Mese: Agosto 2014

The cost of Iraq. The Pentagon has spent over $500 million in three months

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From June 16 to August 26 the U.S has spent an average of $7.5 million in Iraq. For a grand total of roughly $ 547.5 million. The Pentagon’s press secretary revealed it, Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, revealed it during a press conference on Friday morning. The operational costs varied, and they increased after the U.S. president authorized airstrikes on August 8.

So far, Kirby continued, the U.S. has conducted 110 airstrikes. The latest one near Mosul dam. “The strikes destroyed four ISIL armed vehicles, severely damaged another armed vehicle, and destroyed three ISIL support vehicles. All aircraft exited the strike areas safely.” Since August 8 Air Force has targeted 85 vehicles.

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Why nobody talks about PKK fighters?


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This map has been published by the Institute for the Study of War on August 26. It is a report on Iraq. Airstrikes and major clashes are happening between Mosul and Erbil, claims the institute.  Pashmerga are fighting IS, with the help of “unknown gunmen.”  Everybody talks about the Kurdish fighters and of course about ISF – Iraq Security Forces. Very few people recognize the Kurdistan Workers Party aka PKK as a legittimate force on the ground, which is not just fighting but also rescuing civilians attacked by ISIS. It happened on Mount Sinjar, where, according to sources on  the ground, they were the only ones who pushed back IS and opened a safe passage for families and innocents to escape.

 

“We are alive just because of them. The Pashmerga left us there alone without even shooting a bullet,” said Faris, a 27 years old engineer, who is helping to set up a camp by the Iraq border with Turkey. Most of the Yazidi praise the PKK and some join their fight. About 2,000 of them are still on Mont Sinjar where US airstrikes are happening and coordinated with the help of some team on the ground . In the meantime PKK fighters are pushing back IS forces in Al Malakia, just at the border with Syria. The PKK is not fighting along side Pashmerga. The Kurdish soldiers are protecting Erbil while the PKK is on the field.

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A letter from Kurdistan: “Yazidi beaten up by security forces while demanding help”

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As previously reported, Yazidi who were able to escape from Mount Sinjar are in Kurdistan. They did not leave their problem behind and their struggle is far from over. They are actually facing a humanitarian crisis.  In the Kurdistan Region there are more than 300,000 Yazidi refugees but there is no external support. There are no camps and thousands sleep on the streets hoping to leave Iraq as soon as possible. “We are not safe here,” they claimed. The news flow from Kurdistan is slow and sporadic. There is a growing tension in cities such as Zakho and Dohuk, at the Turkish border, said Farhan a former US Army interpreter.

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Do you want an ISIS gadget? Buy it in Istanbul

 

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In the working class district of Bagcilar, Istanbul, there is a shop called Islami Giyim, or Islamic Clothing. At first glance it might seem like any other store not worth paying any attention to. The reality is quite different.  This is the only known ISIS (or ISIL) merchandising store in Istanbul. T-shirts, hats, and flags are displayed next to books and plates. Twitter users have posted pictures calling for some sort of measures to be taken against the store. So far no actions have been reported.  The shop have been selling  clothes for months and Turkish media call it an example of the growing influence of the terrorist group in the country. Is Turkey fighting ISIS?

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Benedetta Argentieri

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