Iraqi security forces march on the outskirts of Najaf, south of Baghdad…Iraqi security forces march on the outskirts of Najaf, south of Baghdad November 19, 2014. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani (IRAQ – Tags: POLITICS MILITARY CIVIL UNREST)
Four ISIS fighters launched a surprise attack on Iraqi Army positions in al-Shohadaa region in al-Baghdadi west of Anbar.
According to ISIS, 40 Iraqi soldiers were killed as a result of the attack and many others were wounded, including the director of Al-Baghdadi township, Sharhabil al-Obeidi and the commander of the Fourth Corps, Kamal al-Obeidi.
According to the ISIS-linked News Agency Amaaq, the attack lasted for 6 hours and ended with the four attackers bowing themselves among with Iraqi soldiers.
In Mosul city, ISIS claimed that its fighters have been able to repel an attack by the Iraqi Federal Police in Bab Jadid and Bad al-Baid districts in Old Mosul Area. 10 Iraqi soldiers were allegedly killed and 30 were injured in the failed attack.
ISIS also claimed the killing of 7 Iraqi SWAT officers in the Al-Mushahada area in Old Mosul and the destruction of a Humvee vehicle in Bab al-Kush.
The Iraqi Army hasn’t published any information about the military operation in the Old Mosul area. It is believed that the Iraqi Army does not want to give ISIS an idea about its operations due to sensitivity of the area. For example, ISIS destroyed the Al-Nouri al-Kabir Mosque after the Iraqi Army announced that its troops were 50 meters away.
The Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) announced that it managed to foil an attack by ISIS fighters. The PMU launched heavy rockets from Tal Safouk targeting ISIS vehicles at the Syrian-Iraqi border that were preparing to attack the Tal Safouk crossing. According to the PMU, ISIS militants fled following the shelling.
“The Iraqi army does not want to give .. ideas about its operations ” . It is about time , “loose lips , sink sips ” .