MENA BRIEF, SITREP August 1 – August 12: Middle East and Northern Africa Regional Low Intensity Conflicts.

[BAHRAIN]:

Shia opposition groups continue to call for nationwide protests. Throughout the week, the calls have failed to generate any major protests. Minor arrests have, however, been made by security forces in relation to Shia opposition anti-government actions.

AUG1, Bahrain; Government released a statement through affiliated news outlets about the capture of Abbas Hassan Mansoor (39). Mansoor was wanted, by the Bahraini government, for his involvement in the JUN19 Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack in al-Hajar, which left 1 militant Shiite fighter dead. According to the security forces, Mansoor was captured while transporting “bomb making materials”. The statement did not specify where, or when, the arrest occurred.

[EGYPT]:

AUG3, Esna, Luxor Province, Egypt; Ministry of Interior (MoI) has stated that a police officer, and a civilian, were fatally shot during a shootout in Esna. At least 3 other civilians were also injured during the shootout. The incident began when the police officer stopped a vehicle during a routine patrol of the area. Individuals inside the vehicle opened fire, killing the police officer, and other civilians in the vicinity of the vehicle. 1 individual was detained by responding security forces, while at least 1 other remains at large. An automatic rifle and several safety deposit boxes were found inside the vehicle. Several local news outlets also indicate that a suicide explosive belt was also found inside the vehicle, but this claim remains unverified. The suspect that is currently unaccounted for is believed armed and dangerous.

AUG3, Batrah, Dakahlia Province, north of Cairo, Egypt; An attack by four masked individuals on a guard post outside of a radio station in Batrah resulted in two police officers being injured. The gravity of the injuries remain undetermined. The attackers were able to take the two police officer’s weapons, and evaded capture by responding security forces.

AUG8, Mit Birah, Menoufia Province, north of Cairo, Egypt; A police raid against a drug stash resulted in the death of 2 police officers, and 3 suspects. Security forces have been reluctant to disclose the type of drugs found, or the total number of arrests.

AUG9, al-Arish, North Sinai, Egypt; 4 police officers were killed when their patrol vehicle came under attack outside of the city of al-Arish. The attack was claimed 3 days later by the local Islamic State chapter.

AUG11, Sidi Gaber Railway Station, Alexandria, Egypt; A train accident at the Sidi Gaber Railway Station resulted in 42 dead, and 133 injured. The Transport Ministry has declared the incident to be due to “human error”, as opposed to early reports in local media that indicated equipment failure. The Minister of Social Solidarity has stated that all victims of the attack will receive a measure of compensation from the government.

AUG11, Qena province, Egypt; 1 police officer, and 3 suspected militants, were killed in a shootout during a security forces raid on a hillside compound. The militants are believed to belong to a Islamic State affiliated cell that targets Coptic Christians in Egypt. During a search of the compound, security forces found “weapons” and “gold jewellery which was probably stolen from some of the Christian victims” from the MAY26 attack on the Saint Samuel monastery in the Minya province, which resulted in the death of 29 Coptic Christians.

[SAUDI ARABIA]:

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has reported 6 new cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) during the past time period. The majority of cases were found in the Jawf Province.

AUG1, al Aziziyah, southern Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; A shooting against the center for Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, also known as the religious police, occurred during the evening of AUG1. Witnesses to the attack state that 10 rounds were fired from a “machine gun”, after which the still-unidentified gunmen fled the scene. Local reports indicate that there were no injuries from the attack.

AUG1, Manhattan, New York City, New York state, USA; Saudi Arabia asked a US District Court judge to dismiss 25 lawsuits that seek to establish that Saudi helped plan, and carry out, the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. The lawsuits also seek to have Saudi Arabia pay damages to the victims, and the families of the victims, from the attack. The case remains pending.

AUG2, Munawwarah, al Awamiyah, al Qatif, Saudi Arabia; Security forces raided a farm compound that was believed to be used by a militant opposition group. During the raid 1 male, which has been described as a “known terrorist” by the government, was killed. Several others inside the compound were injured during the raid.

AUG2, Munawwarah, al Awamiyah, al Qatif, Saudi Arabia; A non-governmental aid organizations (NGO) bus which was being used to evacuate civilians from the ongoing problems in al Qatif came under fire on AUG2. 2 people were killed and 1 other was injured inside the bus. The bus was being operated by the Safa Charitable Society, and was transporting families out of the conflict area. Government affiliated outlets accused Shiite opposition of the attack. Shiite opposition affiliated outlets accuse the Saudi security forces of having attacked the bus.

[TURKEY]:

Turkish security forces have arrested at least 15 individuals suspected of being affiliated with the Islamic State (IS). In one arrest on AUG7, in Basaksehir in Istanbul, 3 pistols, and IS related media material, were discovered. On AUG10 a Russian national, identified as Renat Bakiev, was arrested by Turkish security forces outside of the NATO base Incirlik Air Base. Bakiev allegedly has active ties to IS, and is also suspected of planning an attack against the air base.

Turkish security forces have also arrested at least 12 individuals suspected of being affiliated with the Kurdish Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as result of ongoing nationwide raids.

AUG1, Istanbul, Turkey; A protest gathering occurred outside of the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul at 0300 hours. The protest was in condemnation of recent Israeli government activities regarding the Al Aqsa Mosque Compound (part of the Temple Mount) in Jerusalem. The Israeli security services have closed down portions of the Temple Mount area, and insists on installing additional security features (such as metal detectors at the entrances). These actions have been met by protests from the worldwide Muslim community.

AUG2, Ankara, Turkey; Public protests, and other “mass gatherings”, were declared illegal by the Governor of Ankara in a statement on AUG2. The official reason given is due to concerns for public health, as the summer temperature remains high. If protests are held, police is likely to interject. A subsequent protest, in part held in response to the new security routines, on AUG5, held outside the Sureyya Opera House in Kadikoy, Istanbul, resulted in the arrest of 33 protestors.

AUG2, Ankara, Turkey; The trial against 486 individuals for their alleged involvement in the attempted coup on JUL15, 2016, was initiated. Many of the defendants are army generals, and air force pilots, some of which are being tried in absentia. If convicted the majority of the accused risk life terms in prison.

AUG2, Ankara, Turkey; Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, legally approved his selection of new leaders for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, in the largest reshuffling of the top military echelon in recent years. The ongoing purge of individuals that were involved in the attempted coup on JUL15, 2016, within the Turkish military has left several high positions within the armed forces vacant.

AUG3, Kayano, Gaziantep, Turkey; Security forces raiding what has been described as an Islamic State (IS) storage depot found 102 sacks of “bomb making materials” on AUG3. Also present were several USB memory sticks, dvds, and printed material, that illustrate the IS cause. The material is believed by Turkish security forces to have been intended to be used for activities inside of Turkey.

[YEMEN]:

AUG1, London, England, UK; An exclusive story from Reuters was released, detailing the alleged new routes used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to maintain logistics ties, and provide military support, to the al Houthi group in Yemen. Lima Charlie News has commented on the report by Reuters in a separate piece.

LIMA CHARLIE, MENA Desk

Lima Charlie provides global news, insight & analysis by military veterans and service members Worldwide.

For up-to-date MENA news, please follow us on twitter at @LimaCharlieMENA and John Sjoholm @JohnSjoholmLC