ISIS Seeks Political Gains in Iraq as it Shifts Tactics

An Iraqi security force member walks near the damage site in the aftermath of a twin suicide bombing attack in a central market, in Baghdad, Iraq January 22, 2021. (Reuters)
An Iraqi security force member walks near the damage site in the aftermath of a twin suicide bombing attack in a central market, in Baghdad, Iraq January 22, 2021. (Reuters)
TT
20

ISIS Seeks Political Gains in Iraq as it Shifts Tactics

An Iraqi security force member walks near the damage site in the aftermath of a twin suicide bombing attack in a central market, in Baghdad, Iraq January 22, 2021. (Reuters)
An Iraqi security force member walks near the damage site in the aftermath of a twin suicide bombing attack in a central market, in Baghdad, Iraq January 22, 2021. (Reuters)

Several rumors and videos of ISIS members vowing to carry out attacks in Iraq have emerged in wake of last week’s deadly suicide attack in Baghdad.

Thursday’s attack, the bloodiest in years, left dozens of people dead and hundreds wounded.

Rumors soon circulated that some 15 suicide bombers were present in Baghdad and that they would soon target residential areas in the capital. To make the rumors even more believable, videos and voice recordings of ISIS leaders were circulated, showing them pledging to bring devastation.

Turns out, however, that some of these recordings date back to 2016 and some of the members making these threats had actually died years ago.

It appears that ISIS is seeking to achieve political gains in Iraq as the country prepares to hold elections, which are set for October, and as Joe Biden assumes the presidency of the United States amid ongoing tensions with Iran.

Whether the terrorist group itself wants to exploit these conditions in its favor, or whether internal or foreign political forces are seeking to exploit them, ISIS has nothing to lose in either scenario. It has nothing to lose in the elections or in the potential American-Iranian negotiations.

On whether last week’s attack was a change in tactic for the group or a security failure, advisor at the European Center for Counter-Terrorism and Intelligence Studies, Imad Alou, said: “It’s a bit of both.”

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he explained: “It is clear that there is a change in plans and goals by ISIS, while the security forces have failed due to their preoccupation with attacks on the Green Zone, US embassy and international coalition convoys.”

“ISIS is seeking to wage a long guerilla war to exhaust the security forces and agencies,” he added.

“The recent escalation is confirmation of our previous warnings that traditional widescale military attacks have not succeeded in reining in the terrorist organization,” he stressed, explaining that such operations are easily exposed and costly.

“They are not the way to wage a guerilla war,” he stated. Alou instead suggested that security forces adopt non-traditional combat methods and carry out special operations based on accurate intelligence information and constant field surveillance.

Authorities must review the best methods to combat terrorism on the military and security levels and ministries and institutions should offer services to the people, as well as job opportunities and reconstruction to curb the organization’s ability to infiltrate society and exploit poverty.

“But above all, the means of coordination and cooperation between the Popular Mobilization Forces, army and federal police must be reassessed,” he said, demanding that a joint and unified command be adopted.

He predicted that ISIS will carry out more attacks in the future should the security forces remain disorganized and in disarray and should rocket attacks against American interests persist.

“This poses several questions over which sides are set to gain from the return of terrorist bombings in Iraq,” Alou noted.



Aid to Gaza 'Facing Total Collapse', Warn 12 NGOs

 A Palestinian boy looks through a hole in the wall into a damaged room after an Israeli strike on a school housing displaced Palestinians in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on April 17, 2025. (AFP)
A Palestinian boy looks through a hole in the wall into a damaged room after an Israeli strike on a school housing displaced Palestinians in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on April 17, 2025. (AFP)
TT
20

Aid to Gaza 'Facing Total Collapse', Warn 12 NGOs

 A Palestinian boy looks through a hole in the wall into a damaged room after an Israeli strike on a school housing displaced Palestinians in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on April 17, 2025. (AFP)
A Palestinian boy looks through a hole in the wall into a damaged room after an Israeli strike on a school housing displaced Palestinians in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on April 17, 2025. (AFP)

The humanitarian aid system in Gaza is "facing total collapse" because of Israel's blockade on aid supplies since March 2, the heads of 12 major aid organizations warned Thursday, urging Israel to let them "do our jobs".

Israel has vowed to maintain its blockage on humanitarian aid to the war-ravaged territory, saying it is the only way to force Hamas to release the 58 hostages still held there.

"Every single person in Gaza is relying on humanitarian aid to survive," the chief executives of 12 NGOs, including Oxfam and Save the Children, wrote in a joint statement.

"That lifeline has been completely cut off since a blockade on all aid supplies was imposed by Israeli authorities on March 2," they said, adding that "This is one of the worst humanitarian failures of our generation."

A survey of 43 international and Palestinian aid organizations working in Gaza found that almost all have suspended or drastically cut services since a ceasefire ended on March 18, "with widespread and indiscriminate bombing making it extremely dangerous to move around", the NGOs said.

"Famine is not just a risk, but likely rapidly unfolding in almost all parts of Gaza," they said. "Survival itself is now slipping out of reach and the humanitarian system is at breaking point."

"We call on all parties to guarantee the safety of our staff and to allow the safe, unfettered access of aid into and across Gaza through all entry points, and for world leaders to oppose further restrictions."

Israel's renewed assault has killed at least 1,691 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, bringing the overall toll since the war erupted to 51,065, most of them civilians.

Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, also mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.