The Middle East

Mass Kidnapping by Taliban in Afghanistan

by Zachary Lucas

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

KABUL, Afghanistan — In the northeastern province of Kunduz in Afghanistan, armed Taliban gunmen stopped two buses on their way to the provincial capital of Kunduz. At least ten people were killed in the incident and nearly 200 people were kidnapped.

Afghan Forces Have Stepped up Security in Kunduz Following Recent Attacks (Photo Courtesy of ABC News)

The incident occurred in the early morning when two buses were traveling to the city of Kunduz on the highway in the Ali Abad district. The Taliban had set up a roadblock and seized the passengers on the bus. About 10 people were killed immediately and 185 of the passengers were kidnapped. The people kidnapped included women, children, and seniors.

The people kidnapped were taken to a village called Omarkhil in the province of Chardara where they were being held in a church. An unknown number of abductees were killed after arriving in the village. Residents reported that the Taliban was questioning them to see if they had connections to the government. Around 160 of the people kidnapped were rescued by Afghan forces although some reports suggest that the Taliban released them. Some 20 people still remain hostage.

The identity of the victims have not been identified nor is it known why these passengers were the target of this kidnapping. It is thought that the victims might be Shi’ite Hazaras. The Taliban discriminated against this group when they controlled the government in the 1990s and discrimination against them has increased in the last year. The hard-line Sunni Taliban consider the Hazaras to be heretics.

The Taliban have stepped up their attacks in recent weeks. One week ago they claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in Kabul that killed ten people and injured four others. They have also kidnapped numerous people in similar highway abduction incidents of both locals and foreigners. In early May, the United States warned American travelers in Afghanistan to be vigilant following an attempted abduction of an American citizen.

Following the death of Afghan Taliban leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, in a drone strike, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada was announced as the new leader. The new leader vowed to continue the militant policies of the founder of the Taliban that was killed in a drone strike in 2011. Akhundzada stated that there would be no peace talks with the current Afghan government.

For more information, please see:

ABC News — Taliban Kidnap Afghan Bus Passengers Killing at Least 16: Provincial Official — 31 May 2016

BBC — Afghan Conflict: Taliban Kidnap Bus Passengers and Kill 10 — 31 May 2016

CNN — Afghan Police: Taliban Kidnap 200 Travelers, Keep 20 Hostage — 2 June 2016

Reuters — Afghan Taliban Kill Nine, Kidnap 20 Bus Passengers, Army Rescues 140 Others — 31 May 2016

British Cluster Bombs Reportedly Used in Yemen

by Zachary Lucas

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SANA’A, Yemen — Amnesty International has reported that British made cluster bombs were used by Saudi coalition forces in the current conflict in Yemen. The British government has denied that they are supplying Saudi Arabia with cluster munition and are seeking reassurances with the Saudi government that cluster munitions are not being used.

Cluster Munitions Found in Northern Yemen (Photo Courtesy of Amnesty International)

Field research by Amnesty in Sa’da, Hajjah, and Sana’a governorates led to the discovery of a partially exploded British manufactured BL-755 cluster bomb. According to Amnesty, the bomb had malfunctioned and scattered numerous unexploded “bomblets.” The cluster bomb was found near a farm in al-Khadhra village in the Hajjah governorate, close to the Saudi Arabian and Yemeni border.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond stated that there was no evidence that Saudi Arabia had used cluster munitions in the current conflict. Hammond, while responding to British Parliament, said that is illegal to supply cluster munitions under British law. The munition that was found was decades old and that Britain no longer supplied or manufactured the BL-755 cluster bombs. Hammond said that the cluster munition found was probably used in one of the the past conflicts in the region.

The Foreign Secretary stated that there will be an investigation into the report by Amnesty. The Saudi Arabian government in response said that cluster munitions are not being used nor have they been used in the conflict. The British government has said it will seek “fresh assurances” from Saudi Arabia that cluster munitions are not being used.

Saudi Arabia and its allies began a military campaign in Yemen in March 2015. The goal was to prevent Iran-allied Houthi rebels and forces loyal to the former Yemeni president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, from seizing control of the country. The civil war in Yemen has also seen attacks from groups loyal to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

The BL-755 cluster bomb was original manufactured in the 1970s by Bedfordshire company Hunting Engineering Ltd. The bomb contains 147 bomblets that are designed to scatter on impact and explode. They are intended to be dropped out of British Tornado fighter jets to pierce tank armor.

Cluster munitions were banned under the Convention on Cluster Munitions signed in 2008 and effective in 2010. Over 100 countries have signed the convention including the United Kingdom, but not Saudi Arabia. Oliver Sprague, Amnesty International UK’s Arms Control Director, called cluster munitions one of the “nastiest weapons” used in warfare. The concern with cluster munitions is that not all of the bomblets explode on impact. Amnesty documented instances in Yemen where unexploded cluster munitions blew up after being picked up by children.

For more information, please see:

Amnesty International — Saudi Arabia-led coalition has used UK-manufactured cluster bombs in Yemen — 23 May 2016

BBC — UK seeks Saudi cluster bomb assurances over Yemen — 24 May 2016

Guardian — MoD to investigate claims Saudis used UK cluster bombs in Yemen — 24 May 2016

Reuters — Britain investigating reports its cluster bombs used in Yemen — 24 May 2016

Iraqi Forces Retake Rutba; Battle for Fallujah Next

By Zachary Lucas

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq — After a two-day battle with the Islamic State, Iraqi forces reported that they had retaken the remote town of Rutba in the Andar Province. This comes on the heels of other military victories against IS in the northern and western regions of Iraq. This string of victories has been followed by some Iraq military officials stating that plans are being made to retake Fallujah next.

Iraqi Forces Have a String of Military Victories Against IS (Photo courtesy of the BBC)

Iraqi forces, backed by United States led coalition airstrikes, entered Rutba on Tuesday. These forces were helped by elite commandos and local tribal fighters to retake the city within two days. Coalition spokesperson, Colonel Steve Warren, stated that there were approximately 200 IS fighters in the town. Colonel Warren and Iraqi military officials added that little resistance was made by IS to defend the city.

Rutba was captured by IS in June 2014 and quickly became a home for IS training grounds and bases due to its remoteness. IS used Rutba as staging grounds for attacks in both Syria and Iraq. Colonel Warren stated that the retaking of Rutba will deny IS a “critical support zone” for future attacks against military forces and civilians.

Retaking Rutba is one of a few victories that the Iraqi military has seen in the last few months. In February, the Iraq military retook Ramadi from IS and last month they retook the town of Hit in Anbar province. Coalition forces estimate that IS has lost more than 30 percent of its territory in Iraq and Syria. Some officials have stated that the loss of territory and supplies has led IS to put up less military resistance and instead focus attacks on civilian populations like the recent bombings in Baghdad.

These recent victories and the strategic victory in Rutba, lead many into thinking that Fallujah is next. Both Iraqi military officials and local, allied militia leaders stated plans for retaking Fallujah are in the works. Fallujah was the first city to fall to IS control in 2014 and was later followed by numerous Iraqi military defeats, including losing the second largest city Mosul. Fallujah and Mosul, where IS has headquartered military operations, attacks on civilians, and sex trafficking of women, have been IS strongholds for almost two years.

For more information, please see:

The Washington Post — Iraqi forces retake Rutba from ISIS and eye Fallujah for next battle — 19 May 2016

BBC — IS conflict: Iraq forces retake remote western town of Rutba — 19 May 2016

Radio Free Europe — Iraqi Forces Retake Remote Western Town From Islamic State — 19 May 2016

Reuters — Iraq says it retakes western town of Rutba from Islamic State — 19 May 2016

Satellite Images Reveal Devastation of Palmyra

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

 

DAMASCUS, Syria – The Syrian army, backed by Russian forces, recently retook the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra from ISIS control. ISIS seized the ancient city in May 2015 and after committing terrible atrocities, including a mass execution, ISIS destroyed the ruins of century old civilizations.

Picture taken on March 31, 2016 of photographer holding picture of the Temple of Bel on March 14, 2014. (Photo courtesy of the Huffington Post)

Initial reports indicated that the damage to the city was not as bad as many feared, but satellite images obtained by DigitalGlobe showed unreported destruction in Palmyra. Monuments that had been in tact in September, as evidenced by DigitalGlobes previous batch of images, have been destroyed. The recent destruction included five more partly destroyed Roman-era tower tombs and a funerary was reduced to rubble.

Only two columns are left standing from the Arch of Triumph as the rest of the arch was brought down by explosives. The Arch of Triumph, dating back to the era of the Roman emperor Severus, by be easily repaired as it had been last restored in the 1930’s. At the entrance of the 2,000 years old Temple of Bell, members of the Islamic State allegedly wrote on the rocks, “The Islamic State. No entry for civilians or brothers [fighters].” The courtyard of the Temple was left standing but the prayer chamber was destroyed.

Allison Cuneo, project manager for the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) Cultural Heritage Initiatives, stated “What’s strange is there hasn’t been any propaganda related to these tower tombs at all.” While she did acknowledge that the towers could have been damaged in combat she stated that the satellite images show signatures of intentional destruction.

Michael Danti, a Boston University archeologist, emphasized that a lot of damage to Palmyra was there prior to ISIS’s arrival. He stated, “That might get lost in translation over time. They were the primary culprit, but not the only culprit.”

Mamoun Abdulkarim, Syria’s antiques director stated that it would most likely take as long as five years to restore the site. He further stated that most of the important works were transported to government held Damascus at the time ISIS captured the town. However, he warned  “there are still large items, like the sarcophagi, which weigh three to four tons and we could not move. Those are what worry me.”

The head of antiques for Palmyra, Khaled al-Assad, was killed after he allegedly hid artifacts and refused to give their location to ISIS. The Syrian army also uncovered a mass grave which contained over 25 bodes, including women and children.

A plan to detonate 4,500 mines that were linked to a telephone network had not been carried out, because the man responsible was killed by Assad loyalists. Russian army experts are starting to remove the mines which would take months.

For more information, please see:

CBS News – Devastation Left Behind by ISIS in Syrian Town of Qaryatain – 4 April 2016

Atlas Obscura – Newly-Released Satellite Images Show Shocking Destruction of Palmyra – 1 April 2016

The Guardian – ISIS Destruction of Palmyra Antiques Revealed in New Pictures – 1 April 2016

The Huffington Post – Palmyra Taken Back From ISIS But Striking Photos Reveal the Full Devastation They Caused – 1 April 2016

Dozens Killed in a Suicide Bomber Attack at an Iraqi Stadium

By Brittani Howell

Impunity Watch Reporter, The Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – On Friday, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive belt at a soccer game killing at least 41 people in a town south of Baghdad. Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a statement issued by its news agency al-Amaq.

Friends and relatives mourn during the funeral of some of the victims from the suicide bomb attack. (Photo courtesy of the Washington Post)

The attack which wounded 105 people occurred in the town of Iskandariyah in the Babil province struck a crowd gathering for a game between two local teams. The game was sponsored by Asaib Ahl al-Hag, a powerful Shi’ite militia with ties to Iran. A trophy was being presented to the winning team of the match when the bomb detonated.

Among those killed was the head of the local council and also injured two senior local figures of Asaib Ahl al-Haq according to the head of the local security, Falah Abdul Kareem. Sheik Jawad, the head of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq office in Babil Province, stated, ” The attack was carried to destabilize the confidence between the people and Asaib, to take revenge against us after our victories.”

The U.N Secretary-General for Iraq, Jan Kubis, condemned the attack carried out by the Islamic State. He stated, “The evildoers are aiming their wrath at the innocent and vulnerable civilians.” Kubis continued, “Today, Daesh committed yet another atrocity, targeting families who were enjoying their weekend attending a football game in their hometown. This abhorrent act deserves the strongest condemnation.”

The director of the U.S State Departments office of Press Relations Elizabeth Trudeau, provided a statement speaking against the attack, ” The United States condemns today’s suicide bombing claimed by Daesh… which killed and wounded dozens of Iraqis who had gathered to support a local football game.”

The Islamic State’s news agency, Amaq News Agency, reported that more than 60 people died and more than 100 people were wounded. They also reported that the bombing name was Saifullah al-Ansari, allegedly a fake name, and indicated that he was a local Iraqi or Syrian member. The news agency also provided the statement from Islamic State which stated, “Our knight immersed into their crowds until he detonated his belt, turning them into scattered parts.”

Earlier this month at least 33 people were killed and another 15 were wounded in a suicide bombing in Hilla in the Babil province. The Islamic State also claimed responsibility for this attack and stated, “the battle has just started and the coming will be worse.” This attack came just one week after two suicide bombings which targeted Shi’ite areas of Baghdad and killed over 100 people.

For more information, please see:

CNN – ISIS Claims Suicide Attack on Iraqi Stadium That Kills 33 – 26 March 2016

The Washington Post – Islamic State Suicide Bomber Kills Dozens at a Stadium south of Baghdad – 26 March 2016

BBC News – Iraq Violence: ‘IS Suicide Attack’ Kills 29 in Football Match – 25 March 2016

The New York Times – ISIS Suicide Bomber in Iraq Kills Dozens at Soccer Game – 25 March 2016