NATO Mission in Iraq Pledges Continued Support to Iraqi Security Forces Against Terrorism

 US soldiers during a ceremony handing over four F-16 fighter jets at Balad Air Base. (AP) 
 US soldiers during a ceremony handing over four F-16 fighter jets at Balad Air Base. (AP) 
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NATO Mission in Iraq Pledges Continued Support to Iraqi Security Forces Against Terrorism

 US soldiers during a ceremony handing over four F-16 fighter jets at Balad Air Base. (AP) 
 US soldiers during a ceremony handing over four F-16 fighter jets at Balad Air Base. (AP) 

The NATO mission in Iraq vowed to continue supporting the country's security forces through training and military advice, reaffirming that their presence is at the federal government’s request.

Lieutenant General José Antonio Agüero Martínez of Spain assumed command of NATO Mission Iraq during a ceremony in Baghdad. He succeeded Lieutenant General Giovanni Maria Iannucci of Italy.

Also, Brigadier General Stewart Manosh said they were honored to be in Iraq, noting that the command transfer ceremony reaffirms their engagement in Iraq.

Manosh also said that the partnership requires cooperation with Iraqi officials.

Manosh stressed that the NATO mission in Iraq is a strong entity based on good relationships established by Commander Lannucci with Iraqi officials.

For his part, Lannucci said the Iraqi army was founded in 1921, describing it as “one of the strongest armies in the region.”

He also praised the Iraqi Army's culture, traditions, and capability to maintain Iraq's security.

NATO’s affirmation that its forces’ presence in Iraq is upon the government’s request comes one day after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad al-Sudani attended the Iraqi Air Force's Ababil/1 exercise on Tuesday in Balad Air Base.

The Media Office of the PM said that his government agenda prioritizes raising the capabilities of the Iraqi army to the highest levels.

“Today, we gather under the great wings of the heroic Iraqi Air Force planes as they execute their remarkable Ababil/1 exercise. This exercise serves as a demonstration of the exceptional preparedness displayed by our pilots, technicians, and all dedicated crew members,” said the PM.

“Today's exemplary performance marks a significant stride in our ongoing mission to strengthen and enhance our armed forces, embodying our commitment to enhancing the army's efficiency to unprecedented levels of professionalism and excellence.”

“We encourage partners to participate in constructive military cooperation to improve security, deliver a message of reassurance in Iraq’s capabilities and stability, and enhance regional security,” he added.



Israeli Strikes Kill 12 in Lebanon, including 5 Hezbollah Fighters

Women walk near destroyed buildings, with one holding the flag of Hezbollah, in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, after an Israeli military spokesperson said that Israel would keep troops in several posts in southern Lebanon past the deadline for them to withdraw, February 18, 2025 - Reuters reported.
Women walk near destroyed buildings, with one holding the flag of Hezbollah, in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, after an Israeli military spokesperson said that Israel would keep troops in several posts in southern Lebanon past the deadline for them to withdraw, February 18, 2025 - Reuters reported.
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Israeli Strikes Kill 12 in Lebanon, including 5 Hezbollah Fighters

Women walk near destroyed buildings, with one holding the flag of Hezbollah, in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, after an Israeli military spokesperson said that Israel would keep troops in several posts in southern Lebanon past the deadline for them to withdraw, February 18, 2025 - Reuters reported.
Women walk near destroyed buildings, with one holding the flag of Hezbollah, in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila, after an Israeli military spokesperson said that Israel would keep troops in several posts in southern Lebanon past the deadline for them to withdraw, February 18, 2025 - Reuters reported.

Heavy Israeli airstrikes killed 12 people, including five Hezbollah fighters, in eastern Lebanon on Tuesday, a security source in Lebanon said, in what Israel said was a warning to the Iran-backed group against trying to re-establish itself.

The Israeli military said the airstrikes targeted training camps used by elite Hezbollah fighters and warehouses it used to store weapons in the Bekaa Valley region of eastern Lebanon.

The airstrikes were the deadliest on the area since a US-brokered ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel last November. Bachir Khodr, governor of the Bekaa region, said seven of the dead were Syrian nationals.

Israel dealt Hezbollah heavy blows in last year's conflict, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah along with other commanders and destroying much of its arsenal.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday's strikes sent a "clear message" to Hezbollah, accusing it of planning to rebuild the capability to raid Israel through the elite Radwan force, Reuters reported.

Israel "will respond with maximum force to any attempt at rebuilding", he said. He added that strikes were also a message to the Lebanese government, saying it was responsible for upholding the ceasefire agreement.

There was no immediate public response from Hezbollah or from the Lebanese government to the latest Israeli strikes.

The United States has submitted a proposal to the Lebanese government aimed at securing Hezbollah's disarmament within four months in exchange for Israel halting airstrikes and withdrawing troops from positions they still hold in south Lebanon.

Under the terms of the ceasefire brokered by the US and France, Lebanon's armed forces were to confiscate "all unauthorized arms", beginning in the area south of the Litani River - the zone closest to Israel.