Dheyaa Alwakeel
Diaa Al-Wakil Diaa Al-Wakil*
I’ve met with one of the brave warriors that faced and survived the suicidal bombing that took place near the Fallujah front. I asked him about how much the incident has affected him and other warriors psychologically and physically when it happened, he told me that he felt a psychological shock from the enormity of the sound which stunned him out of control for a few seconds, then he regained his awareness and continued his fighting mission with lasting effects from the shock. ISIS bets on those few seconds caused from the shock (dead angle) in their suicide missions, as they send the rest of the suicide bombers and their vehicles to attack during that time, which usually consists of three to four bombed vehicles trying to get to target. And we may find in that simple introduction the answer to what happened on Saturday the 13th of this June, when the fronts fighting ISIS found themselves facing two dangerous attacks; the first was in al-Hayakel area south of Fallujah, and the second was in Baiji. As for the first attack, it targeted the headquarters of the second troop Major General 36 of the first division, and the heroic fighters managed to repel the attacking force that consisted of three bombed vehicles driven by suicidal bombers, two of which were blown up by CORNET missiles, while the third one unfortunately managed to reach the troop’s headquarters and led to the martyrdom of the troop commander along with several fighters, and the purpose of this attack was to push the military operations outside Fallujah city.
The second operation however, was between Baiji and Tikrit, and it differs in tactics and goals as followings:
- Four new black SUV armored vehicles specified for delegations were used, and it is thought that they’ve been seized in Mosul.
- Control groups in Al-Hajjaj village between Baiji and Tikrit and military sites were targeted.
- The tactic used here was different as each of the vehicles drove into a previously specified target.
- Drain the intensity of the attack on the Baiji oil refinery and ease the pressure on the remaining ISIS’s pockets stationed there by distracting attention and effort.
- A show of strength by attacking several locations and districts.
- The use of surprise element and camouflage and avoid open engagement.
- The misleading media marketing to attract more recruits, especially from Europe, after the organization’s claims that the four suicide bombers are of British, German, Palestinian, and Kuwaiti nationals, according to news and information monitoring.
This situation puts the leaders of the Armed Forces and the PMF in front of a major challenge requiring them to come up with counter combat plans to put an end to these attacks with innovative and mobile methods that include the use of anti-armor weapons like the Russian-made CORNET-missiles and the (AT-4) missiles that were promised by America, and moving them to organizationally framed alternatives that respond to the combat situation developments at the warfronts against ISIS. I think it’s time for the serious initiative, to come up with a special force to fight the suicide bombing terrorism, with specific member choosing standards and specifications, and providing them with sufficient training, rehabilitation and supplying them with new modern weapons, and distributing them over the fronts in a small flexible formations able to move and maneuver, implementing their missions under the command of the High Field Commander and coordinated with the military intelligence, with the main mission of stopping the bombed vehicles with suicidal drivers. That force can also be developed and adapted according to the field situation.
I believe that the danger is shared, imminent, and doesn’t concern Iraq only, and that the international community must address the “oil spot” strategy adopted by ISIS, with an effective and fast strategy that supports Iraq, and to stand with it with both words and action, rather than leading from behind and using the half-paralyzed American dripping policy, that has been received from many countries recently.
