Posted: Sunday, October 13th 2013 at 8:31am
Al-Qaida surges back in Iraq, reviving old fears
By The Associated Press
BAGHDAD (AP) -- First came the fireball, then the screams of the victims. The suicide bombing just outside a Baghdad graveyard knocked Nasser Waleed Ali over and peppered his back with shrapnel.
Ali was one of the lucky ones. At least 51 died in the Oct. 5 attack, many of them Shiite pilgrims walking by on their way to a shrine. No one has claimed responsibility, but there is little doubt al-Qaida's local franchise is to blame. Suicide bombers and car bombs are its calling cards, Shiite civilians among its favorite targets.
Al-Qaida has come roaring back in Iraq since U.S. troops left in late 2011 and now looks stronger than it has in years. The terror group has shown it is capable of carrying out mass-casualty attacks several times a month, driving the death toll in Iraq to the highest level in half a decade. It sees each attack as a way to cultivate an atmosphere of chaos that weakens the Shiite-led government's authority.
Recent prison breaks have bolstered al-Qaida's ranks, while feelings of Sunni marginalization and the chaos caused by the civil war in neighboring Syria are fueling its comeback.
"Nobody is able to control this situation," said Ali, who watches over a Sunni graveyard that sprang up next to the hallowed Abu Hanifa mosque in 2006, when sectarian fighting threated to engulf Iraq in all-out civil war.
"We are not safe in the coffee shops or mosques, not even in soccer fields," he continued, rattling off some of the targets hit repeatedly in recent months.
The pace of the killing accelerated significantly following a deadly crackdown by security forces on a camp for Sunni protesters in the northern town of Hawija in April. United Nations figures show 712 people died violently in Iraq that month, at the time the most since 2008.
The monthly death toll hasn't been that low since. September saw 979 killed.
Al-Qaida does not have a monopoly on violence in Iraq, a country where most households have at least one assault rifle tucked away. Other Sunni militants, including the Army of the Men of the Naqshabandi Order, which has ties to members of Saddam Hussein's now-outlawed Baath party, also carry out attacks, as do Shiite militias that are remobilizing as the violence escalates.
But al-Qaida's indiscriminate waves of car bombs and suicide attacks, often in civilian areas, account for the bulk of the bloodshed.
The group earlier this year renamed itself the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, highlighting its cross-border ambitions. It is playing a more active military role alongside other predominantly Sunni rebels in the fight to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad, and its members have carried out attacks against Syrians near the porous border inside Iraq.
The United States believes the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is now operating from Syria.
"Given the security vacuum, it makes sense for him to do that," said Paul Floyd, a military analyst at global intelligence company Stratfor who served several U.S. Army tours in Iraq. He said the unrest in Syria could be making it even easier for al-Qaida to get its hands on explosives for use in Iraq.
"We know Syrian military stocks have fallen into the hands of rebels. There's nothing to preclude some of that stuff flowing across the border," he said.
Iraqi officials acknowledge the group is growing stronger. Al-Qaida has begun actively recruiting more young Iraqi men to take part in suicide missions after years of relying primarily on foreign volunteers, according to two intelligence officials. They said al-Baghdadi has issued orders calling for 50 attacks per week, which if achieved would mark a significant escalation.
One of the officials estimated that al-Qaida now has at least 3,000 trained fighters in Iraq alone, including some 100 volunteers awaiting orders to carry out suicide missions. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to disclose intelligence information.
A study released this month by the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said al-Qaida in Iraq has emerged as "an extremely vigorous, resilient, and capable organization" that can operate as far south as Iraq's Persian Gulf port of Basra.
The group "has reconstituted as a professional military force capable of planning, training, resourcing and executing synchronized and complex attacks in Iraq," author Jessica Lewis added.
The study found that al-Qaida was able to carry out 24 separate attacks involving waves of six or more car bombs on a single day during a one-year period that coincided with the terror group's "Breaking the Walls" campaign, which ended in July.
It carried out eight separate prison attacks over the same period, ending with the complex, military-style assaults on two Baghdad-area prisons on July 21 that freed more than 500 inmates, many of them al-Qaida members.
"It's safe to assume a good percentage of them ... would flow back into the ranks," boosting the group's manpower, said Floyd, the military analyst.
American troops and Iraqi forces, including Sunni militiamen opposed to the group's extremist ideology, beat back al-Qaida after the U.S. launched its surge strategy in 2007. That policy shift deployed additional American troops to Iraq and shifted the focus of the war effort toward enhancing security for Iraqis and winning their trust.
By 2009, al-Qaida and other Sunni extremist groups were "reduced to a few small cells struggling to survive and unable to mount more than token attacks," Kenneth Pollack, a Clinton administration official who is now a Middle East analyst at the Brookings Institution, noted in a report earlier this year.
Now there are fears that all the hard work is coming undone.
Iraqis, both Sunni and Shiite, say they are losing faith in the government's ability to keep the country safe.
"Al-Qaida can blow up whatever number of car bombs they want whenever they choose," said Ali Nasser, a Shiite government employee from Baghdad. "It seems like al-Qaida is running the country, not the government in Baghdad."
Many Sunnis, meanwhile, are unwilling to trust a government they feel has sidelined and neglected their sect.
Iraqi officials say that lack of trust has hampered intelligence-gathering efforts, with fewer Sunnis willing to pass along tips about suspected terrorist activities in their midst.
"During the surge, we helped build up the immune system of Iraq to deter these attacks. Now that immune system has been taken away," said Emma Sky, a key civilian policy adviser for U.S. Army Gen. Ray Odierno when he was the top American military commander in Iraq.
"Before you had the U.S. there to protect the political space and help move the country forward," she added. "How much longer can this go on before something breaks?
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] |
|
Today at 11:09 am by Bama Diva
» utube 10/1/24 MM&C Iraq Dinar News - Iraqi Stock Exchange - Private Sector - Water - Infrastructure
Today at 5:15 am by Rocky
» Two new rounds of oil and gas investment
Today at 5:12 am by Rocky
» Securities Commission: A strategy to transform Iraq into a regional investment center
Today at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Political alliance talks about deciding the parliament presidency
Today at 5:06 am by Rocky
» US forces hinder Iraqi forces' pursuit of ISIS
Today at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Foreign Relations renews its call to preserve Iraq's sovereignty
Today at 5:03 am by Rocky
» Abdul Wahid: Two ruling families seized the salaries of the region’s employees
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» End of the state of alert among security formations in Iraq
Today at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Inauguration of the first copper and cable factory in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq
Today at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan Regional Government reveals upcoming tripartite meeting to resume oil exports
Today at 4:57 am by Rocky
» "Al-Eqtisad News" publishes the full decisions of the Cabinet session
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Finance Committee: Discussing 2025 budget schedules to begin next month
Today at 4:53 am by Rocky
» 6,000 job positions to appoint top students and certificate holders.. These are the details
Today at 4:51 am by Rocky
» Iraq.. Manufacturing oil well complexes by local hands
Today at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Iraq is ranked 6th in the Arab world and 37th globally in labor force statistics 2024
Today at 4:49 am by Rocky
» State Administration Coalition confirms unity of Iraqi position
Today at 4:47 am by Rocky
» 6 thousand job positions to appoint top students and certificate holders
Today at 4:45 am by Rocky
» 4 new industrial cities
Today at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Implementation of 6 major projects in the capital
Today at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Maysan trains 920 young people to find job opportunities
Today at 4:41 am by Rocky
» Inventing an advanced device in the field of digital communications
Today at 4:40 am by Rocky
» Planning receives 125,000 tablets for the general population census
Today at 4:39 am by Rocky
» Committee to count the number of private public transport vehicles in the country
Today at 4:37 am by Rocky
» Government moves to build 6 new refineries
Today at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Cabinet approves national initiative to support energy and reduce emissions
Today at 4:35 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani receives the Spanish Ambassador to Iraq and stresses the need for the European Union to ta
Today at 4:33 am by Rocky
» The Ministry of Oil discusses plans and programs to advance refinery sector projects
Today at 4:32 am by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers decides to increase the capital of the Trade Bank of Iraq by 500 billion di
Today at 4:30 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic confirms to the National Security Advisor that the stability of Iraq i
Today at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Benefiting from the ISIS experience... Türkiye exploits the tension in the region to expand in Kurdi
Today at 4:26 am by Rocky
» Karbala.. Integrity Commission arrests a broker in the Real Estate Registration Directorate and moni
Today at 4:24 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: There is a need for the European Union to take more steps to stop the Zionist aggression
Today at 4:23 am by Rocky
» "Leave the money exchanges behind you".. A specialist proposes a "treatment" for the rise of the dol
Today at 4:21 am by Rocky
» Prices are unstable.. The dollar soars by 20 thousand from the official price
Today at 4:20 am by Rocky
» Iraqi oil plummets as Iran-Israel conflict escalates
Today at 4:19 am by Rocky
» Chairman of the Federal Financial Supervision Authority meets with the Head of the Kurdistan Regiona
Today at 4:17 am by Rocky
» Fox News: The Pentagon still refuses to disclose the number of its forces stationed in Iraq
Today at 4:15 am by Rocky
» Ghazi Ajil Al-Yawar.. The first president of Iraq after the American invasion
Today at 4:14 am by Rocky
» US Forces in Iraq 2003-2024
Today at 4:12 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani directs to “raise” the readiness of Iraqi forces
Today at 4:11 am by Rocky
» Iraq establishes a bank fund to support Gaza and Lebanon
Today at 4:10 am by Rocky
» House and shop rents reach record prices in Baghdad.. Who controls the real estate market?
Today at 4:09 am by Rocky
» Iraq is moving towards new legislation to combat climate change
Today at 4:08 am by Rocky
» Rafidain: Launching social assistance salaries
Today at 4:07 am by Rocky
» The Federal Service Council reveals 6,000 job positions
Today at 4:05 am by Rocky
» The President of the Supreme Judicial Council receives the President of the Iraqi Journalists Syndic
Today at 4:04 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani gives 48 hours to identify those responsible for security breach in Baghdad
Today at 4:03 am by Rocky
» Sudanese government to suspend official work on October 3
Today at 4:02 am by Rocky
» Ministry of Transport: We have begun clearing Iraqi airspace of arriving, departing and transiting a
Today at 4:01 am by Rocky
» Cabinet decisions for today
Today at 4:00 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani visits the Joint Operations Command headquarters in Baghdad
Today at 3:58 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani directs to control and raise the level of security capabilities
Today at 3:56 am by Rocky
» 2025 schedules to be discussed soon...a proactive step to guarantee employees' salaries
Today at 3:53 am by Rocky
» House of Representatives votes on Personal Status Law today
Today at 3:52 am by Rocky
» A new rise in the price of the dollar against the dinar in the Iraqi markets
Today at 3:50 am by Rocky
» 72 various rumors recorded during the current week in Iraq
Today at 3:49 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani's government... achievements on various levels
Today at 3:48 am by Rocky
» utube 9/28/24 MM&C IQD Update News -Iraq PM - $83 Billion 3 Years - Stability - Global Contracts -
Yesterday at 7:17 am by Rocky
» MP: Strategic facilities in Iraq are fully secured
Yesterday at 7:07 am by Rocky
» Central Bank of Iraq sells more than $250 million in auction today
Yesterday at 7:05 am by Rocky
» Iraq is the fifth largest oil supplier to South Korea in the month
Yesterday at 7:04 am by Rocky
» Launch of the October social assistance payment
Yesterday at 7:03 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani's advisor explains: Did electronic payment procedures contribute to preserving the dinar's
Yesterday at 7:02 am by Rocky
» Baghdad funds Erbil with 243 billion dinars to pay salaries of the region’s employees
Yesterday at 6:58 am by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers holds its regular session headed by Al-Sudani
Yesterday at 6:56 am by Rocky
» Prime Minister Makes Phone Call to Jordanian King
Yesterday at 6:55 am by Rocky
» Commerce announces launch of new food basket
Yesterday at 6:54 am by Rocky
» Warning to Iraqis: New ways to steal your money and smuggle it abroad
Yesterday at 6:50 am by Rocky
» Former MP: Parliament presidency decision postponed until further notice due to recent events
Yesterday at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Al-Kubaisi: Al-Halbousi has no choice but to support Al-Mashhadani for the presidency of Parliament
Yesterday at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Coordination Framework Leader: Weakness in Cybersecurity Equals Danger of Terrorism
Yesterday at 5:08 am by Rocky
» MP confirms proceeding with questioning the Minister of Transport
Yesterday at 5:06 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary complaint against the Minister of Finance due to the delay in releasing allocations to
Yesterday at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Document: Al-Sadr sues an Iraqi Foreign Ministry employee who refused to interrupt Netanyahu’s speec
Yesterday at 5:03 am by Rocky
» Nechirvan Barzani discusses several issues with the Russian ambassador, including the Kurdistan elec
Yesterday at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Al-Fartousi: There are no hazardous materials in Iraqi ports
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Two rounds of licensing for oil and gas investment in the next phase
Yesterday at 4:58 am by Rocky
» World Green Economy Summit Announces Program for 10th Session
Yesterday at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Minister of Industry counts the number of profitable government companies: I do not support their pr
Yesterday at 4:55 am by Rocky
» This is their value.. 9 American and Asian investment funds trade in the Iraqi market
Yesterday at 4:54 am by Rocky
» Minister of Planning: We have moved forward to draw a new map of the population reality in Iraq
Yesterday at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Completing the procedures for raising pensioners’ salaries in Iraq
Yesterday at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Start accepting service purchase requests
Yesterday at 4:49 am by Rocky
» State Administration Coalition confirms unity of Iraqi position
Yesterday at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Establishing 19 schools with international standards in Kirkuk
Yesterday at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Decrease in illiteracy rates in the region
Yesterday at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Purchase of service for insured workers for retirement purposes
Yesterday at 4:43 am by Rocky
» Implementation of 6 major projects in the capital
Yesterday at 4:41 am by Rocky
» Iraqi oil rebounds amid Middle East escalation
Yesterday at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Baghdad Today publishes the names of those covered by income-generating loans in the Ministry of Lab
Yesterday at 4:37 am by Rocky
» The crisis of fleeing the land of the cedars.. Kurdistan's eye on Lebanese investors, but! - Urgent
Yesterday at 4:35 am by Rocky
» "Air Peak" Enters the Skies of Two US Forces Bases in Iraq
Yesterday at 4:33 am by Rocky
» Revealing the number of citizens in the Hasabi project.. a different number to satisfy Baghdad
Yesterday at 4:31 am by Rocky
» An expert reveals the reason for the fragility of the Iraqi market: Countries want imports to remain
Yesterday at 4:30 am by Rocky
» Market Forces Committee recommends holding an Iraqi-Turkish forum in Baghdad
Yesterday at 4:28 am by Rocky
» Expert proposes a single proposal to confront the decline in oil prices and issues a warning to prod
Yesterday at 4:26 am by Rocky
» Head of Erbil Chamber of Commerce reveals steps to develop trade relations with Russia
Yesterday at 4:24 am by Rocky
» In Al-Sudani’s office, the State Administration Coalition discusses “dangerous” developments in the
Yesterday at 4:23 am by Rocky