Iraqi general tells special operations conference of Islamic State atrocities

The Tampa Tribune / TBO.com

Military News

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In May 2014, Iraqi Staff Gen. Talib Shagati Mshari Alkinani, commander of the Iraqi Joint Special Operations Command, visited the U.S. Special Operations Command war game center at MacDill Air Force Base and talked about a dangerous new group of jihadis that was only beginning to garner attention.

Calling itself Islamic State, the group had already taken over the Syrian city of Raqqa, which it declared the capital of its caliphate, and the Iraqi city of Fallujah and parts of Ramadi. But it would be another month before it took over the Iraqi city of Mosul, its biggest conquest, which really thrust it onto the global stage,

Tuesday, at the Global SOF Foundation Symposium at the Innisbrook Country Club in Palm Harbor, Alkinani delivered his message about Islamic State and what it’s been like to fight the organization headed by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi ever since.

Two years ago in Tampa, “I mentioned that we are going to face another terrorist organization they are calling ISIS,” Alkinani said through a translator during a panel discussion on urban warfare. “At that time, the audience was saying that it would only be in Iraq … and not in another country.”

But the group’s real goal, he said, “was to destroy the global community.”

Islamic State quickly became a more dangerous foe than its predecessor organization, al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI), Alkinani said.

“ISIS is more difficult to deal with, and they have more technical capabilities than AQI,” he said. “They are recruiting always from other countries from to get foreign fighters, and use technology and networks and the internet.”

The fall of Mosul was a nadir for the Iraqi security forces, said Alkinani.

“After Mosul fell we were facing difficult challenges,” he said. “The most important of these challenges, to be honest with you, was that the morale of the soldiers was going down.”

With the help of U.S. and coalition forces, things began to change.

U.S. and coalition forces provided training, weapons and equipment that, along with airstrikes, boosted the Iraqis’ confidence.

“Now we have forces comfortable to clear those cities and go forward,” Alkinani said.

Almost a year ago, Alkinani’s troops recaptured Tikrit. In December, they recaptured Ramadi.

Reentering Ramadi gave Alkinani a horrific view of how Islamic State defended the urban center, and offered a preview of the bloody battle that awaits in Mosul.

“They always use civilians as a shield for them,” he said, “to achieve the highest casualties among civilians. They also destroy the infrastructure of the city and for that reason, it is the most difficult fighting for conventional forces.”

Once the Iraqi troops finally entered Ramadi, the enemy, said Alkinani, “collapsed immediately.

“We were then able to defeat their ideology and their propaganda.”

But it wasn’t easy.

Islamic State fighters used snipers and car bombs and roadside bombs to turn Ramadi into a giant booby trap.

“A majority of these terrorist were using bomb vests,” Alkinani said.

The Iraqi troops exhibited tremendous bravery, he said.

“You see a soldier jumping in the field of mines, and be killed or to die in that field, in order to open and clean the area of mines and IEDs, that is very difficult to imagine,” said Alkinani.

Islamic State had turned the city into a fortress, he said.

“I entered Ramadi and I saw by myself, that in houses next to each other, they opened holes in each wall in order to be going through,” Alkinani said. “They were able to move with freedom in those holes between houses.”

The jihadis, he said, also dug tunnels under the streets and houses and were able to withstand airstrikes and artillery fire as a result, he said.

They also used small teams, driving around the city with truck-mounted machine guns, to try and disrupt Iraqi command and control and make it seem like they were stronger than they really were, Alkinani said.

Avoiding radio, cell phone or other electronic means, the jihadis relied on human couriers to communicate, Alkinani said.

The next major battle looms in Mosul, said Alkinani, who expressed confidence that Islamic State will be defeated.

“We have a guaranteed plan to liberate Mosul,” said Alkinani. “Things are going on to liberate Mosul. We have good morale and we also have good capability that came with the help of our friends the Americans and the coalition in order to liberate Mosul and destroy ISIS and defeat them in Iraq.”

The Global SOF Foundation Symposium continues through Thursday.