing temperatures. Crime & Justice | 2020-02-18 Turkey arrests suspected ex-ISIS executioner The detainee, arrested at a construction site in Bursa province, was an executioner for a senior ISIS leader in Deir Ezzor, Turkish media report. Crime & Justice | 2020-02-18 Mass grave found near Damascus: state media Syrian regime forces say they have found a mass grave containing the remains of around 70 bodies near the Eastern Ghouta town of Douma. Security | 2020-02-18 Iraqi forces, tribes destroy 3 ISIS rest-houses in Anbar A new operation will look for ISIS remnants in an area that covers the outskirts of al-Baghdadi and Haditha towards Lake al-Tharthar, north of the Euphrates river. Security | 2020-02-17 Iran-backed militias prevent Iraqi IDPs from returning home The Iranian regime wants its proxy militias to establish a foothold in areas it deems strategic, which lie on the 'Iranian silk road' that extends to Syria, officials say. Security | 2020-02-14 World more secure, stable with Soleimani gone: observers Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani was responsible for expanding Iran's influence through a network of militias and his death is a significant hindrance to Iran's plans. Human Rights | 2020-02-14 Courts uphold Iraqi law in ISIS fighter trials ISIS fighters must be held accountable for the crimes they committed, but defendants also have a right to a fair trial, experts say. Terrorism | 2020-02-13 Small-scale attacks show ISIS is struggling: experts Though it still poses a threat, the group does not have the resources to conduct wider-scale attacks and is finding it hard to mobilise. Terrorism | 2020-02-13 ISIS women try to manipulate al-Hol children After security forces sectioned off the perpetrators of violence, the women began ordering children in the camp to make trouble on their behalf. Media | 2020-02-13 Uptick in assassinations of Iraqi journalists raises concerns Three Iraqi journalists have been killed so far this year. Media rights organisations demand better protection for reporters and just punishment for the perpetrators. Security | 2020-02-12 Iran-linked militias trade arms ISIS left behind The Iraqi army has dismantled a criminal network involved in selling weapons and explosives it had looted from ISIS caches hidden in Anbar. Security | 2020-02-12 Tensions rise sharply on north-west Syria front Opposition groups downed a Syrian regime helicopter in Idlib as the regime pressed on with a Russia-backed offensive in the region. Security | 2020-02-12 20 ISIS members arrested in Iraqi intelligence operations ISIS members, including senior leaders, were arrested in intelligence operations against active and sleeper cells in northern and western Iraq. Human Rights | 2020-02-12 HRW urges probes into fate of missing ISIS captives More than 8,000 people detained by ISIS when it controlled swathes of north and east Syria remain unaccounted for, the watchdog says. Security | 2020-02-12 International coalition clashes with Syria regime loyalists The international coalition responded with live fire after one of its patrols came under attack near the Kurdish-held city of Qamishli. Terrorism | 2020-02-11 Iraq shuts down ISIS propaganda efforts The Iraqi Ministry of Interior shut down 900 social media accounts that were used to spread extremist propaganda. Security | 2020-02-11 Syrian regime regains control of M5 highway The move comes amid escalating fighting in Idlib and Aleppo and tensions with Turkey as the Syrian regime and its allies press an offensive. Security | 2020-02-11 Plan to expand NATO's Iraq mission wins support The NATO mission would continue to focus on training Iraqi forces and would not take on combat operations, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.
