The Facts Behind Bombing Syria

REVISED

• CJ
• OCT
• TML

Alleged Use of Chemical Weapons V.  Prolific Use of DU

Background Summary:

• Israel
• Saudi Arabia
• Chemical weapons versus depleted uranium (DU; also called Q-metal, or D-38).
• The US and NATO forces used 350 tons of DU penetrator rounds in the 1991 Gulf War, as well as in the Bosnia war, the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and 2015 airstrikes on ISIS in Syria.
• US jets and tanks fired about 10,000 DU rounds in Iraq during the war in 2003.
• Exposure to uranium, a toxic metal, affects normal functioning of the brain, heart, liver, kidney and other systems.
• Long-term environmental impacts of depleted uranium.
• Radiological hazards; a neurotoxic with carcinogenic and leukemogenic potential.
• Birth defect in children from 1991 Gulf War combat veterans were caused by depleted uranium poisoning.
• Gulf War veterans were found 1.8 (male) to 2.8 (female) times more likely to have children with birth defects.

[Prepared by affiliated political scientists.]

• Report 041402R available from FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

[CORR] Middle East, N. Africa: Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes

The FIRE-EARTH Tribunal in Absentia for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Committed in Middle East and North Africa [VI]

---

CJ Reaches a Unanimous Verdict on the Persons Responsible for War Crimes in Middle East and N. Africa

The C-Jury has convicted 415 persons from 14 countries of various counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria, the mass murders in the United States on September 11, and the extra-judicial killings conducted by drones in Pakistan.

Background:

• The Fire-Earth Tribunal in Absentia for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Committed in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria starting 2011, the mass murders on September 11 in the United States, and the extra-judicial killings by drones in Pakistan.
• The convicts include former and incumbent presidents, heads of states, government officials, politicians, military personnel and other persons.
• Additional charges were brought against the persons responsible for the murder of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents in Afghanistan on October 26, 2009.

[Details via FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.]

Middle East, N. Africa: Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes

SEE CORRECTION POSTED AT

https://feww.wordpress.com/2017/09/26/corr-middle-east-n-africa-genocide-crimes-against-humanity-and-war-crimes/

Global High and Low Temperatures

Today’s hottest recorded temperature was 51.6°C (124.9°F)  in Mitribah (Kuwait) 

Max Temp Last 24h

Mitribah (Kuwait), 51.6°C
Basrah-Hussen (Iraq), 51.4°C
Sabriyah (Kuwait), 51.2°C
Omidieh (Iran), 51°C
Ahwaz (Iran), 50.8°C
Badrah (Iraq), 50.8°C
Abadan (Iran), 50.7°C

Death Valley, CA (USA), 50.6°C  (123°F)

Min Temp Last 24h
Dome A (Antarctica), -75.3°C (-103.5°F)

FIRE-EARTH Alert: IRAQ

CJ Members

• Details of the Alert are available from FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

 

FIRE-EARTH Alert: Saudi-Financed Terrorism

• CJ Members
• MAC

FIRE-EARTH Alert: The Wahhabi Asteroid Belt

• Details of the Alert are available from FIRE-EARTH PULSARS.

 

UN Casualty Figures for Iraq – April 2016

More than 2,000 civilian killed or wounded in Iraq in April

At least 741 Iraqis were killed and another 1,374 were wounded in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in Iraq in April 2016*, according to casualty figures recorded by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

The number of civilians killed in April was 410 (including 11 federal police, Sahwa civil defence, Personal Security Details, facilities protection police, fire department), and the number of civilians injured was 973 (including 20 federal police, Sahwa civil defence, Personal Security Details, facilities protection police, fire department).

A total of 331 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (including Peshmerga, SWAT and militias fighting alongside the Iraqi Army but excluding Anbar Operations) were killed and 401 were injured.

The overall casualty figures are down from the previous month of March, where a total of 1,119 were killed and 1,561 were injured.

“Terrorists have used suicide attacks to target cafés, places of worship, pilgrims and markets in a wicked, unrelenting campaign to cause maximum casualties and inflict untold suffering on the population,” said the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Iraq.

Baghdad was the worst affected Governorate with 874 civilian casualties (232 killed, 642 injured). Ninewa 72 killed and 30 injured, Salahadin 32 killed and 24 injured, Diyala 17 killed and 15 injured, while Kirkuk had 16 killed and 10 injured and Basra 08 killed and 16 injured.

According to information obtained by UNAMI from the Health Directorate in Anbar, the Governorate suffered a total of 252 civilian casualties (27 killed and 225 injured).

* CAVEATS: In general, UNAMI has been hindered in effectively verifying casualties in conflict areas. Figures for casualties from Anbar Governorate are provided by the Health Directorate and are noted below. Casualty figures obtained from the Anbar Health Directorate might not fully reflect the real number of casualties in those areas due to the increased volatility of the situation on the ground and the disruption of services. In some cases, UNAMI could only partially verify certain incidents. UNAMI has also received, without being able to verify, reports of large numbers of casualties along with unknown numbers of persons who have died from secondary effects of violence after having fled their homes due to exposure to the elements, lack of water, food, medicines and health care. For these reasons, the figures reported have to be considered as the absolute minimum.

Baghdad Declares a State of Emergency

Meanwhile, a state of emergency was declared in Baghdad on Saturday after thousands of protesters tore down the walls of the highly fortified Green Zone and stormed the Iraqi parliament, according to reports.

Double car bomb attack in Iraq kills 40, ISIL claims credit

Two car bomb explosions in the southern Iraqi town of Samawa have killed at least 40 people and injured 100 more, according to reports.

The Saudi-backed Islamic State (IS, aka, ISIS/ISIL) Wahhabi terrorists have claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks.

Third of Iraqis Believe U.S. Govt. Supports ISIL: OIG

Wahhabi Terrorists supported by U.S. Government?

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

OIG Office of Inspections: “Evaluation of Embassy Baghdad’s Implementation of LOE6”

What OIG Found:

“Recent Department polling shows that about 40 percent of Iraqis believe that the United States is working to destabilize Iraq and control its natural resources and nearly a third believe that America supports terrorism in general or the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, specifically. About half of Iraqi Sunnis and Shia now say that they completely oppose the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.”

OIG Report is posted at https://oig.state.gov/system/files/isp-i-16-10.pdf

 

 

Iraq Massacre: 1,119 People Killed, 1,561 Wounded in March —UNAMI

Iraq bloodbath continues

At least 1,119 Iraqis were killed and another 1,561 others wounded in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in Iraq in March 2016*, according to casualty figures released by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

Some 575 civilians were killed in March (including 45 federal police, Sahwa civil defens, Personal Security Details, facilities protection police, fire department), and 1,196 others wounded.

[At least] 544 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (including Peshmerga, SWAT and militias fighting alongside the Iraqi Army but excluding Anbar Operations) were killed and 365 were wounded.

The overall casualty figures were up from the previous month (February 2016), where a total of 670 were killed and 1,290 wounded.

Baghdad was the worst affected Governorate with 1,029 civilian casualties (259 killed, 770 wounded). Ninewa 133 killed and 89 injured, Babil 65 Killed and 141 injured, Kirkuk 34 killed and 57 injured, while Diyala had 11 killed and 0 injured and Salahadin 6 killed and 1 injured.

According to information obtained by UNAMI from the Health Directorate in Anbar, the Governorate suffered a total of 201 Civilian casualties (64 killed and 137 wounded). Figures are updated until 30 March, inclusive. [At least 13 civilians were killed on March 31, according to IBC.]

* CAVEATS: Figures for Anbar are updated until 30 March, inclusive. In general, UNAMI has been hindered in effectively verifying casualties in conflict areas. Figures for casualties from Anbar Governorate are provided by the Health Directorate and are noted below. Casualty figures obtained from the Anbar Health Directorate might not fully reflect the real number of casualties in those areas due to the increased volatility of the situation on the ground and the disruption of services. In some cases, UNAMI could only partially verify certain incidents. UNAMI has also received, without being able to verify, reports of large numbers of casualties along with unknown numbers of persons who have died from secondary effects of violence after having fled their homes due to exposure to the elements, lack of water, food, medicines and health care. For these reasons, the figures reported have to be considered as the absolute minimum.

[According to Iraq Body Count (IBC), some 1,073 civilians were killed in March.]

Related Links

• 10+ Million Iraqis Need Humanitarian Assistance February 1, 2016
• 22,370 People Killed or Injured in 2015 Iraq Violence January 1, 2016

10+ Million Iraqis Need Humanitarian Assistance

Third of Iraqi population urgently require some form of humanitarian assistance: UNAMI

The Government of Iraq and the United Nations have called for international help to respond to the growing humanitarian crisis in Iraq.

Ten million Iraqis, nearly one third of the population, urgently require some form of humanitarian assistance, including 3.3 million people who have fled their homes since January 2014. Thousands of Iraqis are in areas under siege by combatant forces, unable to escape or seek safety. In addition, 250,000 Syrian refugees have sought safety in Iraq, the majority in the Kurdistan Region, where more than one million displaced people are also residing; 500,000 people have returned to their home areas, where they are trying to rebuild their lives.

“We face a major humanitarian emergency. We need the international community’s support to prevent further deterioration,” the Minister of Migration and Displacement and Chairman of the Higher Committee for the Relief and Sheltering of IDPs, said.

UNAMI Casualty Figures for the Month of January 2016

A total of 849 Iraqis were killed and another 1,450 were wounded in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in Iraq in January 2016*, according to casualty figures released today by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

The number of civilians killed in January was 490 (including 24 federal police, Sahwa civil defence, Personal Security Details, facilities protection police, fire department), and the number of civilians injured was 1,157 (including 47 federal police, Sahwa civil defence, Personal Security Details, facilities protection police, fire department).

A total of 359 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (including Peshmerga, SWAT and militias fighting alongside the Iraqi Army but excluding Anbar Operations) were killed and 293 were injured.

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG), Mr. Ján Kubiš, deplored the continuing high casualty toll, particularly a sharp increase in the number of injuries among civilians in January as compared to the previous month.

“One casualty is one too many. The suffering of the Iraqi people must end,” the SRSG said. “Iraqis, civilians in particular, continue to pay the price in this conflict. The Iraqi people should have the opportunity to live in peace and security.”

The figures showed that Baghdad Governorate was the worst affected, with 1,084 civilian casualties (299 killed, 785 injured), Diyala 61 killed and 79 injured, Ninewa 55 killed and 24 injured, while Kirkuk had 12 killed and 3 injured, and Salahadin 2 killed and 14 injured.

According to information obtained by UNAMI from the Health Directorate in Anbar, in January 2016 the Governorate suffered a total of 304 civilian casualties (56 killed and 248 injured). Anbar casualty figures cover the period from 1-30 January, inclusive.

*CAVEATS: In general, UNAMI has been hindered in effectively verifying casualties in conflict areas. Figures for casualties from Anbar Governorate are provided by the Health Directorate. Casualty figures obtained from the Anbar Health Directorate might not fully reflect the real number of casualties in those areas due to the increased volatility of the situation on the ground and the disruption of services. In some cases, UNAMI could only partially verify certain incidents. UNAMI has also received, without being able to verify, reports of large numbers of casualties along with unknown numbers of persons who have died from secondary effects of violence after having fled their homes due to exposure to the elements, lack of water, food, medicines and health care. For these reasons, the figures reported have to be considered as the absolute minimum.

According to Iraq Body Count a total of 1,195 civilians were killed in Iraq in January. https://www.iraqbodycount.org/

About 50 percent of the victims, including dozens of women and children, were executed by the Wahhabi terrorists, according to the released data.

“we are a killer nation, at home and abroad”

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The following essay is written by Dan Simpson, a former U.S. ambassador, is a Post-Gazette associate editor (dsimpson@post-gazette. com, 412-263-1976.)

Dan Simpson: Peace on Earth? Not until the U.S. stops selling arms and making war

By Dan Simpson / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Reviewing the bidding on the United States at the end of 2015, I conclude that we are a killer nation, at home and abroad.

The segment of our society that benefits most from this role, again, at home and abroad, is the arms industry. At home, it sells the guns that are used, virtually without control, to slaughter innocent groups of people, including in churches and schools. Our corrupt and conscienceless federal and state legislators lack the courage and brains to stop it. […]

Overseas, we are considered killers. Other countries can only pray to their chosen god or gods that the United States does not decide to work its will on them, whether it be to impose a form of government we think they should adopt or to cite some supposed wrong they have committed as an excuse to pour bombs down upon them or send drones to kill their leaders.

Like it or not, that is our reputation. Most foreigners I meet think we are crazy. Virtually all think we are a danger to world society. […]

We are in Afghanistan, where we started in 2001 right after 9/​11. We are in Iraq, where President George W. Bush took us on false premises in 2003 to get himself re-elected as a wartime president. […]

We have lost 2,332 troops in Afghanistan over the past 14 years — another six last week — and 4,425 in Iraq. […]

Why are we doing this? I thought the argument Ronald Reagan made in 1986, that if we didn’t fight the Communists in Nicaragua we would have to fight them in Harlingen, Texas, was as dead as the charlatans who governed us at that time.

In support of our ally and major arms purchaser, Saudi Arabia, we have helped to destroy Yemen. The Saudis have bombed it into the Stone Age, and I have yet to hear anyone in the White House or the Pentagon say there are no U.S. pilots in Saudi cockpits. Yemen already was the poorest country in the Middle East. Read more…

 

Asylum Seekers from 149 Countries Arrive in EU

800,000+ first time asylum seekers registered in EU (Jan – Sep 2015)

Citizens of 149 countries sought asylum for the first time in the EU in the third quarter of 2015. The largest number of asylum seekers came from Syria (138,000), Afghanistan (56,700) and Iraq (44,400), eurostat reported.

The number of asylum-seekers in the EU-28 during the third quarter of 2015 reached 430,600 (i.e. including repeat applicants), reported eurostat. This was 250,400 more than Q3 of 2014. Some 413,800 of the asylum applicants (96 %) were first time applicants.

The number of Syrians and Iraqis seeking international protection more than
tripled in Q3 of 2015 compared with the previous quarter, reaching about 138,000 and 44,500 respectively; while the number of Afghans applicants doubled to more than 56,500, said the report.

“Asylum applicants from Iraq (11 times more) recorded the most substantial relative increase in the EU in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the same quarter of 2014 followed by Albanians (nearly 8 times more), Afghanis (almost 6 times more), Pakistanis (4 times more) and Syrians (3 times more).”

The highest number of first time asylum applicants in Q3 of 2015 registered in Germany and Hungary (both with just over 108,000 applicants, or 26% each of total applicants in the EU Member States), followed by Sweden (42,500, or 10%), Italy (28,400, or 7%) and Austria (27,600, or 7%). These 5 Member States together account for more than 75% of all first time applicants in the EU-28.

About 33% of first-time asylum seekers originated from Syria.

• More than 410 000 first time asylum seekers registered in the third quarter of 2015.
• Over 210 000 first time asylum seekers in the EU in the second quarter of 2015.
• At least 185 000 first time asylum seekers in the EU in the first quarter of 2015.

At the end of September 2015, more than 808,000 applications for asylum protection in the EU Member States were still under consideration by the responsible national authority.

[Note: First time applicant for international protection is a person who lodges an application for asylum for the first time in an EU-28 Member State.]

Eurostat News releases

• More than 410,000 first time asylum seekers registered in the third quarter of 2015
• Over 210,000 first time asylum seekers in the EU in the second quarter of 2015
• 185,000 first time asylum seekers in the EU in the first quarter of 2015

Iraqi PM Demands Withdrawal of Turkish Battalion Near Mosul

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Turkey protecting terrorists partners in Mosul?

Iraqi Prime Minister has condemned a Turkish military incursion into its northern territory, demanding their immediate withdrawal.

The incursion of “around one armed battalion [up to 300 troops] with [dozens] of tanks and cannons” into the Nineveh Province was a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty, said Mr Abadi in a statement released on December 5.

Turkish officials claim the troops were deployed on Friday (December 4) as part of a “routine exercise” to train Iraqi troops near the city of Mosul, which was captured by Daesh terrorists 16 months ago.

Iraq’s Foreign Ministry has described the troops movement into the northern Iraqi province as an “incursion,” rejecting the Turkish claim and asserting that the military operation was not coordinated with the federal government in Baghdad, said reports.

“The Turkish sources maintained that Turkey already had troops in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, and the United States and other countries involved in fighting IS there were aware it was moving some troops to the Mosul area,” said a report.

“U.S. officials in Washington said they were aware of Turkey’s move, but it was not coordinated with the anti-IS coalition operating in northern Iraq.”

Turkey stands accused of buying stolen oil from Daesh terrorists [aka, Islamic State, ISIL.] The large scale illegal oil trade is helping the terrorist to rake in about 3 million dollars per day.

Daesh kidnapped 49 staff from the Turkish consulate in Mosul after seizing control of the city in June 2014; however, they released everyone unharmed three months later, AFP reported.

Related Links

• Russian military presents “proof” of Turkey’s role in ISIL oil trade December 2, 2015

Iraq October Death Toll

Iraq Govt Not Protecting Citizens Against ISIL Terrorism

The casualty figures released by UNAMI show a total of 714 Iraqis were killed and another 1,269 wounded in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in October 2015*.

The number of civilians killed was 559 (including 25 civilian police), and the number of civilians injured was 1,067 (including 43 civilian police), said the UN in Iraq.

Additionally, 155 members of the Iraqi Security Forces (including Peshmerga, SWAT and militias fighting alongside the Iraqi Army / Not including casualties from Anbar Operations) were killed and 202 injured.

*CAVEATS: In general, UNAMI has been hindered in effectively verifying casualties in conflict areas. UNAMI could not obtain the casualty figures for the month of October from the Anbar Health Directorate. In some cases, UNAMI could only partially verify certain incidents. UNAMI has also received, without being able to verify, reports of large numbers of casualties along with unknown numbers of persons who have died from secondary effects of violence after having fled their homes due to exposure to the elements, lack of water, food, medicines and health care. For these reasons, the figures reported have to be considered as the absolute minimum.

According to Iraq Body Count, the October casualty toll included 1,150 civilians killed.

• At least 643 people, including dozens of women and children, were executed.
• Up to 59 others (bodies abandoned) may have also been executed.
• At least 222 people ( including 12 children) were executed and 20 prisoners tortured to death in Mosul.

Additionally, three doctors were executed in Mosul on November 2, 2015.

Related Links

• 19 Women Executed in Mosul, Iraq for Resisting ISIL ‘Sexual Jihad’  October 7, 2015
• Nearly 2,000 Iraqis Killed or Wounded in September October 6, 2015

Drought Deaths Mounting in Southern Madagascar

Severe drought killing scores of people in southern Madagascar

Drought is killing up to ten people per day in one southern Madagascar municipality alone. 

“The death varies from two to ten per day due to drought in our area,” Bernard Tolia, mayor of Anjapaly, told China’s Xinhua news.

“A dozen mayors from south including me alerted the government on Monday to look more closely the situation in our area,” he said.

“It has been almost a year that there was no rain. People have to travel 15 kilometers, often by feet, to find drinking water; livestock is suffering and die while cultivation is impossible due to drought.”

Adverse weather conditions are also affecting crop production elsewhere in southern Africa including southern Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Malawi and South Africa, according to various relief agencies.

The negative impact of extreme weather events is threatening food security for an estimated 27.5 million people across the region, especially in Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, Botswana is experiencing “the worst drought conditions in 30 years with agricultural land badly hit by the lack of irrigation,” AFP reported the government as saying.

South Africa’s 2015 maize production decreased by a third compared with 2014 harvest, due to poor rains, GIEWS reported.

In Malawi, “2,833,212 people will not be able to meet their annual food requirement. In view of this I would like to appeal to all the development partners, other countries, and non-governmental organizations both in Malawi and elsewhere to complement government sources in assisting the food-insecure households,” said the president.

An estimated 1.5 million Zimbabweans (16% of rural households) will be unable to meet their food needs during the 2015/2016 hunger season, some 462,000 in the second quarter of the consumption year and 1,490,024 during the peak hunger season (from January-March, 2016). “This represents a rise of 160% compared to those facing food insecurity during the 2014/2015 hunger season,” according to UNOCHA, and UNRC.

Hunger Emergencies

The World Food Program (WFP) says it’s currently facing six emergencies simultaneously in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, South Sudan, Nepal and Ebola affected regions in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Iraq

The humanitarian situation in Iraq is deteriorating amid rising violence, with more than 3.2 million people fleeing their homes since January 2014, UNOCHA reports.

Humanitarian Disaster Stats
No. of people in need 8.6m
No. of internally displaced people 3.2m
No. of people who live outside camps 2.9m
No. of affected people in host communities 3.2m
No. of Syrian refugees 0.25m

19 Women Executed in Mosul, Iraq for Resisting ISIL ‘Sexual Jihad’

Iraq Government Failing to Protect Citizens Against ISIL Terrorism

The Islamic State has executed 19 women in the Iraqi city of Mosul for their refusal to participate in the practice of sexual jihad, a spokesperson for the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) has told Iraqi News.

In 2014, ISIL [Islamic State, IS, formerly ISIS, ISIL, and locally known as daesh] officially admitted to running a slave market for Yazidi women and children in their English language magazine Dabiq, said reports.

About 500 people have been violently killed in Iraq in the last week alone, most of them in summary executions carried out by ISIL terrorists.

More than 12,500 people have been killed and up to twice as many wounded in Iraq so far this year, according to reports.

Related Links

• Nearly 2,000 Iraqis Killed or Wounded in September [October 6, 2015]

Nearly 2,000 Iraqis Killed or Wounded in September

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Iraq Government Not Doing Enough to Protect Nationals Against ISIL Terrorists

A total of 717 Iraqis were killed and another 1,216 were wounded in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in September 2015*, according to the UN mission in Iraq (UNAMI).

The number of civilians killed in September was 537 (including 42 civilian police and casualty figures in Anbar), and the number of civilians injured was 925 (including 38 civilian police and casualty figures in Anbar), said UNAMI.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed by ISIL in Iraq, and many more wounded, while thousands of women and girls from various minorities have been raped or kidnapped for sex slavery.

UNAMI Summary of Civilian Casualties since Nov. 2012

Month	Killed	Wounded
September 2015	537	925
August 2015	585	1103
July 2015	844	1616
June 2015	665	1032
May 2015	665	1313
April 2015	535	1456
March 2015	729	785
February 2015	611	1353
January 2015	790	1469
December 2014	680	1360
November 2014	936	1826
October 2014	856	1490
September 2014	854	1604
August 2014	1265	1198
July 2014	1186	1978
June 2014	1531	1763
May 2014	603	1108
April 2014	610	1311
March 2014	484	1104
February 2014	564	1179
January 2014	618	1052
December 2013	661	1201
November 2013	565	1186
October 2013	852	1793
September 2013	887	1957
August 2013	716	1936
July 2013	928	2109
June 2013	685	1610
May 2013	963	2191
April 2013	595	1481
March 2013	229	853
February 2013	418	704
January 2013	319	960
December 2012	230	655
November 2012	445	1306

Russia would consider Iraqi request for airstrikes – Speaker of Russia’s Upper House

Russian Federation Council Speaker, Valentina Matviyenko, has told reporters that her country would consider airstrikes against ISIL terrorists in Iraq if the Iraqi government makes such a request.

Russia’s sole objective would be to defeat ISIL, added Matviyenko, who is the country’s third most senior lawmaker after the president and prime minister.

“In case of an official address from Iraq to the Russian Federation, the leaders of our country would study the political and military expediency of our Air Force’s participation in an air operation. Presently we have not received such an address,” Matviyenko told reporters during an official visit to Jordan on Tuesday.

“I want to emphasize that Russia has no other political objectives and no interests other than the defeat of Islamic State [IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL] and that differs us from other nations that participate in another coalition,” Interfax news agency quoted her as saying.

“Although we have different approaches in positions on Syria, nevertheless, Russia and Jordan share understanding that terrorism is now the most serious threat,” she said at a meeting with President of Jordan’s Senate Abdelraouf al-Rawabdeh, TASS reported.

“We think that what we are witnessing now is, as a matter of fact, the third world war unleashed by terrorist forces against the civilized world,” Tass reported the President of Jordan’s Senate as saying.

*CAVEATS: In general, UNAMI has been hindered in effectively verifying casualties in conflict areas. Figures for casualties from Anbar Governorate are provided by the Health Directorate and are noted below. Casualty figures obtained from the Anbar Health Directorate might not fully reflect the real number of casualties in those areas due to the increased volatility of the situation on the ground and the disruption of services. In some cases, UNAMI could only partially verify certain incidents. UNAMI has also received, without being able to verify, reports of large numbers of casualties along with unknown numbers of persons who have died from secondary effects of violence after having fled their homes due to exposure to the elements, lack of water, food, medicines and health care. For these reasons, the figures reported have to be considered as the absolute minimum.

Global Emergencies: Afghanistan, Iraq, Dominican Republic

Millions of Afghans are food insecure: Report

At least 1.5 million people in Afghanistan are severely food insecure, while 7.3 million others are moderately food insecure, said ACAPS. Food security among IDPs is worsening, with about 200,000 people in need of immediate assistance.

Afghanistan has been in protracted conflict for almost thirty five years, which has seriously hampered poverty reduction and development, strained the fabric of society and depleted its coping mechanisms. Additionally, over the past five years, armed non-state actors have challenged the territorial control of the Government and expanded the geographical scope of the conflict beyond the southern and eastern regions of the country.

… conflict and natural disasters have left many Afghans living without proper shelter. These include families who lost their homes during spring floods in the north, refugee families from North Waziristan who have fled their home to Khost and the neighbouring province of Paktika, and families displaced internally in the last year due to conflict. [OCHA]

Iraq: IDP Emergency

Some 827,964 people were internally displaced in August, making up 25 percent of the total IDP population. “The proportion of IDPs living in critical shelter arrangements increased by 2% in the second half of August. Reports of forcible evictions are increasing, and many governorates are enforcing restrictions on IDP movement. Half of all health personnel have left Anbar, Ninewa, Salah al Din and Diyala governorates.”

About 8.6 million Iraqis are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Dominican Republic: Severe Drought, Crop Losses  

At least 1.6 million people have reportedly been affected by the lingering drought that has plagued the country since last year. “The breakdown in the production of hydroelectrical power has caused energy blackouts nationwide, and water rationing is being implemented. Crop losses amount to tens of millions of dollars.”

Refugee, Migrant Arrivals by Sea Surpass a Record 430,000: IOM

Updated

More than 432,000 refugees, migrants arrive in Europe by sea since January, with 2,748 recorded fatalities

An estimated 432,761 asylum-seeking refugees and migrants have reached Europe by sea in 2015 so far this year (as of September 10, 2015), reported the International Organization for Migration (IOM). “This figure is double the amount of arrivals in the Mediterranean for the entire 2014, emphasizing the scale of the current migration emergency.”

About 70% of the arrivals were registered in Greece (309,356 people), and 28% in Italy (121,139 people). At least 2,748 migrants have lost their lives in the Mediterranean Sea (year to September 10), while 2,223  migrant deaths were recorded in 2014, according to Missing Migrants*.

Greece, the largest arrival portal, registered about 246,000 people: over 70% came from Syria alone (175,375), while the other main countries of origin were Afghanistan (50,177), Pakistan (11,289), and Iraq (9,059) between January 1 and August 31. (Additionally, more than 50,000 migrants and refugees have arrived in Greece since the beginning of September, IOM estimates).

Italy recorded 116,149 arrivals during the same period—a 3% increase compared with last year—with the bulk of refugees and migrants coming from Eritrea (30,708), Nigeria (15,113), Somalia (8,790), Sudan (7,126), Syria (6,710), and Gambia (5,514), said the report.

At various border crossings between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) IOM staff recorded that more than 3,000 migrants were in the area passing the borders in groups of 50 every 20 minutes in recent days. Fewer than 50% of the migrants and refugees were nationals from Iraq and Syria, most of them families with little children. The rest were mainly nationals from Afghanistan and Pakistan along with some from Sub-Saharan Africa. Many were also speaking Greek, confirming the fact that along with recent arrivals, there were also those who have lived for years in Greece, wanting now to head to Northern and Western Europe.

More than 450,000 migrants have entered Germany so far this year, with a total of at least 800,000  expected for all of 2015.

*[Some 39 migrants, including 4 infants and 11 older children, drowned on their way to Greece in two separate incidents last weekend, reported AP. ]

Related Links

• ISIL Terraforming Syria for Israeli Expansion September 11, 2015
• Half of Syria’s Prewar Population Have Fled Their Homes August 31, 2015

ISIL Terraforming Syria for Israeli Expansion

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“Operation Inherent Resolve:” Decidedly Irresolute!

The Coalition of “unwilling” cannot be serious about stopping ISIL terror.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD):

As of Sept. 8, the U.S. and coalition have conducted a total of 6,700 airstrikes (4,198 Iraq / 2,502 Syria).

• U.S. has conducted 5,239 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria (2,858 Iraq / 2,381 Syria)
• Coalition has conducted 1,461 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria (1,340 Iraq /121 Syria)

The following countries have participated in the airstrikes:

• In Iraq: (1) Australia, (2) Canada, (3) Denmark, (4) France, (5) Jordan, (6) The Netherlands, and (7) UK
• In Syria: (1) Bahrain, (2) Canada, (3) Jordan, (4) Saudi Arabia, (5) Turkey* and (6) UAE

* [It’s unclear whether the Turks have actually bombed any ISIL targets, or instead targeted positions of their old enemy, the Kurdish militias—ironically the only successful local force fighting against the ISIL.]

As of September 8, U.S. and partner nations aircraft have flown an estimated 53,278 sorties in support of operations in Iraq and Syria, according to DoD.

Assuming that the Coalition have dropped an average of, say, 10 bombs in each airstrike, and each bomb has killed a modest average of, say, 4 terrorists, then the 6,700 airstrikes should have resulted in eliminating more than quarter of a million terrorists—268,000 to be exact!

Unfortunately, that is pure fiction and wishful thinking.

Cost of Operations

As of Aug. 15, 2015, the total cost of operations related to ISIL since kinetic operations started on Aug. 8, 2014, is $3.7 billion and the average daily cost is $9.9 million for 373 days of operations. A further breakdown of cost associated with the operations is here.

Syrians Refugees

The most troubling aspect of the war on Syria must be the obscene numbers of terrorized Syrian refugees, who are running for their lives, abandoning their homes and country.

Some 4,088,099 Syrians, including more than 2 million [typo corrected Sept.16, 2015 -editor] people aged 17 or younger, had fled their country as of September 6, 2015, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). More than 7 million others are internally displaced.

[Some 3,182,736 Iraqis, or 530,456 families, originally from three provinces of Anbar (42%), Ninewa (32%),  and Salah al-Din (13%) have been internally displaced between January 2014 and August 27, 2015 due to ongoing atrocities committed by ISIL, said IOM.

1948 Palestinian Exodus

More than 700,000 Palestinian Arabs, or about 80 percent of the Arab inhabitants of what became Israel, were forced to flee or were expelled from their homes during the 1948 Palestine war [dubbed the Nakba, in Arabic “al-Nakbah”, meaning “disaster”, “catastrophe”, or “cataclysm”.]

The exodus was triggered by a combination of various factors including:

• Advances by Jewish military and the atrocities committed against Arab villages
• Fears of repeat massacres by Zionist militias after the Deir Yassin massacre, in which Zionist paramilitary groups massacred at least 107 of the village’s 600 inhabitants
• Expulsion orders by Israeli authorities
• Unwillingness to live under Jewish control
• Palestinian evacuation orders

Israeli government soon passed laws that prohibited the refugees from returning to their homes, or claiming their property. Thus the scene was set for Israeli expansion some 67 years ago.

To this date the Palestinians and their descendants remain as refugees.

The ever-growing state of Israel believes the only way it could realistically expand is by occupying additional, larger portions of Syria. And The only thing that stands on the way of its expansion is the Syrian population—a mere technicality [sic.]

Israel can no longer rely on the likes of Irgun and Lehi paramilitary groups to terrorize the Syrians and force them to flee their lands. Instead, the Jewish State has employed the services of ISIL, the seemingly unstoppable terrorist group with “license” to massacre, rape, and destroy—not unlike the atrocities committed by Irgun and Lehi.

The rest, if they succeed, would be history.

Iraq Casualties in August: U.N.

101 People killed or wounded in Iraq each day in August

At least 1,325 Iraqis were killed and another 1,811 were wounded in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in August 2015*, according to the UN Mission in Iraq (UNAMI)

Civilians killed: 585 (including 20 civilian police and casualty figures in Anbar province)
Civilians wounded: 1,103 (including 44 civilian police and casualty figures in Anbar)

Iraqi Security Forces killed: 740 (including Peshmerga, SWAT and militias fighting alongside the Iraqi Army / Not including casualties from Anbar Operations)
Security forces wounded: 708

“Baghdad was the worst affected Governorate with 1,069 civilian casualties (318 killed, 751 injured). Diyala suffered 108 killed and 162 injured; Ninewa 69 killed and 3 injured; Salah al-Din 23 killed and 13 injured and Kirkuk 17 killed and 15 injured,” UN said.

*CAVEATS: In general, UNAMI has been hindered in effectively verifying casualties in conflict areas. Figures for casualties from Anbar Governorate are provided by the Health Directorate and are noted below. Casualty figures obtained from the Anbar Health Directorate might not fully reflect the real number of casualties in those areas due to the increased volatility of the situation on the ground and the disruption of services. In some cases, UNAMI could only partially verify certain incidents. UNAMI has also received, without being able to verify, reports of large numbers of casualties along with unknown numbers of persons who have died from secondary effects of violence after having fled their homes due to exposure to the elements, lack of water, food, medicines and health care. For these reasons, the figures reported have to be considered as the absolute minimum.

10 Percent of Iraqi Population Internally Displaced

One in ten Iraqis internally displaced between January 2014 and July 2015 —IOM

At least 3,171,606 Iraqis (528,601 families) have been internally displaced between January 2014 and July 30, 2015, according to the Swiss-based International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The above estimate, obtained through IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), represents about 10 percent of Iraqi population of 32 million [July 2014 estimate.]

About 87 per cent of IDPs are originally from three governorates (provinces), said the report:

• Anbar (40 percent)
• Ninewa (33 percent)
• Salah al-Din (14 percent)

In the first half of 2015, at least 6,784 Iraqis were killed and 11,789 others wounded in acts of terrorism and violence perpetrated by the so-called Islamic State (ISIL) terrorists (locally known as daesh), the thugs, assassins and murder mechanics leftovers from the genocidal regime of Saddam-Hussein.

Related Links

• 15,000 Iraqis Killed, 30,000 Wounded in War against ISIL —UN Posted on August 2, 2015
• 3.1 Million Iraqis Displaced by Violence Posted on July 22, 2015

 

Earthquakes Strike E Australia, Mega Heatwave Hits Middle East

Only the singular deformity in Cambridge and his cabal could mislead you with sci-fi garbage…

Significant Earthquakes Strike Oz

• M5.6, 25.368°S, 154.282°E, 133km ENE of Rainbow Beach, Australia 2015-08-01 03:38:44 UTC, depth=10.0km

• M5.2,  25.391°S, 154.229°E, 127km ENE of Rainbow Beach, Australia 2015-08-01 04:46:24 UTC depth=10.0km

Heat Dome Broils Middle East

City of Bandar Mahshahr in Iran registered a heat index of 74°C (165.2°F) on Friday. The actual air temperature reached a high of 46.1°C, with a dew point temperature of 32°C at 4.30pm local time. [Ref. B. McNoldy, Uni of Miami]

Meanwhile, the heat index in the Iraqi capital Baghdad reached a high of 52°C on Thursday.

The highest heat index ever recorded was 81.1°C (178°F) in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, reached on July 8, 2003.

3.1 Million Iraqis Displaced by Violence

 9 Percent of remaining Iraqi population now displaced

More than 3.1 million Iraqis have been internally displaced by the ongoing bloody conflict, said UN spokesperson on Tuesday.

At least 300,000 people have been displaced from and within Anbar province including more than 250,000 individuals from Ramadi, the capital of governorate, since military operations began in April, said the UN Assistance (!) Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).

The DTM has identified 3,112,914 persons displaced by conflict in Iraq. The majority, 67 per cent, are sheltered in private settings that include rented housing, host families and hotels. A smaller but significant number, 20 per cent, are identified as living in critical shelter arrangements, which include unfinished buildings, religious buildings, informal settlements and schools. Eight per cent of those currently displaced in Iraq are living in camp settings.

A total of 1,466 Iraqis were killed and another 1,687 were injured in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in June 2015, according to casualty figures released by UNAMI earlier this month.

In the first half 2015, at least 6,784 Iraqis were killed and 11,789 others wounded in acts of terrorism and violence.

Fighting to liberate the Anbar province continues between the Iraqi security forces, and the so-called Islamic State (ISIL) terrorists, better known as daesh , the thugs, assassins and murder mechanics left behind from the genocidal regime of Saddam-Hussein, who have seized most of the governorate.

*CAVEATS: In general, UNAMI has been hindered in effectively verifying casualties in conflict areas.  Figures for casualties from Anbar Governorate are provided by the Health Directorate and are noted below. In some cases, UNAMI could only partially verify certain incidents.  UNAMI has also received, without being able to verify, reports of large numbers of casualties along with unknown numbers of persons who have died from secondary effects of violence after having fled their homes due to exposure to the elements, lack of water, food, medicines and health care.  For these reasons, the figures reported have to be considered as the absolute minimum.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – May 19, 2015

Egyptian authorities behaving like animals

Egyptian security forces are using sexual violence against detainees on a massive scale, according to the International Federation for Human Rights.

Men, women and children are being raped “to eliminate public protest,” said a report. Detainees are routinely subject to virginity tests, rape and gang rape after arrest.

“The study notes a surge in sexual violence after the Egyptian military takeover in July 2013.”

Time running out for thousands in distress at sea: UNHCR

Time is running out for thousands of people in distress at sea, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on Tuesday warned, urging governments in the Southeast Asia region to urgently rescue the vulnerable people.

“We estimate that nearly 4,000 people from Myanmar and Bangladesh remain stranded at sea with dwindling supplies on board. This includes some 2,000 men, women and children stranded on at least five boats near the Myanmar-Bangladesh coasts for more than 40 days. Unconfirmed reports suggest the number could be higher,” UNHCR spokesman told journalists in Geneva on Tuesday.

Chadians Fleeing Boko Haram

An estimated 32,000 Chadians and other internally displaced persons (IDPs) have fled Boko Haram attacks and crossed the border from Nigeria into Chad’s Lac Chad region since the beginning of January 2015, said IOM.

Islamic State terrorists take control of Ramadi, Iraq

Islamic State terrorists have taken control of Ramadi. At least 500 have been killed and 42,840 people fled fighting in the city over 16–17 May, adding to the 180,000 already displaced in Anbar since early April. Access to new IDPs in Habbaniyah, Khadiyah district, is limited due to insecurity, and health concerns are growing, reported Acaps.

Sudan: Fighting between Southern Reizeigat and Maaliya tribes in Abu Karinka, East Darfur, has reportedly displaced up to 24,000 households – 168,000 people. Those who remain have been cut off from water, food, and fuel aid. Measles cases have climbed to 4,127 so far this year, with West Darfur the worst-affected state. http://geo.acaps.org

Burundi: Displacement has increased sharply with the worsening political crisis. 105,000 people are seeking asylum in neighbouring countries, including 78,000 in Tanzania, where living conditions are worsening rapidly. Political protests continue in Burundi, despite the President warning that protesters will be considered accomplices of perpetrators of the attempted coup. http://geo.acaps.org