Aden, Yemen
May 5, 2015
A 16-year-old member of the Popular Committees militias, which are fighting against the Houthis, is seen in this video at a checkpoint in Aden, Yemen. Many teenagers spend their day examining vehicles and their passengers as part of their military duties.
Tikrit, Iraq
April 6, 2015
Video shows various shots of the vacant and embattled governor’s palace in northern Tikrit, which was recently retaken from ISIS by government forces. The flag of ISIS appears on its outer wall. The militant group is still in control of pockets of central Tikrit.
SHOTLIST
Wide of parking lot
Wide of wrecked building façade
Medium of ISIS painted on wall/ Zoom out of gate
Wide of Iraqi and Shiite militias flags above makeshift burial site
Wide of government fighters gathered nest to Iraqi flags
Various/ Traveling of road and government forces checkpoint
Karabala, Iraq
March 27, 2015
A trench is being dug on the border of the southern Shiite-majority Iraqi province of Karbala with the provinces of al-Anbar and Babel. The ditch, which extends for 50km, is 6m deep and 10m wide and is guarded by surveillance towers and checkpoints manned by Iraqi government forces and a Shiite militia known as the Al-Abbas Combat Division.
Colonel Hassan al-Silawi, the commander of the 33rd Infantry Brigade in the Iraqi army, said in an interview that this trench aims to keep ISIS fighters from entering Karbala from al-Anbar province. Silawi denied that this obstacle was conceived to separate Sunni and Shiite populations.
Another interviewed officer denied claims made by Sunni politicians that the aim of the trench was to annex territory to the province Karbala. The city of Karbala hosts the tomb of Imam Hussein, one of the holiest shrines for Shiite Muslims.
SHOTLIST AND TRANSCRIPT
Wide of soldiers standing next to surveillance tower
Wide of trench
Various of soldiers guarding trench
Wide of Iraqi army Humvee and soldier
Wide of soldiers running on sand barrier
Interview with Colonel Hassan al-Silawi, Commander of the 33rd Infantry Brigade
Wide of soldiers next to sand barricade
Various of soldier manning machinegun behind sand barricade
Various of soldiers guarding trench
Various of soldiers and military vehicles next to sand barricade
Interview with Colonel Hassan al-Silawi, Commander of the 33rd Infantry Brigade
Various of soldiers and military vehicles
Wide of pickup truck moving and banner with Shiite religious symbols
Wide of tents and Iraqi flags
Interview with Major Jaber Ahmed, Infantry Platoon Commander
Various of trench
Various of soldier in surveillance tower looking through binoculars
Wide of soldiers and vehicles at checkpoint. Phrase written with bricks in Arabic reads: “Long live Iraq.”
Wide of solider next to Iraqi flag
Wide of Iraqi soldier on guard
SOUNDBITE (Arabic, Man) Colonel Hassan al-Silawi, Commander of the 33rd Infantry Brigade
01:18 – 02:50
“The trench extends for about 50km along the administrative border between the provinces of Babel and Karbala. No, it is not about Sunni or Shiite provinces. This trench is an obstacle set up for military purposes. It has nothing to do with whether an area is Sunni or Shiite. This is a desert. These lands do not belong to any individual; they belong to the Ministry of Agriculture.
"The trench will be guarded by platoons from the 33rd Infantry Brigade in addition to groups from the Popular Mobilization [Shiite militia umbrella], especially the Al-Abbas Combat Division. The trench was dug by the province of the holy Karbala in agreement with the local governments of neighboring provinces. This system involves surveillance towers and cameras, as well as a dirt barrier that is 5m high and 6m wide.
"This trench was dug in the desert – an unpopulated area. There are no agricultural areas or shepherds. This is a desert, barren land. The aim of digging the trench is to stop the terrorist ISIS organization from training in this area.”
SOUNDBITE (Arabic, Man) Colonel Hassan al-Silawi, Commander of the 33rd Infantry Brigade
04:00- 04:48
"The soldiers are not scared because it is their duty to fight. We are terrorizing ISIS; ISIS is scared of us. The proof is that we liberated areas with the support of the Popular Mobilizations forces. This is a border of separation in desert areas neighboring the province of Karbala. The trench goes along the administrative border of three regions – Babel, Ramadi and the province of Karbala.
"There is no transgression. There is an agreement among local governments. This [trench] serves all the provinces. The public interest comes ahead of everything, especially when it comes to security. There are no lands that belong to the state or agricultural land, either. It is a desert area."
SOUNDBITE (Arabic, Man) Major Jaber Ahmed, Infantry Platoon Commander
05:12 – 05:51
“Thanks be to God, so far no security breach has been recorded in this district. Thanks be to God, it was because of the efforts of the head of operations, the commander of the 33rd Brigade."
Interviewer: "How would describe your morale?"
"Our morale is very high, thanks to [the military commanders]. God willing, the operations to liberate Falluja, which is close to us, as well as Tikrit, have started. God willing, operations will also start within Al-Anbar. God willing, the operations will keep going. We are guarding the northern district of the province of Karbala. Our morale is high, thanks be to God.”
March 23, 2015
Kirkuk, Iraq
Iraqis who are finally returning to their villages in Kirkuk are searched intensively by Peshmerga fighters who liberated the area from ISIS control. The residents of the villages of Daquq, al-Said, al-Wahda are asked to provide proof of identity and made to sign agreements that they will not allow anyone from outside of the village to enter or stay there.
:عقيد عبدالله ضابط في اللواء الثالث في البيشمركة
هذه القرى هي الآن تحت سلطة اقليم كردستان العراق وبمساعدة من العشائر تمكنا من طرد داعش، والآن بعد تحرير مناطقهم تم تبليغ العوائل للعودة اليها."
نحن الآن نفتش وندقق مواكب الناس الذين قرروا العودة الى بيوتهم ونتأكد من عدم وجود مندس او مخرب بين صفوفهم عن طريق مختار المنطقة وضباط الامن والمخابرات وقد تم توقيع العوائل على تعهد بعدم ايواء الغرباء في بيوتهم "وكذلك التبليغ عن الغرباء ان وجدوا.
Fighters affiliated to ISIS have set up checkpoints on Sunday 15 March both within and at the entrances of the eastern Libyan port of Derna. According to eyewitnesses, each checkpoint is manned by 10-15 fighters equipped with Kalashnikov rifles and hand grenades, as well as 4x4 vehicles with mounted anti-aircraft machine guns. Different groups of fighters take shifts in guarding the checkpoints for specific periods of time. The head of the sentries is equipped with a walkie-talkie. The fighters confiscate any liquor and tobacco they find and destroy it on the spot. People deemed guilty of violating Islamic law are taken to the offices of the Islamic police inside the city. When aircraft are spotted flying overhead the fighters disperse, fearing their checkpoints might be targeted.
Tal Tamer, Syria
March 7, 2015
George, who declined to give his last name but prefers to go by Fat Jack, sold his possessions in San Antonio, Texas and bought a plane ticket to join Kurdish forces battling ISIS in the Hasaka province of Syria, a strategic village near the Iraqi-Syrian border whose Christian, Kurdish, Assyrian and Arab inhabitants had mostly fled. Perturbed that "no one was doing nothing" to stop the spread of the militant group and curious to know "how a normal person would come to fight evil", he joined the YPG.
Though Fat Jack admits there are sizable military and cultural differences between Americans and Kurds, and that the language barrier has been substantial, he also says that he decided to join the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) because they were "good" people whom "he could trust."
SHOTLIST AND TRANSCRIPT
Wide of town and YPG flag
Various of female and male Kurdish fighters near Humvee
Traveling of YPG vehicle passing a checkpoint
Wide of female and male Kurdish fighters
Wide of town and fields. NAT Sound: Gunshots
Wide of ‘Fat Jack’
Various of town and fields
Wide, R-L pan of ‘Fat Jack’ driving off in a pickup truck with YPG flag
Wide of fighter going into armored personnel carrier with YPG flag
Wide of tank with YPG flag
Wide of ‘Fat Jack’ getting into a pickup truck with YPG flag
Wide of fighters near YPG vehicles
Wide of ‘Fat Jack’ parking pickup truck
Wide of tank with YPG flag. NAT Sound: Gunshots
Wide of ‘Fat Jack’ stepping out of a pickup truck with YPG flag, talking to Kurdish fighter
SOUNDBITE (English, Man) ‘Fat Jack’ American volunteer with the YPG
03:42 - 07:41
Your name and where you are from.
I go by Fat Jack, my American nickname. I’m from San Antonio, Texas.
Why did you decide to come here?
The only way I know how to fight Daesh [ISIS] with people I could trust.
How did you see the situation here in Rojava [Syrian part of Kurdistan] during the clashes?
Originally since I’ve been here? I heard about Daesh in the media for a long time. Nobody was doing nothing. On the internet, I found out about the YPG. I started doing my homework. That’s how I got... I sold my stuff, bought a plane ticket and came on.
Can you talk about the situation more? About Rojava, the people here? The clashes?
Well there’s the culture difference that’s kind of a… wow! But the people are good people. The language barrier has been a bit of a problem. The people here, you know, they’re nice people. That’s the reason I came with the YPG. I trust them; they’re Kurdish, their reputation… so that’s how I came here just to… simply to fight Daesh.
And how did you decide to participate [with] the YPG against Daesh?
I guess I’ve seen a story of an American that came over. That night I was like… wow! You’ve got lunatics from all over the world that come to join Daesh, and you always wonder how these lunatics from all over the world come together. Much less find one more, but how do you find thousands? And then I was wondering how would a normal person come to fight evil? About three days later, that’s when I found the story about an American that came over. That’s how I ended up here.
Your last message to the world – if you want to send a message to the world or say anything.
Daesh has to be stopped. I mean, no matter where you are; what country or religion; your politics, murder and rape is evil. I mean in Daesh they murder… they rape and murder… they murder children and they would be speaking God’s name in their mouth while they murder. And just…
Can you please describe the clashes now in Tal Tamer?
From my point of view, it’s different. Our militaries are different. It’s just different. I don't know how to....”
Various of Kurdish fighters and military vehicles
Syrian Border
October 6-7, 2014
al-Maamoura Hill, Asal al-Wared, Syria
The 77th battalion of the Free Syrian Army, along with other FSA battalions capture three checkpoints from the Syrian Army in the region of Asal al-Wared. Footage shows al-Maamour hill, one of the captured checkpoints.
Sources report that the 77th brigade has been trying to capture the checkpoints for the past 20 days. Along with the checkpoints, the brigades were able to capture weapons and ammunition including Gvozdika cannon, 23 cannon, and a Shilka cannon.
Aleppo, Syria
FSA Rebels dig a tunnel in a secret location in Aleppo and then use it to blow up a key Syrian Army checkpoint. Ten fighters from Ahfad al-Morsalin Liwad brigade worked 24 hours/day for 22 days to dig the tunnel in order to be able to attack one of the most important Syrian Army checkpoints in Aleppo. The video features the rebels working in the tunnel and then blowing up the army checkpoint.
Interview 1:
“These are buildings that contain residents who are the snipers of the Iranian militias. It is all a military arsenal here, and that is why we are digging underneath it.”
Interview 2:
“The champions were able to control al-Tarraf checkpoint and to destroy the artillery there and here are the shells coming from al-Hamidiya towards the liberated checkpoint, and they were also able to destroy two tanks in al-Dahman checkpoint, we were able to kill some of the regime thugs and other were able to escape to nearby checkpoints."
Rebels walking in the tunnel
Rebels working in the tunnel
Rebels digging with shovels
Rebels places light
Rebels digging with machine
Rebel placing stones in a box
The platform with stones moves along the rails
A rebel works at the top of the tunnel
stones machine digging earth
A rebel talking in the tunnel
Tunnel Explosion
A rebel talking outside of the tunnel
June 12, 2014
Gop Jalil, Mosul, Iraq
Images of Peshmerga soldiers at a checkpoint after they gained controlled the village of Gop Jalil located on Mosul-Irbil road. The new checkpoint is located only 100m from ISIL frontlines.
Two months after the death of Ali Abdelhamid Ben Oun, his brother is still waiting to see justice. Ali Abdelhamid Ben Oun survived fighting as a rebel in Libya’s bloody revolution only to be killed in an RPG attack at a checkpoint in February this year.
Two months after the death of Ali Abdelhamid Ben Oun and his brother is still waiting to see justice. Ali Abdelhamid Ben Oun survived fighting as a rebel in Libya’s bloody revolution only to be killed in an RPG attack at a checkpoint in February this year.
Collection of videos and photos depicting Ramadan experiences in different locations.
Hands appear between fences. Palestinians wait to cross Qalandia checkpoint, the main checkpoint between Ramallah and Jerusalem
A Palestinian man waits to cross Qalandia checkpoint, the main checkpoint between Ramallah and Jerusalem
Thousands tried to cross through Qalandia checkpoint from the West Bank into Jerusalem Friday, using a once-a-year opportunity afforded to many to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan.
Thousands of Palestinians attempted to cross through the Qalandia checkpoint to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque for the second Friday of Ramadan.
Thousands of Palestinian Muslims take the once-a-year opportunity to pray at Al Aqsa in Jerusalem. Many have IDs that do not normally allow them into Jerusalem except during Ramadan. This year, the regulations were slightly relaxed, allowing women and men under 40 to cross Qalandia.
Thousands of Palestinian Muslims take the once-a-year opportunity to pray at in Jerusalem. Many have IDs that do not normally allow them into Jerusalem except during Ramadan. This year, the regulations were slightly relaxed, allowing women and men under 40 to cross Qalandia.
Thousands of Palestinian Muslims take the once-a-year opportunity to pray at in Jerusalem. Many have IDs that do not normally allow them into Jerusalem except during Ramadan. This year, the regulations were slightly relaxed, allowing women and men under 40 to cross Qalandia.
Thousands of Palestinian Muslims take the once-a-year opportunity to pray at Al Aqsa in Jerusalem. Many have IDs that do not normally allow them into Jerusalem except during Ramadan. This year, the regulations were slightly relaxed, allowing women and men under 40 to cross Qalandia.
Thousands of Palestinian Muslims take the once-a-year opportunity to pray at in Jerusalem. Many have IDs that do not normally allow them into Jerusalem except during Ramadan. This year, the regulations were slightly relaxed, allowing women and men under 40 to cross Qalandia.
Thousands of Palestinian Muslims take the once-a-year opportunity to pray at in Jerusalem. Many have IDs that do not normally allow them into Jerusalem except during Ramadan. This year, the regulations were slightly relaxed, allowing women and men under 40 to cross Qalandia.
Thousands of Palestinian Muslims take the once-a-year opportunity to pray at in Jerusalem. Many have IDs that do not normally allow them into Jerusalem except during Ramadan. This year, the regulations were slightly relaxed, allowing women and men under 40 to cross Qalandia.
Thousands of Palestinian Muslims take the once-a-year opportunity to pray at in Jerusalem. Many have IDs that do not normally allow them into Jerusalem except during Ramadan. This year, the regulations were slightly relaxed, allowing women and men under 40 to cross Qalandia.
Thousands of Palestinian Muslims take the once-a-year opportunity to pray at in Jerusalem. Many have IDs that do not normally allow them into Jerusalem except during Ramadan. This year, the regulations were slightly relaxed, allowing women and men under 40 to cross Qalandia.
Thousands of Palestinian Muslims take the once-a-year opportunity to pray at in Jerusalem. Many have IDs that do not normally allow them into Jerusalem except during Ramadan. This year, the regulations were slightly relaxed, allowing women and men under 40 to cross Qalandia.
Thousands of Palestinian Muslims take the once-a-year opportunity to pray at Al Aqsa in Jerusalem. Many have IDs that do not normally allow them into Jerusalem except during Ramadan. This year, the regulations were slightly relaxed, allowing women and men under 40 to cross Qalandia.
Thousands of Palestinian Muslims take the once-a-year opportunity to pray at in Jerusalem. Many have IDs that do not normally allow them into Jerusalem except during Ramadan. This year, the regulations were slightly relaxed, allowing women and men under 40 to cross Qalandia.
Thousands of Palestinian Muslims take the once-a-year opportunity to pray at in Jerusalem. Many have IDs that do not normally allow them into Jerusalem except during Ramadan. This year, the regulations were slightly relaxed, allowing women and men under 40 to cross Qalandia.
Thousands of Palestinian Muslims take the once-a-year opportunity to pray at in Jerusalem. Many have IDs that do not normally allow them into Jerusalem except during Ramadan. This year, the regulations were slightly relaxed, allowing women and men under 40 to cross Qalandia.
Thousands of Palestinian Muslims take the once-a-year opportunity to pray at in Jerusalem. Many have IDs that do not normally allow them into Jerusalem except during Ramadan. This year, the regulations were slightly relaxed, allowing women and men under 40 to cross Qalandia.
Thousands tried to cross through Qalandia checkpoint from the West Bank into Jerusalem Friday, using a once-a-year opportunity afforded to many to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan. The checkpoint is run and staffed by the IDF, and while regulations were somewhat more relaxed this year, men under 40 are not permitted to cross to pray in Jerusalem unless they have a pre-existing East Jerusalem ID card.
A female figher of the Kurdish self defense forces YPG watches the movement on the Iraqi side of the boder. Kurdish fighters have taken several Syrian border posts under control in the recent days.
A female figher of the Kurdish self defense forces YPG watches the movement on the Iraqi side of the boder. Kurdish fighters have taken several Syrian border posts under control in the recent days.
Thousands tried to cross through Qalandia checkpoint from the West Bank into Jerusalem Friday, using a once-a-year opportunity afforded to many to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan. As the Israelis use the Biblical name for the West Bank, the IDF border guard's fluorescent jacket now reads "Judean Samaria Guards".
Thousands tried to cross through Qalandia checkpoint from the West Bank into Jerusalem Friday, using a once-a-year opportunity afforded to many to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan. The checkpoint is run and staffed by the IDF, and while regulations were somewhat more relaxed this year, men under 40 are not permitted to cross to pray in Jerusalem unless they have a pre-existing East Jerusalem ID card.
Thousands tried to cross through Qalandia checkpoint from the West Bank into Jerusalem Friday, using a once-a-year opportunity afforded to many to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan. The checkpoint is run and staffed by the IDF, and while regulations were somewhat more relaxed this year, men under 40 were not permitted to cross to pray in Jerusalem.
Thousands tried to cross through Qalandia checkpoint from the West Bank into Jerusalem Friday, using a once-a-year opportunity afforded to many to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan.