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A mass grave containing the remains of 643 civilians has reportedly been discovered near a former ISIS battleground in Iraq with those inside believed to have been members of a Sunni tribe reportedly targeted by Iraqi militias.

Saudi news outletAl Arabiya said official sources had confirmed the bodies, found along the side of a road 5km north of Fallujah, belonged to the al-Muhamdah tribe a group who had disappeared in 2016 and hadnt been seen since.

The territory is believed to have been under the control of Iraqi soldiers under the banner of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), also known as Hashd al-Shaabi, a conglomerate of militias accused by the US and Israel of being backed by Iran.

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The militias were among many to be involved in the driving out of ISIS from the country and were key to the battle of Fallujah where they fought alongside Iraqi state forces to free the city from the terror groups militants in 2016.

However shortly after the liberation of the territory, Amnesty International said at least 643 men and boys had disappeared from the region in a series of abductions by men who identified as part of the PMU.

Oil spills in Qayyarah, northern Iraq

Wim Zwijnenburg/PAX

Plumes of black smoke from burning oil wells hung over Qayyarah for several months

Wim Zwijnenburg/PAX

The burning of oil wells and oil spills have caused long term damage to the environment in Iraq

Wim Zwijnenburg/PAX

Experts still do not know the extent of the damage from Isis's burning of oil wells and polluting of rivers

Wim Zwijnenburg/PAX

Soil and water pollution is high in northern Iraq and impacting agriculture

Wim Zwijnenburg/PAX

There are fears if environmental damage is not taken seriously agriculture in northern Iraq could be destroyed

Wim Zwijnenburg/PAX

Oil spills in Qayyarah, northern Iraq

Wim Zwijnenburg/PAX

Plumes of black smoke from burning oil wells hung over Qayyarah for several months

Wim Zwijnenburg/PAX

The burning of oil wells and oil spills have caused long term damage to the environment in Iraq

Wim Zwijnenburg/PAX

Experts still do not know the extent of the damage from Isis's burning of oil wells and polluting of rivers

Wim Zwijnenburg/PAX

Soil and water pollution is high in northern Iraq and impacting agriculture

Wim Zwijnenburg/PAX

There are fears if environmental damage is not taken seriously agriculture in northern Iraq could be destroyed

Wim Zwijnenburg/PAX

They organisation said the civilians were held at a location they described as the yellow house, where they were tortured and held without food or water. Survivors said they were beaten around the head and body, while being accused of belonging to ISIS.

One survivor told the NGO: They didnt give us anything to drink for the first day; on the second they brought a small bottle for 10 people. They took about 300 of us to the truck; it was dirty and smelled repulsive.

I think it was used to transport farm animals before us. They handcuffed us two by two. One man died right there, I think from thirst and suffocation Others were taken out and then I could hear gunshots. Later I could also smell burning.

Following the conclusion of the battle against ISIS in the region, the grouping has strived to become an incorporated part of the Iraqi state - with the goals of the PMUs top brass increasingly shifting from the military to the political.

But international condemnation of the group has continued. While the predominantly Shia group is made up of multiple factions, a number of militias under the banner swear loyalty to Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

In July Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi, who recently resigned, inviting the PMU to join the Iraqi military after the US urged the group to demobilise.

And in October Israel was accused of launching a number of drone strikes against the groups bases a claim not directly addressed by the state.

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Mass grave containing remains of 643 civilians discovered in Iraq - The Independent

As anti-government protests continue in Iraq, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on international and regional powers to withhold arms sales to the crisis-hit county. Iraqi security forces along with unidentified masked men have been using excessive force to disperse protesters, leaving hundreds dead, according to a report released on Monday by the organization.

HRWs Middle East director Sarah Leah Whitson said protesters were killed constantly and added that The U.S., U.K., and Iran cant have it both ways, calling on the Iraqi government to respect the rights of protesters while supporting the Iraqi forces killing protesters or standing by.

Iraqis have been in the streets for three months to protest the government, the U.S. and Iran. The protesters hold these actors responsible for the deterioration of economic, political and security problems across the country. Starting as a protest against high unemployment rates, energy shortages and corruption, the protests have since become mass street demonstrations. Although the Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi handed in his resignation, thousands of people continue to take to the streets every day. Moreover, certain religious groups, especially the followers of Shiite scholars, declared that they would not pledge support to any candidate proposed by the Iraqi president.

The death toll is estimated to be around 500 or more. Therefore, the HRW calls on the arms suppliers to stop delivering more weapons to Iraq. Given the level of unlawful killings by the state forces, countries such as the United States, United Kingdom and Iran that provide military and law enforcement training and support to Iraq should end such assistance until the authorities take effective action to stop the killings and hold abusers to account, its statement read.

The report underlined the fact that unidentified men were heavily involved in the massacres against civilians. Speaking to witnesses and protesters, the report indicated that these unidentified armed men were responsible for the brutal killing of dozens of protesters in Baghdad last week. The report quoted a witness as saying that as the vehicles drove through the square slowly, gunmen in plain black uniforms and civilian dress opened fire with AK-47s and PK machine guns above the protesters, before lowering and firing directly at them. According to the report, the Iraqi security forces had disappeared during the massacre but came back later for arrests. Whitson said, Theres very strong evidence that Iraqi authorities outsourced their dirty work against protesters, leaving just as the killings commenced and returning to assist with arrests. Therefore, the Iraqi government is responsible, too.

Amid the political deadlock, the Iraqi government, which is under the political influence of Iran and is largely dependent upon foreign aid, remains helpless to find a solution. In return, Iran and its proxies continue to dominate the political scene and the decisions, taken against the protesters. Therefore, it is not realistic that the HRW asks Iran to stop arms sales to Iraq. Protesters have been repeating the claim that Iranian soldiers or armed proxies were already present and efficient in the country for a long time.

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Calls on Iran to stop arms sales to protest-hit Iraq grow - Daily Sabah

The unrelenting tide of anti-government violence in Iraq including targeted killings of protesters and gruesome reprisals hasn't derailed Canadian and NATO military training missions in the country, but it has made themmore challenging, a top Canadian general told CBC News.

"I'm concerned about what has been happening in Iraq over the last number of weeks," said Lt.-Gen. Mike Rouleau, the head of Canada's overseas and domestic operations,in a year-end interview. "We'll be happy when the instability stops."

Canada leads the NATO alliance mission to train instructors at three Iraqi military schools and advise the country's defence ministry. Separately, Canadian special forces are partnered with Iraqis in the north of the country, providing counterterrorism advice and assistance in the ongoing mission to hunt down remnants of the Islamic State.

Rouleau said that, while he's not "overly concerned" about the ability of the Canadian military to complete its mission, he acknowledges the violence and uncertainty has forced it to call off some meetings and activities with distracted Iraqi government officials.

"There have been a number of meetings and engagements that have had to be cancelled," he said. "The lion's share of the business proceeds apace."

Still,Rouleausaid the crisis in Iraq has been the topic of conversations "every couple of days" between himself and his boss, Gen. Jonathan Vance, the chief of the defence staff.

Reports published in the region quote Iraqi army sourcessaying two rockets were fired at a military base near the Baghdad airport housing U.S. troops on Thursdaythe 10th such attack since late October, when the instability began.

The Canadian military has not reported a similar incident,but Rouleau said the threat of troops being hit by "indirect fire" worries him.

Still, Rouleau expressed confidence in the security measures put in place to protect Canadian troops.

The Liberal government has authorized the military to deploy up to 850 soldiers throughout the Middle East. Mostof them have been assigned to the NATO mission and the separate U.S.-led counterterrorism campaign in Iraq.

Rouleau cautioned that social and political instability is something Islamic State extremists thrive on and could exploit.

"While they have been severely set back, they are still a threat. The political instability doesn't hurt ISIS," he said, using another common name for the Islamic State. "It potentially gives them gaps and seams and vacuums and that's one of the reasons we need to stay focused on it.

"I can say with high confidencethey will seek to exploit any gaps they find. The instability is not a particularly positive thing for the defeat-ISIS mission."

The spark that ignited the ongoing protests touches on some of the fundamental problems in Iraq the NATO training mission is trying to address.

The demotion of a prominent commander in the Iraqi counterterrorism service known as the Golden Division set off the recent unrest. Abdel-Wahab al-Saadi was relegated to a desk job in the country's defence ministry and it's believed nepotism was the reason for the order to sideline him.

Creating an impartial, merit-based Iraqi defence force is one of the key goals of an international community desperate to prevent a repeat of the disaster in 2014, when the country's army and police formations melted away in the face on an Islamic State onslaught out of Syria.

Continuing with the security sector reform is crucial, Rouleau said.

"We're not talking about training people to shoot rifles," he said. "We're talking about a pretty comprehensive effort to get a sustainable Iraqi defence enterprise on its feet."

The anti-government protests, which have grown in size and violence since October, have claimed over 400 lives and led to the recent resignation of the prime minister, Adel Abdul-Mahdi.

Last week, demonstrators lynched a teenage male they accused of attacking a protest camp in Baghdad. The incident happened in Baghdadand the body of the youth was hung from a traffic light.

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Violence in Iraq isn't stopping Canada's training mission there, says general - CBC.ca

The Iraqi police and military forces field one of the widest variety of handguns in the world. From modern staples like the Glock 19, HS Produkt HS2000, and S&W M&P to relics like Saddams infamous Browning High Power, many pistols could lay claim to being the Iraqi national handgun. But in fact, the honor belongs to the Tariq, a clone of the Beretta M1951 manufactured in Iraq. While Tariq can refer to both clones of the M1951 and the Beretta 70 series, clones of the M1951 are generally more common, and the Tariq name generally applies to them when said without other context.

But why does the Tariq have lasting popularity with Iraqis?

A lot is probably down to availability and customizability. In an excellent video describing the history and characteristics of the Tariq, Miles Vining of Silah Report and TFB TV calls the Tariq the Hi-Point of Iraq, a reference to the cheap and available Hi-Point pistols in the US.

This is due to the Tariq being license produced in Iraq. In the 1980s, Saddam Hussein wanted to start producing firearms in Iraq, setting up an arms plant in Al-Qadisiyah. The plant primarily produced a version of the Yugoslavian Zastava M70 AK known as the Tabuk, but also produced the Tariq. Presumably, Saddam was able to buy a license for the Beretta M1951 for cheap, as Beretta had already moved on to producing the more advanced Beretta 92.

The Tariq does not make any significant changes in operation from the Beretta M1951. Mechanically, its a single-stack 9x19mm Parabellum pistol that relies on a rising and falling locking block to lock the slide onto the barrel. The most distinct visual change are the metal medallions inset on the grips of Tariq pistols, which depict Tariq ibn Ziyad, a commander who lead Muslim armies across the Strait of Gibraltar into Spain. Gibraltar itself is a Spanish derivation of Tariqs name.

The arms plant in Al-Qadisiyah was a success, and Tabuk rifles and Tariq pistols were mass produced and standard-issue for most of the Iran-Iraq War and the following Gulf Wars. As a result, thousands of Tariqs flooded onto the black market following the collapse of the Baathist Iraqi government and looting of government armories in 2003.

As the Tariq is rather large for its capacity and only has an 8 round magazine, it is thoroughly outclassed by most modern double-stack handguns. However, this ensures that the price is kept low. As it uses common 9x19mm ammunition, it can be seen as an everymans pistol in Iraq. Tariq production was even restarted in 2009 and continues to this day as demand remains high.

The non-tilting barrel of the Tariq also allows it to be easily suppressed. Most pistols with tilting barrels like the Glock, High Power, and HS2000 require an additional component in the suppressor called a booster to suppress, as the additional mass of the suppressor makes the tilt to unlock the barrel require more energy. Conversely, the Tariqs fixed barrel imposes no such limitation, allowing for simple suppressors just made of baffles to be fitted to the muzzle. This has made the Tariq a favorite of assassins and special troops in the employ of insurgents or various militias across Iraq.

Despite its seemingly obsolescent nature, the Tariq, Iraqs national handgun will likely continue to be seen for a long time in the region. Continued production ensures that there will be spare parts to keep even old Tariqs running for a long time.

Charlie Gao studied political and computer science at Grinnell College and is a frequent commentator on defense and national-security issues.

Image: Bob Adams NM via Wikimedia Commons.

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Meet the Tariq: The Old Gun (Beretta Clone) That Iraq Can't Get Rid Of - The National Interest Online

Issued on: 12/12/2019 - 16:49Modified: 12/12/2019 - 16:53

Since deadly anti-government demonstrations broke out in Iraq in October, over 400 people -mostly young, unarmed protesters -have been killed by Iraqi forces. But officials say that only 111 people have died.Meanwhile, the families of protesters killed in the unrest are accusing the government of falsifying their death certificates. They say that officials changed the cause of death of their loved onesand are contesting the documents.Our correspondent in Baghdad, Ibrahim Saleh, went to meet with some of these families.

Meanwhile,Lebanon'spolitical and economic quagmire continues. But the situation is at least fuelling the creativity of the country's artists.Showing that a picture is indeed worth a thousand words, young illustrators are making their opinions known through political cartoons. We take a closer look.

And this year, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees marks its 70th anniversary.But UNRWA has little to celebrate.Since the US stopped its contributions in 2018, the UN agency is facing its worst financial crisis to date.As Adel Gastel illustrates, the move has put at risk vital aid for hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees.

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Protests in Iraq: Families angered by altered death certificates - Middle East matters - FRANCE 24