Mourners attend the funeral in Karbala of security men who were kidnapped and killed by ISIS in Salahaddin, Iraq, June 28, 2018. Alaa al-Marjani / Reuters
Mourners attend the funeral in Karbala of security men who were kidnapped and killed by ISIS in Salahaddin, Iraq, June 28, 2018. Alaa al-Marjani / Reuters
Mourners attend the funeral in Karbala of security men who were kidnapped and killed by ISIS in Salahaddin, Iraq, June 28, 2018. Alaa al-Marjani / Reuters
Mourners attend the funeral in Karbala of security men who were kidnapped and killed by ISIS in Salahaddin, Iraq, June 28, 2018. Alaa al-Marjani / Reuters

ISIS attacks resurgent on Iraq’s ‘Highway of Death’


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  • Arabic

Nearly a year after the Iraqi prime minister declared victory over ISIS in Mosul, the inability of security forces to secure a major highway linking Baghdad to northern provinces is highlighting how militant sleeper cells can undermine security even as relative peace returns to much of the country.

For months an ongoing campaign of flying checkpoints, ambushes and kidnappings by militants on the highway linking the capital to the northern oil city of Kirkuk has terrorised travellers, and prompted the launch of a major military operation last week.

In the most recent incident on Saturday, two Filipina women were kidnapped by unknown men while travelling to the Kurdish capital of Erbil. In the past month at least eight members of security forces have been kidnapped and later executed by militants on the same stretch of road.

During the ferocious violence of Iraq’s 2006-2008 sectarian war, the Baghdad-Kirkuk highway was one of the most dangerous routes in Iraq, earning notoriety as the ‘Highway of Death’.

That former reputation is now resurgent say Iraqis who are forced to travel the lonely highway, which traverses remote and hard to police rural areas.

"Driving to Baghdad is getting riskier every day and we only drive during daylight because now it is impossible to drive after sunset," said Hussain, a 56-year-old taxi driver who makes daily journeys between Baghdad and Kirkuk. "We hear about more and more kidnappings and fake checkpoints by Daesh, we don't know how long it will go on like this and at what point it becomes the Highway of Death again."

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Late last month, the decomposing bodies of eight Iraqis were found dumped in Salahaddin province. Days earlier the men had appeared in a video produced by ISIS demanding the release of female militant prisoners in exchange for the abductees.

The executions of the eight hostages caused a national outrage in Iraq and raised fears of an ISIS resurgence.

In response, prime Minister Haider Al Abadi ordered the immediate execution of 13 prisoners convicted of belonging to ISIS.

In a meeting with senior military officials and ministers, Mr Al Abadi said: "Our security and military forces will take forceful revenge against these terrorist cells."

He added: "We promise that we will kill or arrest those who committed this crime."

Then on Wednesday the Iraqi military launched a major joint operation to target ISIS "remnants" operating in ethnically-mixed Kirkuk, Diyala and Salahuddin provinces. Code-named "Vengeance for the Martyrs", the operation aims to coordinate military, police, militia groups and Kurdish fighters alongside international coalition air and ground forces, according to military spokesman Brig. Yahia Rasool. “It’s a vast operation to clear out the region east of the Diyala-Kirkuk" highway, he said.

As ISIS lost control of territory in the face of Iraqi military advances which culminated in the liberation of Mosul last July, surviving militant fighters went underground. "They switched to sleeper cell tactics and took refuge in the rural areas around Diyala, Kirkuk and the Hamrin mountains that are far from the outposts of government forces," a senior security source in Diyala told The National.

“The militants have shaved off their beards and wear normal civilian clothes,” said the officer, who asked to remain anonymous as he was not authorised to speak publicly. “They might be walking among the people as we speak."

The geography of the area makes it hard for security forces to track militants who use knowledge of the terrain to move freely and carry out attacks. The notorious brutality of the insurgents prevents some local villagers from cooperating with government forces.

"The terrorists have no mercy and they don't spare anyone coming their way, which makes it harder for us to gather information about their movement in such areas," the security source said.

The Hamrin mountains are a low chain of ridges extending from Diyala on the Iranian border across northern Salahaddin and southern Kirkuk provinces. ISIS militants had control over the area for more than four years and following their defeat last December have made the area their stronghold, former Iraqi colonel and Iraqi military expert Ahmad Shawqi told The National.

"Hawija was the last town to be liberated in the area, but the Hamrin mountains weren't cleared completely. ISIS militants went into hiding in the area where they had stored supplies and ammunition over the past few years," he said. "The majority of civilians from rural areas of Kirkuk and Diyala provinces are living in displacement camps and mostly they haven’t returned back to their villages. This creates a vacuum and a good opportunity for ISIS militants to move, hide and get access to their supplies saved in those areas to carry out attacks."

Complicating the security situation are tensions between Kurdish and federal forces, which both lay claim to large stretches of disputed territories in Kirkuk and Diyala. Last October those tensions culminated in limited hostilities as Iraqi forces forced Kurdish fighters to withdraw from the region.

"Unfortunately, the political dispute between Baghdad and [Kurdish] Peshmerga forces cost a lot in term of security in the disputed areas,” said Mr Shawqi. “Neither Baghdad nor Erbil should compromise the security of people in the region because of political disagreements."

The progress of the latest military operation, which includes both federal and Kurdish forces, may indicate to what extent Baghdad and Erbil have overcome those disagreements.

"The only way for Iraqi forces to prevail at this stage of the security challenges is if they can carry out strong intelligence operations, build a strong military presence in rural areas and provide enough security for villagers to return," said Mr Shawqi.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs

Engine: 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo

Gearbox: 7-speed automatic

Power: 211hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 350Nm

Fuel economy, combined: 6.0 l/100 km

Price: Dh235,000

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23

UAE fixtures:
Men

Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final

Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

UAE jiu-jitsu squad

Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)

Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)

Ain Dubai in numbers

126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure

1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch

16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.

9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.

5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place

192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Biog

Age: 50

Known as the UAE’s strongest man

Favourite dish: “Everything and sea food”

Hobbies: Drawing, basketball and poetry

Favourite car: Any classic car

Favourite superhero: The Hulk original

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2015%20PRO%20MAX
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While you're here
Company%20Profile
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Indian construction workers stranded in Ajman with unpaid dues
PROFILE OF HALAN

Started: November 2017

Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport and logistics

Size: 150 employees

Investment: approximately $8 million

Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar

10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

The biog

Favourite book: Animal Farm by George Orwell

Favourite music: Classical

Hobbies: Reading and writing

 

Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance

Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.

Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.

The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.

Brief scoreline:

Manchester United 0

Manchester City 2

Bernardo Silva 54', Sane 66'

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