An Israeli army officer gives explanations to journalists on July 25, 2014 during an army organised tour in a tunnel said to be used by Palestinian militants for cross-border attacks. Israel launched its military offensive aiming at destroying tunnels used by militants. AFP PHOTOS / POOL / JACK GUEZ

Israeli soldiers carry missiles to armoured personnel carriers as they prepare to send more ammunition to their comrades operating in the Gaza Strip, just outside Gaza July 22, 2014. REUTERS

Israeli soldiers observe bombings of Gaza before a 12-hour cease-fire, seen from the border of Israel and the Gaza Strip, Saturday, July 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

An Israeli soldier carries a weapon near the border with the Gaza Strip July 27, 2014. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Israeli soldiers take positions near Kibbutz Nahal Oz, outside the northern Gaza Strip, during a gun battle July 28, 2014. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

Israeli soldiers carry their comrade on a stretcher after he was wounded in a Palestinian mortar strike, as they evacuate him from the scene outside the central Gaza Strip July 28, 2014. REUTERS/Ido Erez

An explosion from an Israeli strike in the northern Gaza Strip is pictured from the Israeli border with Gaza, early morning July 26, 2014, before a cease-fire takes effect. (REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)

Israeli soldiers patrol outside the northern Gaza Strip July 29, 2014. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

An Israeli reserve soldier gives the victory sign before entering the Gaza Strip near the Israel Gaza border, Tuesday, July 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

An Israeli soldier from the Givati Brigade carries a weapon with a national flag tied to it after returning to Israel from Gaza July 30, 2014. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

An Israeli reserve soldier returns to Israel after fighting in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip, as walking on a road near the Israel Gaza border on Wednesday, July 30, 2014. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

An Israeli reserve soldier returns to Israel after fighting in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip, while walking on a road near the Israel Gaza border on Wednesday, July 30, 2014. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

Israeli reserve soldiers return to Israel after fighting in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip, while walking on a road near the Israel Gaza border on Wednesday, July 30, 2014. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

Israeli soldiers rest at a staging area near the border with Gaza July 30, 2014. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Was trägt der Soldat da für eine Waffe auf dem Rücken. Sieht verdächtig nach einer Stinger aus.

Sieht eher nach zwei Shipon - Rohre aus.

Kämpft die IDF eigentlich ohne Westen? Bei vielen der Bildern sieht es so aus, als würde neben der Koppel/ Chest Rigg keine weitere Schutzweste getragen. Oder bin ich einfach blind?

Wenn ja, wieso ist das so? Ist dies vielleicht auch ein Grund für die hohen Verluste, die man zur Zeit erleidet?

Eigentlich sehr viel. Helm und Weste schützen vor Spall.

Sorry, habe die Frage bis jetzt übersehen: Natürlich tragen die israelischen Infanteristen Schutzwesten, kann man auf vielen Bildern ja eindeutig erkennen.

Kevlar body armor and helmets are one reason for the high proportion of TBIs [traumatic brain injury] among soldiers wounded in the current conflicts. By effectively shielding the wearer from bullets and shrapnel, the protective gear has improved overall survival rates, and Kevlar helmets have reduced the frequency of penetrating head injuries. However, the helmets cannot completely protect the face, head, and neck, nor do they prevent the kind of closed brain injuries often produced by blasts.

IDF Paratroopers Operate Within Gaza
21/7/2014
The IDF's paratroopers brigade operate within the Gaza Strip to find and disable Hamas' network terror tunnels and eliminate their threat to Israeli civilians.
Israel Defense Forces

IDF Paratroopers Operate in Gaza
30/7/2014
Israel Defense Forces

IDF Paratroopers Operate Within Gaza
The IDF's paratroopers brigade operate within the Gaza Strip to find and disable Hamas' network terror tunnels and eliminate their threat to Israeli civilians. 20/7/2014
Israel Defense Forces

IDF Paratroopers Operate Within Gaza
The IDF's paratroopers brigade operate within the Gaza Strip to find and disable Hamas' network terror tunnels and eliminate their threat to Israeli civilians. 20/7/2014
Israel Defense Forces

IDF Paratroopers Operate Within Gaza
The IDF's paratroopers brigade operate within the Gaza Strip to find and disable Hamas' network terror tunnels and eliminate their threat to Israeli civilians. 20/7/2014
Israel Defense Forces

IDF Soldiers Operate in the Gaza Strip
Our soldiers continue to search Gaza for Hamas tunnels and other terror infrastructure. 24/7/2014
Israel Defense Forces

IDF Soldiers Operate in the Gaza Strip
Our soldiers continue to search Gaza for Hamas tunnels and other terror infrastructure. 24/7/2014
Israel Defense Forces

IDF Soldiers Operate in the Gaza Strip
Our soldiers continue to search Gaza for Hamas tunnels and other terror infrastructure. 24/7/2014
Israel Defense Forces

IDF Soldiers Operate in the Gaza Strip
Our soldiers continue to search Gaza for Hamas tunnels and other terror infrastructure. 24/7/2014
Israel Defense Forces

IDF Soldiers Found Terror Tunnel in Gaza. 27/7/2014
Israel Defense Forces

IDF Paratroopers Operate in Gaza. 30/7/2014
Israel Defense Forces

Israel's New President, Reuven Rivlin, Visits the IDF
The new president of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, visited the IDF on July 31 to meet the command staff and to hear an overview about Operation Protective Edge by Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz. 31/7/2014
Israel Defense Forces

IDF soldiers during Operation Protective Edge. IDF soldiers operating in Gaza. 1/8/2014
Israel Defense Forces

IDF Soldiers During Operation Protective Edge. IDF soldiers operating in Gaza. 28/7/2014
Israel Defense Forces

IDF Soldiers During Operation Protective Edge. IDF soldiers operating in Gaza. 28/7/2014
Israel Defense Forces

IDF Soldiers During Operation Protective Edge. IDF soldiers operating in Gaza. 28/7/2014
Israel Defense Forces

IDF Soldiers During Operation Protective Edge. IDF soldiers operating in Gaza. 1/8/2014
Israel Defense Forces

IDF Soldiers During Operation Protective Edge. IDF soldiers operating in Gaza. 31/7/2014
Israel Defense Forces

IDF Soldiers During Operation Protective Edge. IDF soldiers operating in Gaza. 31/7/2014
Israel Defense Forces

IDF Soldiers During Operation Protective Edge. IDF soldiers operating in Gaza. 1/8/2014
Israel Defense Forces

Israeli soldiers walk outside the Gaza Strip as they proceed towards Gaza August 2, 2014. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

An Israeli soldier walks outside the Gaza Strip as he proceeds towards Gaza with his unit August 2, 2014. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

Israel Strikes Gaza As Troops Start Redeploying August 3, 2014 11:20 AM Wochit

Israel Withdraws Most Troops From Gaza August 3, 2014 3:20 PM Wochit

Israeli soldiers from the Givati brigade return to Israel from Gaza August 3, 2014. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

Kann man pauschal sagen, dass die Fallschirmjäger immer noch das M4 führen, während die anderen alle schon mit dem Tavor ausgerüstet wurden?

Israeli soldiers walk by foot near the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip as they return from the Hamas-controlled Palestinian coastal enclave on August 4, 2014 (AFP Photo/Gil Cohen Magen)

An Israeli soldier from the Nahal Brigade carry equipment after returning to Israel from Gaza August 5, 2014. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

An Israeli soldier from the Nahal Brigade carries his weapon after returning to Israel from Gaza, Aug. 5, 2014. REUTERS

Die meisten Reservisten haben auch noch eher das M4 als ein Tavor wie es aussieht.

Haben die Israelis je überhaupt und in größerem Umfang M4 genutzt?
Meines Wissens nach AR15-Karabiner in unterschiedlichen Versionen, von M4 ist mir jedoch nichts bekannt.
(Merke: nicht jeder AR-Karabiner ist ein M4 )

z.B. CAR-15, Colt Commando, XM177, etc. pp.
Es gibt einen Haufen AR15-Karabiner

z.B. CAR-15, Colt Commando, XM177, etc. pp.
Es gibt einen Haufen AR15-Karabiner

Das Ganze ist etwas komplizierter und undurchschaubarer. Oft sind Colt Model 653 Carbines & 603 (M16A1) zu sehen, ursprünglich geliefert während des Oktoberkrieges '73 (OP Nickel Grass), oder was davon übrig ist, denn diese wurden oft über die Jahre modifiziert und umgebaut, v.a. als Menusar/Mekutz'rar mit kürzerem 13"-Lauf, sowie verschiedene lower und upper Konfigurationen (653 lower mit M4 upper etc. pp.), dazu kommen noch Model 639 und zuletzt 'echte' M4. Aber auch C7 upper sind im Umlauf, im Prinzip ist irgendwie jegliche Bastadisierung denkbar, nur XM177 oder Colt Commando habe ich eher nicht gesehen.

In remembrance of Mervat Mohamed Saeed - Martyred defending her country and countrymen!

A Hamas militant grabs a Palestinian suspected of collaborating with Israel, before executing him in Gaza City August 22, 2014. Hamas militants killed seven Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel in a public execution in a central Gaza square on Friday, witnesses and a Hamas website said. The victims, their heads covered and hands tied, were shot dead by masked gunmen dressed in black in front of a crowd of worshippers outside a mosque after prayers, witnesses and al-Majd, a pro-Hamas website, said. Another 11 people suspected of collaborating with Israel were killed by gunmen at an abandoned police station in Gaza earlier on Friday, Hamas security officials said. REUTERS/Stringer

People watch as Hamas militants surround Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel before they executing them in Gaza City August 22, 2014. Hamas-led gunmen in Gaza executed 18 Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel on Friday, a day after Israel tracked down and killed three top Hamas commanders, the highest-ranking militants to be killed in the six-week war. Seven people were shot dead in front of worshippers outside a mosque in one of Gaza's main squares, witnesses said, the first public executions in the Palestinian enclave since the 1990s. A further 11 were killed at an abandoned police station near Gaza City, Hamas security officials said. In the public execution, militants wearing masks and dressed in black gunned down the suspects, whose faces were covered and hands bound, as worshippers emerged from the Omari mosque on Palestine Square, one of Gaza's busiest districts. REUTERS/Stringer

Hamas militants surround Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel before executing them in Gaza City August 22, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer

Hamas militants grab a Palestinian suspected of collaborating with Israel before being executed in Gaza City August 22, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer

Hamas militants surround Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel, before their execution in Gaza City August 22, 2014. Reuters/Stringer

A Hamas militant grabs a Palestinian suspected of collaborating with Israel, before being executed in Gaza City August 22, 2014. Hamas militants killed seven Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel in a public execution in a central Gaza square on Friday, witnesses and a Hamas website said. REUTERS/Stringer

A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter takes position he keep watch on two moving vehicles belonging to the Islamic State at the Bakirta front line, near the town of Makhmur south of Erbil September 10, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

An armed Shi'ite volunteer from the Mehdi Army, loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, clashes with Islamic State (IS) militants outside the city of Tikrit September 8, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer

Mehdi Army, loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, patrol outside the city of Tikrit September 8, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer

Members of the Mehdi Army, loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, fire a mortar at Islamic State (IS) militants' positions outside the city of Tikrit, September 8, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer

An Iraqi soldier checks the body of a member of the Islamic State who died following U.S. air strikes on the outskirt of Haditha September 9, 2014. REUTERS/Osama Al-dulaimi

Iraqi soldiers look at the bodies of members of the Islamic State who died following U.S. air strikes on the outskirt of Haditha September 9, 2014. REUTERS/Osama Al-dulaimi

Members of the Mehdi Army, loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, clash with Islamic State (IS) militants outside the city of Tikrit September 8, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer

Shi'ite fighters from Mahdi Army fire their weapons during heavy fighting with Islamic State militants at Bo Hassan village in near Tikrit, northern Iraq September 12, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Shi'ite fighters from Mahdi Army load rockets into a rocket launcher during heavy fighting with Islamic State militants at Bo Hassan village in near Tikrit, northern Iraq September 12, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Shi'ite fighters from Mahdi Army launch rockets during heavy fighting with Islamic State militants at Bo Hassan village in near Tikrit, northern Iraq September 12, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Shi'ite fighters from Mahde Army launch rockets during heavy fighting with Islamic State militants at Bo Hassan village in near Tikrit, northern Iraq September 12, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Shi'ite fighters from Mahdi Army take cover during heavy fighting with Islamic state members at Bo Hassan village in near Tikrit, northern Iraq September 12, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Shi'ite fighters from Mahdi Army get into an armoured vehicle before engaging with Islamic State militants in Bo Hassan village near Tikrit, northern Iraq September 12, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Shi'ite fighters from Mahdi Army get briefed by their commander before advancing into Bo Hassan village near Tikrit September 12, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

A Shi'ite sniper from Mahdi Army fires his weapon during heavy fighting with Islamic State militants at Bo Hassan village in near Tikrit, northern Iraq September 12, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

A Shi'ite fighter from Mahdi Army launches mortars during heavy fighting with Islamic State militants at Bo Hassan village in near Tikrit, northern Iraq September 12, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Shi'ite fighters from Mahdi Army prepare before advancing towards Bo Hassan village in near Tikrit northern Iraq September 12, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

A Shi'ite fighter from Mahdi Army covers his face during heavy fighting with Islamic State militants at Bo Hassan village in near Tikrit, northern Iraq September 12, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter holds a position at a frontline in Yangije, where heavy clashes against Islamic States (IS) fighters took place the previous night, 50 kms east of Tikrit, on September 11, 2014. AFP PHOTO/JM LOPEZ

Shi'ite fighters from Mahdi Army advance in their vehicles towards Bo Hassan village near Tikrit, northern Iraq during heavy fighting with Islamic State militants, September 12, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

A Shi'ite fighters from Mahdi Army carries extra ammunition before advancing into Bo Hassan village in near Tikrit, northern Iraq to fight with Islamic State militants, September 12, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Shi'ite fighters from Mahde Army launch rockets during heavy fighting against Islamic state members at Bo Hassan village, near Tikrit in northern Iraq September 12, 2014. (REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah)

Shi'ite fighters from Mahdi Army rehearse their final tactics before advancing into Bo Hassan village in near Tikrit, northern Iraq, to fight Islamic State militants September 12, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

A Kurdish peshmerga fighter holds a position at a frontline on September 13, 2014, south of Makhmur, Iraq, in an area where Kurdish forces reportedly retook six villages the day before after heavy clashes against Islamic States fighters (AFP Photo/JM Lopez)

Kurdish Peshmerga fighters check the direction before launching rockets towards Zummar, controlled by Islamic State (IS), near Mosul September 15, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter loads rockets into a rocket launcher during a fight with Islamic State (IS) militants in Zummar, near Mosul September 15, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Kurdish Peshmerga fighters launch rockets towards Zummar, controlled by Islamic State (IS), near Mosul September 15, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter launches mortar shells towards Zummar, controlled by Islamic State (IS), near Mosul September 15, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter checks the direction before launching mortars during a fight with Islamic State (IS) militants in Zummar, near Mosul September 15, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Kurdish Peshmerga fighters prepare a mortar launcher during a fight with Islamic State (IS) militants in Zummar, near Mosul September 15, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Kurdish Peshmerga fighters take a rest after a night of fighting with Islamic State (IS) militants in Zummar, near Mosul September 15, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Kurdish Peshmerga fighters fire in the direction of Zummar, controlled by Islamic State (IS) near Mosul September 15, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Kurdish Peshmerga fighters check a map during clashes with Islamic State (IS) fighters in Zummar district near Mosul September 15, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Kurdish Peshmerga fighters drive a military car during a fight with Islamic State (IS) militants in Zummar, near Mosul September 15, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

A Kurdish peshmerga fighter holds a position on the front line in the Gwer district, south of Arbil, Iraq, on September 15, 2014 (AFP Photo/JM Lopez)

A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter walks past a house destroyed by American air strikes at Barznki village two days ago in Zummar, controlled by Islamic State (IS), near Mosul September 15, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

Kurdish Peshmerga fighters prepare a rocket launcher during a fight with Islamic State (IS) militants in Zummar, near Mosul September 15, 2014. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah

A policeman carries a rifle as he guards a cemetery in Najaf, south of Baghdad September 15, 2014. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani

Islamic State advances near Kobane
The Islamic State continues its advance towards the Kurdish of city Kobane in northern Syria. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that the Islamic State has gained control of "325 villages and towns" in the vicinity of Ayn al Arab (the Arabic name for Kobane). As the group moves closer to Kobane, more Kurdish citizens are fleeing for the Turkish border. Around 150,000 Kurdish refugees are reported to have fled to Turkey since this assault began two weeks ago. Refugees spoken to by NBC talk of food being scarce, electricity being cut, and little outside support for Syrian Kurds. [...]

The Long War Journal

Islamic State releases pictures of training camp in Kirkuk
The Islamic State has released pictures showing the graduation of fighters from the "Shaykh Abu Omar al Baghdadi" training camp in Kirkuk. The camp is named after Abu Omar al Baghdadi, the former leader and founder of the Islamic State of Iraq. Abu Omar was killed in a US military raid in Tikrit; the same raid also killed Abu Ayyub al Masri, the successor to al Qaeda in Iraq's founder Abu Musab al Zarqawi. Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, the current head of the Islamic State, replaced Abu Omar and Abu Ayyub.

The Islamic State has released images of two other camps in Iraq and Syria. In July, the Islamic State released pictures of a training camp in Ninewa province, Iraq. Before that, the Islamic State announced the existence of the Zarqawi Camp, which is named after the slain founder of al Qaeda in Iraq, on the outskirts of the Syrian capital of Damascus in May.

These pictures and training camps are reminiscent of others released by al Qaeda from the network of camps in Afghanistan during the 1990s. Al Qaeda used camps such as Khalden and Al Farouq to churn out thousands of foreign fighters who fought alongside the Taliban in the 55th Arab Brigade. But al Qaeda also selected graduates of the camps to conduct attacks in the West, including the Sept. 11, 2001 operation against the US.

The US has targeted five Islamic State training centers in six airstrikes since Aug. 7, when it began its campaign in Iraq. Islamic State training camps were hit in US airstrikes in Raqqah, Abu Kamal, Dier al Zour, and Hasakah on Sept. 22; Manjib on Sept. 29; and again in Raqqah on Oct. 3.

The Long War Journal

Islamic State patrols town north of Baghdad
On Oct. 17, the Islamic State released a series of photographs of its fighters patrolling in the central Iraqi town of Dhuluiyah. The photographs (below) show heavily armed fighters marching in the center of the town, with destroyed Iraqi military vehicles littering the streets. The Islamic State fighters are also seen taking up positions in homes in the town.

The jihadist group had previously took control of Dhululiyah in mid-June and captured hundreds of Iraqi soldiers after overrunning a nearby airbase. But Iraqi government forces backed by Shia militias were reported to have regained control of the town weeks later. The town has changed hands several times since.

The Iraqi military has claimed it killed scores of Islamic State fighters in the town over the summer (50 fighters on Aug. 5, 35 on July 25, and 28 more on July 24).

Dhululiyah and the nearby cities and towns of Balad, Ishaqi, Dujail, Dojama, Khalis, Tarmiyah, and Taji are key terrain for the Islamic State. The cities and towns are in the northern Baghdad "belt" and sit along two highways that run between the capital of Baghdad and Samarra, both which are under the Iraqi government's control. The Islamic State seeks to control the northern belt in an effort to strangle the capital. [...]

The Long War Journal

Kurdish peshmerga fighters prepare before leaving a base on the outskirts of Arbil in northern Iraq, on their way to the Syrian town of Kobani ,October 28, 2014. Iraqi peshmerga fighters left Iraq for the besieged Syrian town of Kobani on Tuesday to help fellow Kurds in their battle against Islamic State militants, a senior Kurdish official said. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari

Kurdish peshmerga fighters prepare before leaving their base on the outskirts of Arbil in northern Iraq, on their way to the Syrian town of Kobani, October 28, 2014. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari

Kurdish peshmerga troops flash the V-sign of victory as they drive through Arbil on October 28, 2014, bound for Syria's Kobane. (AFP Photo/Safin Hamed)

A convoy of Kurdish peshmerga fighters drive through Arbil after leaving a base in northern Iraq, on their way to the Syrian town of Kobani, October 28, 2014. Iraqi peshmerga fighters left Iraq for the besieged Syrian town of Kobani on Tuesday to help fellow Kurds in their battle against Islamic State militants, a senior Kurdish official said. (REUTERS/Azad Lashkari)

People wave to Kurdish Peshmerga fighters on their way to the Syrian town of Kobani, in Dohuk province October 28, 2014. Iraqi peshmerga fighters headed for the Syrian town of Kobani on Tuesday to help fellow Kurds repel an Islamic State advance that has defied U.S.-led air strikes and become an important test of the coalition's ability to combat the Sunni insurgents. Picture taken October 28, 2014. REUTERS/Ari Jalal

An Iraqi peshmerga fighter (foreground) reacts as he drives as part of a convoy of peshmerga vehicles on their way to the Turkish-Syrian border, in Kiziltepe near the southeastern city of Mardin October 29, 2014. Iraqi peshmerga fighters arrived in southeastern Turkey on Wednesday en route for the Syrian town of Kobani to try to help fellow Kurds break an Islamic State siege which has defied U.S.-led air strikes. Kobani, nestled on the border with Turkey, has been under assault from Islamic State militants for more than a month and its fate has become a key test of the U.S.-led coalition's ability to combat the Sunni insurgents. REUTERS/Stringer

A Kurdish Peshmerga solider stands on an army vehicle as he and other troops are cheered on by their supporters, at the Ibrahim Khalil border crossing, in the Northern Kurdish Region of Iraq, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014. A group of Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga troops arrived in Turkey early Wednesday, on their way to Syria to help their Syrian Kurdish brethren fight Islamic State extremists in the embattled border town of Kobani. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)

Islamic State releases photos showing fighting in Amiriyat al Fallujah
By Bill Roggio & Caleb Weiss
October 30, 2014 10:20 AM

The Islamic State has released photographs showing its forces engaged in combat with the Iraqi military and their tribal allies in Amiriyat al Fallujah in eastern Anbar province. The photos were disseminated on Twitter by the jihadist group's supporters after being posted elsewhere online. The Islamic State has taken to releasing its propaganda this way after the social media site began to crackdown on its official accounts. [...]
Amiriyat al Fallujah is a town just 30 kilometers south east of Fallujah. The Islamic State has surrounded the town and laid siege to it. Iraqi security forces holed up in the town have repelled several assaults by the Islamic State over the past few weeks.

The town is on the Euphrates River and links Anbar province with Jurf al Sakhar in northern Babil. If the Islamic State is able to control Amiriyat al Fallujah and Jurf al Sakhar, it is able to link its forces in the two provinces and put pressure on the capital of Baghdad as well as the Shiite holy cities of Karbala and Najaf. [...]

The Long War Journal

The next seven pictures showcase M113 armored personnel carriers being used as VBIEDs. The pictures are captioned "First Martyr" (two pictures), "Second Martyr" (two pictures), "Third Martyr" (one picture) and "Fourth Martyr" (two pictures) respectively.

Islamic State releases pictures from fighting in Jurf al Sahkar
By Caleb Weiss
October 26, 2014 1:37 PM

The Islamic State, in the wake of the Iraqi military claiming to have retaken the town of Jurf al Sahkar in northern Babil province, has released photos purporting to show their fighters in action against the Iraqi military and Shiite militias. The pictures were disseminated on Twitter by the jihadist group's supporters after being posted elsewhere online. The Islamic State has taken to releasing its propaganda this way after the social media site began to crackdown on its official accounts. The pictures bear the title of Wilayat Junub (southern province), as the Iraqi province of Babil makes up this administrative district of the Islamic State. [...]

It is unclear if these pictures were taken recently or they are old file pictures meant to give the illusion that Islamic State fighters are still in Jurf al Sahkar. Some supporters of the group have discussed on Twitter that fighters do indeed remain in the town battling the Iraqi military and their Shiite militia allies. In the past eight months, the Iraqi military has claimed to have liberated Jurf al Sakhar numerous times. [...]

The Long War Journal

Sind die Bilder wirklich vom IS? Kommen mir vor wie ältere Bilder von 2009/10...