The Iraqi forces had just re-started the sweep through the Jazeera
desert of Anbar and Syria when Prime Minister Haidar Abadi announced
victory over the Islamic State. Unfortunately, the premier’s declaration took precedent, and the operation was never
completed undermining Abadi’s claim.
The Jazeera operation was aimed at clearing the huge desert
and rural region of Anbar, Ninewa, and Salahaddin. By November
26, the first phase was completed with 176 villages cleared, 50%
of the desert gone through, and a berm was being built
along the Iraq-Syrian border. There was then a week pause during which it was
reported that units from the security forces began leaving. Progress was fast,
and there was barely any fighting as it was believed most of the IS elements
fled to Syria or other parts of Iraq before the campaign even started.
December
8, the operation restarted. In just one day the security forces claimed
they went through 7,000
kilometers. The next day, a Hashd commander said
that the government was in full control of the Iraq-Syrian border and the
Jazeera campaign was over. That coincided with Prime Minister Abadi claiming
that the Islamic State was defeated. Even if the Iraqi forces’ statements are taken at face value and they were able to
sweep through 7,000 kilometers that would still leave approximately the same
amount uncleared. It seems that victory was declared short of the campaign
actually being completed so that the premier could make his announcement. This
has been a major shortcoming of the war against the insurgents. Too many times
the security forces say they have freed an area before they actually have.
The Islamic State has been defeated on the battlefield. It
no longer controls any towns or cities in Iraq. It has transitioned back to an
insurgency however, and is working to rebuild its cadres in the rural, desert
and mountainous regions of the country. That was the reason why the Jazeera
operation was so important because militants had been working in the vast area
for years. In order to keep the group down its camps and sanctuaries in places
like Jazeera need to be cleared, and a permanent presence created to stop it
from returning. Unfortunately, political expediency took precedent over
finishing this important task.
SOURCES
Agence France
Presse, “Iraq faces tough battle against IS desert hideouts,” 11/27/17
AIN, “Yarallah announces the clearing of 7,000 km in 2nd phase of
Western Sahara,” 12/8/17
Al Mada, “The
sluggishness of the operations command in Anbar means aborting the desert
cleansing,” 12/1/17
Al Mirbad, “The end
of the first page of the second phase of the Jazeera and Euphrates operation,”
11/26/17
NINA, “New Ten
Villages Cleaned Up In Anbar Province,” 12/8/17
- “URGENT…The PMF Announces The Completion Of Military
Operations And Full Control of Iraqi-Syrian Border,” 12/9/17
Rudaw, “Iraq
launches ISIS desert offensive, Russia offers help,” 12/8/17
Al Sumaria, “Purged
35 villages and 4300 km in the 2nd phase of Jazeera and Upper
Euphrates Operation,” 12/8/17
Zavis, Alexandra, “Iraq’s prime minister declares victory in war
against Islamic State,” Los Angeles Times, 12/9/17
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