CTS commander says troops liberated 47 out of 74 districts in western Mosul
The Iraqi army’s elite Counter-Terrorism Service has declared liberating 47 out of 74 residential districts in western Mosul.
Speaking to the Kurdish-owned Rudaw network, Lt. Gen.Abdul Wahab al-Saadi, CTS commander, said “during our battles in western Mosul, hundreds of Islamic State militants were killed by CTS troops. Once the battle ends and Mosul is liberated, we will announce the total losses and number of IS militants killed.”
CTS, according to Saadi, “is ready to take part in all battles in Iraq and to receive commands from the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.”
On Saturday, CTS declared concluding its mission in western Mosul.
Iraqi forces have been sweeping through northwestern neighborhoods over the past few weeks in a way to invade the strategic Old City, after finding it hard to invade from the south.
Last week, Brigadier General Yahya Rasool said more than 16,000 IS members were killed since beginning of operations in Mosul. 89.5 percent of western Mosul was liberated with only a few districts remaining under the militants’ control.
Eastern Mosul was liberated in January after three months of battles. Another major offensive was launched in February to retake the western side.
Iraqi generals had predicted liberating the city before end of this month.
______________________________________________________________
Follow us on twitter @DinarUpdates !!
Dinar Updates – “News Time” w/BGG & Company!! May 21st – 7:30 pm CST – In the DU Chat Room!!
www.DinarUpdates.com – save as favorite
______________________________________________________________
Iraqi Army closes in on complete Mosul victory as ISIS clings on to last three districts
Intensified counter-insurgency efforts are bearing fruit in Mosul as the Iraqi Armed Forces liberated two more ISIS-held neighborhoods on Saturday.
Amid the last stage of the Mosul battle, the Iraqi Army was able to wrestle control of the Iqtisadiyeen district and highly fortified ’17th Tammuz’ district; the latter holds symbolic significance for the caliphate as it was the first large suburb to fall into ISIS hand in 2014.
Effectively, the Islamic State now controls merely three districts in Mosul city; namely the Al-Shafaa, Al-Zinjiji, and Old City neighborhoods. These ISIS-held areas are centered along three bridges on the western bank of the Tigris River.
The Old City district is nevertheless the most densely populated neighborhood across Mosul and houses the Al-Nouri mosque where ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi declared the caliphate in 2014. Unfortunately for government troops, it is also composed of small buildings and narrow streets that favor ISIS-style guerrila warfare.
A few isolated sniper nests are also present elsewhere while Iraqi sappers constantly endanger themselves by having to deal with booby traps and mines in liberated residential areas.
With the seasoned 9th Division and 15th Division of the Iraqi Army already departed for duties elsewhere, the final mopping-up operations in Mosul are left to the Rapid Response Division and Iraqi Federal Police to deal with.
On Saturday afternoon, the Counter Terrorism Units notably announced they had finished their operations in Mosul and would be transferred to other fronts upon demand of Baghdad.
Around 500 ISIS insurgents are still fighting in Mosul while hundreds more sleeper cells are said to be active in government-held areas.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Why Trump must make a surprise visit to Iraq on his first foreign trip
Foreign trips for any president are an ego boost of the highest magnitude: red carpet arrival with bands playing music, troop reviews, and official dinners in your honor hosted in some of the most opulent palaces in the world. For President Trump, the stakes are high. With poll numbers at historic lows and controversies surrounding his presidency, Trump desperately needs to change the news narrative, at least for a few days. And what better way to do that than to embark on your first foreign trip as president, Washington Examiner published on Saturday.
The president can’t get out of town fast enough. When Air Force One went wheels up from Joint Base Andrews on Friday, one can imagine the president felt a sense of relief as Washington quickly disappeared beneath him. Air Force One, at least for now, will be his safe zone.
When I recently asked a friend how he could log so many hours on Air Force One during the Clinton administration, he had an easy answer: the Lewinsky scandal! At a time when Clinton faced troubles at home, the best way to temporarily escape his troubles was to board the presidential aircraft and fly abroad.
But more than the comforts of Air Force One and the emotional shelter it provides to a president in turmoil, Trump will need to not only dominate the headlines over the next several days, he’ll need to own them. And he can do that by making an unscheduled visit to Iraq.
From Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, it’s a short flight. I know this because from 2008-2010, I traveled to Iraq 14 times as a civilian member of a special Department of Defense task force in charge of economic development and rebuilding as part of General David Petraeus’ counter-insurgency strategy.
Foreign trips are always full of surprises, and this would certainly be one of them. Just last month, Trump sent his son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner to Iraq to meet with United States military officials and to receive an on-the-ground update on counter-Islamic State operations.
Middle East peace is one of Trump’s loftier goals and an unscheduled visit to Iraq would benefit him greatly. Nothing speaks louder than a presidential visit to reaffirm U.S. commitment to the government of Iraq as well as the U.S. forces stationed there.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. And nothing illustrates that better than Air Force One on the tarmac at Baghdad International Airport.
At a time when the president needs to change breaking news headlines, a visit to Iraq would do just that.
Read more: http://www.dinarupdates.com/showthread.php?49254-America-decides-to-train-Iraqi-forces-at-the-hands-of-the-most-powerful-military-ins
______________________________________________________________
Iraq’s special forces declare their Mosul mission complete
Iraq’s special forces declared their mission in Mosul complete Saturday after the group retook the last western districts from the Islamic State group within their area of operation, according to a military spokesman.
The announcement came despite ongoing battles in a handful of western Mosul neighborhoods that continue to force hundreds of civilians to flee each day. IS still controls some eight square kilometers of western Mosul, including the dense Old City where some of the toughest battles are expected to play out.
Special forces spokesman Sabah al-Numan said his troops had completed their initial mission, but stood ready “to support any other forces if we are ordered to by the Prime Minister.”
Elsewhere in central and southern Iraq, a series of bombings killed at least 27 people.
A suicide bombing Saturday near the oil-rich city of Basra killed at least eight people and wounded 41 others, according to a military commander.
Five civilians and three troops were killed when the bomber blew up his explosives-laden car on Friday at a checkpoint north of Basra just behind a bus waiting to be cleared, said chief of the Basra Operations Command, Lt. Gen. Jamil al-Shimmari.
A second attacker drove down a desert road after the explosion and security forces killed him, al-Shimmari added.
In an online statement, IS claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it targeted Shiites.
Basra, about 550 kilometers (340 miles) southeast of Baghdad, is home to about 70 percent of the country’s proven oil reserves of 153.1 billion barrels. Located on the Persian Gulf and bordering Kuwait and Iran, the city is also Iraq’s only outlet to the sea and the hub for most of the country’s oil exports, with 3.23 million barrels exported from Basra last month.
IS also claimed responsibility for the double suicide bombings in Baghdad overnight that killed at least 19 people and wounded 33, according to an online statement.
Iraqi forces, backed by the U.S.-led coalition, officially launched the operation to retake Mosul in October and the city’s east was declared “fully liberated” in January. The fight for Mosul’s west was launched the following month and has been marked by some of the most grueling and deadly combat in the fight against IS in Iraq to date.
______________________________________________________________
BGG (Dinar Guru) – I am very excited about the current state of things. I am very excited about the next short time frame… I think we are in an incredible window of time right now…and I do feel – if things advance as they have been – we could be very, very close. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but legitimately CLOSE. Unlike ever before. (keep in mind – we have been close before – the CBI had planned on 2013? sometime and put it off). According to the SIGR Report. We are close. REAL CLOSE.
Read more: http://www.dinarupdates.com/observer
______________________________________________________________
Iraq’s local investments rise after cutting oil production output
Iraq signed the accord with 11 other oil exporting countries and pledged to cut 210,000 oil barrels per day from its production output. This comes although it
had resisted for a long time to activate the accord.
This accord had resulted in rise in oil prices and enhanced Iraq’s GDP and investments, Araji added.
OPEC announced in November 2016 that its members had agreed on cutting oil production output by 1,2 million barrels per day, beginning in January 2017 for six months.
______________________________________________________________
It’s said that no greater love has a man than this — that he should lay down his life for his friends.
Vice President – Mike Pence
______________________________________________________________
Iraqi troops recapture half of biggest western Mosul district
Iraqi troops have gained control on part of the biggest west Mosul district and killed a number of Islamic State militants in an airstrike.
In statements on Friday, the War Media Cell quoted the Nineveh Operations Commander, Lt.Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah, as saying that the 9th armored division retaken the northern part of 17 Tamuz (July 17) in the western side of Mosul.
In other statements, WMC said dozens of IS fighters were killed in airstrikes in western Mosul.
Iraqi fighter jets launched several airstrikes that destroyed booby-trapping workshop and vehicles and killed dozens of militants on Rifaie district.
“An IS headquarter and booby-trapping workshop were destroyed, while dozens of militants were killed on al-Zanjili district,” the statement added.
Iraqi forces have been sweeping through northwestern neighborhoods over the past two weeks in a way to invade the strategic Old City.
More than 16,000 IS members were killed since beginning of operations in Mosul, Brigadier General Yahya Rasool, the military spokesperson, said in a press conference on Tuesday declaring that 89.5 percent of western Mosul was liberated with only a few districts remaining under the militants’ control.
Eastern Mosul was liberated in January after three months of battles. Another major offensive was launched in February to retake the western side.
______________________________________________________________
U.N. says 200,000 more people could flee Mosul as fighting intensifies
The United Nations said on Thursday up to 200,000 more people could flee Mosul as Iraqi forces push into the last districts held by Islamic State militants.
Iraqi authorities and aid agencies are already struggling to cope with a surge in displacement since security forces opened a new front against the militants in Mosul earlier this month.
Backed by a U.S.-led coalition, Iraqi forces have dislodged Islamic State from all but about 12 square km (5 square miles) of the city and are seeking to claim victory before the holy month of Ramadan in less than two weeks.
The militants, however, still control the Old City, where they are expected to make their last stand in the densely populated, narrow streets that are impassable for armored vehicles.
“As military operations intensify and move closer to Mosul’s Old City area, we expect that up to 200,000 more people will flee,” Lise Grande, the U.N.’s Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq said in a statement, describing the figures as “alarming”.
“The numbers of people who are moving are now so large, it’s becoming more and more difficult to ensure civilians receive the assistance and protection they need.”
Nearly 700,000 people have fled Mosul since the start of the campaign to retake the city last October, seeking refuge either with friends and relatives or in camps.
Human Rights Watch said on Thursday the Iraqi army and other local security forces had forced over 300 displaced families to return to districts of Mosul that are still at risk of attack by Islamic State.
“These families should not be forcibly returned to unsafe areas and areas that lack adequate water, food, electricity, or health facilities,” said Lama Fakih, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.
______________________________________________________________
Al-Rashid: Our predecessor to pensioners up to 3 million dinars
Al-Rasheed Bank announced on Thursday that it is providing advances to retirees up to 3 million dinars, stressing that the borrower must have a smart card from the bank exclusively.
The bank’s assistant director Muataz Abdul Rasul said that “the bank is still continuing to grant advances to retirees according to his pension and the amounts ranging between one million and 500 thousand dinars and two million dinars and three million dinars.”
Abdul Rasul said that “the interest on these advances up to 7% and the duration of payment of five years,” stressing that “the pensioner must be a smart card from the bank exclusively.”
It is worth mentioning that the Bank of Rasheed started in 2017 by granting salaries to employees of ten salaries according to certain mechanisms and controls.
Read more: http://www.dinarupdates.com/member.php?47292-MadDScout
______________________________________________________________
Iraqi Stock Exchange: Shareholding companies are not commensurate with capital and call for ..
The Iraqi market for securities, the number of joint stock companies operating in Iraq is not commensurate with the capital of Iraq, calling for the dissemination of the culture of investment in capital.
“The number of participating companies in the Iraqi economy is 130, which is not commensurate with the Iraqi capital, whose size exceeds many times this number,” Taha Ahmed Abdul Salam, the market’s executive director, said in a press statement.
“Indicators associated with the investment field are still below the level of ambition,” he said.
“Efforts that are based on spreading investment culture must be diversified in capital,” he said.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
“Iraqi oil”: the process of exporting Kirkuk oil is not clear and beyond the control of the central government
A spokesman for the Iraqi Oil Ministry, Asim Jihad, during his conversation with Roudao correspondent, Mustafa Koran
The spokesman for the Iraqi Oil Ministry, Assem Jihad, that “despite disagreements and differences in views on the subject of oil agreement between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the central government, but hope remains always, and seek to accelerate the creation of a new agreement to serve the national interest.”
“We are always seeking an agreement that serves the citizens in all Iraqi provinces, as well as the Kurdistan region, and therefore we must work on this subject in a common national spirit, and look for the national stage,” Jihad told the network.
Jihad said that “despite the lack of implementation and commitment from both sides on the previous oil agreements, but the people remain one, and therefore must always remain hope because we are all Iraqis in the end.”
On the issue of non-disbursement of the “Petrodollar” of the province of Kirkuk, the spokesman for the Ministry of Oil, “Kirkuk province has become a complex and difficult issue, and there are a lot of things out of control, and the federal government does not have authority over all the oil fields in Kirkuk, Not clear, and all this leads to the non-disbursement of (petrodollar) of the province of Kirkuk. ”
As for the city of Basra, which is a source of the economy of Iraq, which suffers from marginalization in all respects, Assem Jihad said that “the Ministry of Oil and the Ministry of Technical, and its work is to explore and the issuance and sale of oil, and the return of cash to the central government, The Petrodollar issue, where this amount is spent permanently. ”
With regard to the establishment of a province in Basra, and its economic impact on Iraq, Jihad said: “We do not want to anticipate events and judge this issue, the subject was an idea, but not realized until this moment, and when it is realized there will be another talk about this subject.”
______________________________________________________________
BGG (Dinar Guru) – Article: “Iraq offers compensation settlement and Kuwaiti debt against investment” Quote: “…the meeting also discussed the file of compensation with the State of Kuwait and ways to settle through the window of investment inside Iraq.“. two separate items talked about – how to pay back Kuwait (not to be confused with) – their eagerness to settle investments inside Iraq? One of the big problems needing dealt with – is they have few mechanisms in place to safe guard investors. Why would the IMF care about Iraqi investors. They don’t – this is referring to OUTSIDE investors. Period. Really good news – entering final talks – it appears.
Read more: http://www.dinarupdates.com/observer/
______________________________________________________________
Transport announces the opening of a direct air line between Baghdad and Belgrade at the end of this month
BAGHDAD – A spokesman for the Ministry of Transport, Salim Musa, announced on Tuesday the opening of a direct air link between Baghdad and the Serbian capital Belgrade at the end of this month in the absence of “obstacles” administrative, indicating that the Minister of Transport Kazem A cup has been working for some time on the opening of direct air links between Baghdad and the European capitals to restore the Iraqi Airways to the reality.
He explained, “These efforts were strengthened by the opening of direct flights between Baghdad and some countries, where was going to Serbia and the holding of several meetings and agreements resulted in the creation Formula to open a direct line with Belgrade and accepted with Athens, ” Pointing out that “the collection of direct visa from the airport needs efforts should be made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and there is an actual approach to this matter.”
______________________________________________________________
Kaperoni (Dinar Guru) – Article: “ATMs for MasterCard card users” …it is fun to watch all the pieces be put in place for the economy to take off. Iraq is literally going from the stone age to the 21st century with technology in a few years.
Read more: http://www.dinarupdates.com/observer/
______________________________________________________________
Adam Montana (Dinar Guru) – [What will happen to the other major currencies when the CBI RV’s the IQD/USD exchange rate? The countries using the EUR, the GBP, the CHF, the JPY, and the CNY all have international corporations invested in Iraqi oil with contracts based on today’s exchange rates. How will a radical upward IQD/USD RV (which effectively decreases the value of the USD against the IQD) affect the EUR/USD and the GBP/USD and the CHF/USD and the JPY/USD and the CNY/USD exchange rates? Will these other major global currencies also be devalued and what in your opinion will that do to an already stressed global economy?] This is a great question, because it opens up the floor to discuss how an RV is really a zero-sum game, mostly because we are talking about a fiat currency. When the FED prints more USD, we don’t actually gain that money. It just dilutes the dollar a little bit more. IQD, and an RV of the currency, works the same way, just on a global scale. My opinion is that almost every other currency will take a slight hit, and then rebound once the IQD rate stabilizes, and within about a month all currencies will be back to normal… except the IQD will be dramatically different than it was a month prior.
Read more: http://www.dinarupdates.com/observer/
______________________________________________________________
Click this link to join the DU “private” FaceBook Group…
https://www.facebook.com/groups/571383766355188/
(go here and ask to join… then add some Dinar Friends!!)
______________________________________________________________
Iraqi Dinar/Dollar auction 05-18-17 (most recent listing)
Currency Auctions Announcement No. 3444
This daily currency auction was held in the Central Bank of Iraq on the 05-18-2017
| DETAILS | NOTES |
| Number of banks | 37 |
| Number of remittance companies | 11 |
| Amount sold at auction price (US$) | 159,547,157 |
| Amount purchased at Auction price (US$) | —– |
| Total offers for buying (US$) | 159,547,157 |
| Total offers for selling (US$) | —– |
Read More: http://www.dinarupdates.com/observer/
______________________________________________________________
| CURRENCY | CODE | SELL | BUY |
| US dollar | USD | 1184.000 | 1182.000 |
| Euro | EUR | 1316.253 | 1315.595 |
| British pound | GBP | 1535.885 | 1535.117 |
| Canadian dollar | CAD | 869.693 | 869.258 |
| Swiss franc | CHF | 1203.619 | 1203.017 |
| Swedish krona | SEK | 134.861 | 134.794 |
| Norwegian krone | NOK | 140.899 | 140.828 |
| Danish krone | DKK | 176.909 | 176.821 |
| Japanese yen | JPY | 10.510 | 10.505 |
| Special Drawing Rights |
SDR | 1630.782 | 1629.967 |