Arthur J. Villasanta – Fourth Estate Contributor
Baghdad, Iraq (4E) – They’re not an ISIS but however a newly organized Islamic terrorist group named the “White Flags” appears bent on taking up the mantle of the terrorist group that was nearly fully wiped-out in 2017.
The Iraqi Ground Forces (popularly referred to as the Iraqi Army) that performed the important thing position in annihilating ISIS stated White Flags is turning into extra of an issue for it, particularly in Kirkuk ( a metropolis north of Baghdad) and Tuz Khurmatu (a metropolis south of Kirkuk), that are the fear group’s facilities of energy.
The Iraqi authorities views the White Flags as a strategic risk as a result of the group has begun a marketing campaign of kidnapping and laying roadside bombs. White Flags relies on the Hamrin Mountains in northeast Iraq, and is led by Hiwa Chor, who was as soon as a member of Al Qaeda. Reports declare Chor is not taken with establishing his personal caliphate.
The Iraqi Army and the U.S.-led coalition take into account the group an offshoot of ISIS, and are focusing on it for coordinated assaults. Estimates as to this new terror group’s power range from 150 to 700 fighters. Most of those terrorists fled Hawija west of Kirkuk to flee the Iraqi Army and embody members of Al Qaeda. White Flags is claimed to have established an alliance with Turkmen militant from Diyala province.
“Whether they or not they call themselves a different name, they still have ISIS elements and they are still targets for the coalition and for the Iraqi security forces,” stated U.S. Army Col. Ryan Dillon, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition preventing ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
Also referred to as “White Banners,” this new terrorist group stays a small operation, however it “reflects that not only can ISIS live on, but the alienation of Sunni populations from the Iraqi government can spawn additional post-ISIS insurgencies,” in response to Col. Dillon. “I know that the Iraqi security forces recognize this group and have aggressively pursued them.”
“The White Flags represent a post-ISIS insurgency, and therefore reflect that the Iraqi state will continue to face a security threat from within its Sunni population until and unless it actually address the core sources of grievances that gave rise to ISIS to begin with,” stated the Institute for the Study of War in Washington, D.C..
“It reflects that not only can ISIS live on, but the alienation of Sunni populations from the Iraqi government can spawn additional post-ISIS insurgencies.”
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