How ISIL survives: Strike sirens, tunnels, Internet security checks Don Pearce’s Snippets

In association with Bro Don Pearce (Rugby UK)  Keep up to date with Bro Don’s Snippets – Email Don at [email protected]  Just put in the subject line ‘Snippets Request’ state if you would prefer word doc or pdf format. ( If not stated both will be sent) It’s that easy! Below is an extract from today’s 5th Dec which covers (1-2nd Dec 2015)

Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) has developed a multi-pronged approach that has enabled the terror organization to survive Russian and U.S.-led coalition air strikes.

Experts say ISIL uses air raid sirens, tunnels, Internet security checks to weed out spies and has moved most of its control posts to civilian areas recognizing that the U.S. will not attack targets that may result in civilian casualties.

ISIL jihadists in Raqqa, Syria.  Reuters

In the group’s de facto Syrian capital of Raqqa, sirens wail whenever a warplane approaches and terrorists immediately leave their posts, some even leaving their vehicles in the middle of roads.

“The sirens are on the roofs of high buildings, in the squares and in the streets,” Taym Ramadan, an activist from “Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently,” told AFP.

ISIL also “has resorted to tunnels — some previously used and others now being dug out inside the city,” Ramadan said.

Researcher and writer Hisham al-Hashimi said that ISIL’s response to the increase in air strikes in the wake of the Nov. 13 terror attacks on Paris included “moving its stores to residential areas and abandoning its training camps,” as well as “depending on tunnels to hold its meetings.”

ISIL “holds its general meetings in hospitals and mosques” as it knows that the coalition and to a certain extent Russia do not target them to avoid killing civilians, he said.

Jihadists have also increased surveillance of Raqqa residents, has carried out several night raids on and closed at least Internet cafes and insists that any owners of cafes that remain open provide them with details on all customers. ISIL also cut off Internet service to homes.

Hashimi said the increase in air strikes has also prompted ISIL’s religious police to decrease their activity.

“Civilians — especially women — make the best of their (religious police) absence to enjoy a little freedom, with a young woman for example now able to open a window or go out onto the balcony without a face veil,” Ramadan said.

The terror organization, after having hundreds of its oil tankers destroyed in air strikes, has also taken to using smaller 4,000-liter (1,056-gallon) vehicles to transport oil rather than 36,000-liter (9,610-gallon) tankers, according to Hashimi.

British newspaper The Financial Times last month estimated ISIL takes in about $1.5 million a day from oil, based on the price of $45 a barrel.

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