Iraq Commemorates 9th Anniversary of Speicher Massacre

A photo distributed by the media of the "Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces" from the ninth anniversary ceremony for the victims of the Camp Speicher massacre
A photo distributed by the media of the "Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces" from the ninth anniversary ceremony for the victims of the Camp Speicher massacre
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Iraq Commemorates 9th Anniversary of Speicher Massacre

A photo distributed by the media of the "Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces" from the ninth anniversary ceremony for the victims of the Camp Speicher massacre
A photo distributed by the media of the "Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces" from the ninth anniversary ceremony for the victims of the Camp Speicher massacre

Iraq on Saturday commemorated the ninth anniversary of the Speicher massacre, which was committed by ISIS in June 2014.

The terrorist group captured and murdered primarily students at the College of Aviation and security personnel within the well-known military base, "Speicher," in Salah ad Din Governorate in 2014.

By June 2014, ISIS took control of one third of the country, including vast areas in the north, east and the west of Iraq before the government was capable of defeating the terrorist group three years later.

Saturday’s commemoration was held at the crime scene in the presidential palaces complex in Tikrit.

Tens of families and relatives of the victims, in addition to Iraqi officials and representatives from the UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by ISIS (UNITAD), attended the event.

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who served as prime minister while Iraq was battling ISIS from 2014 till 2017, said in a tweet that “Today is the anniversary of the biggest and most dangerous national wound, the anniversary of the fall of Mosul in the hands of (ISIS) terrorism and barbarism.”

He added: “The fall of Mosul was only the result of the enemies' plans, and of corruption, mismanagement, sectarianism, and hatred."

On Saturday, UNITAD said in a statement that the Speicher crime represents the largest documented mass killing.

The Chief of Office of Field Investigations, Defne Akca, said: “The United Nations investigation team is conducting its investigations regarding this crime, which is one of the largest documented mass killings, which claimed the lives of nearly 2,000 martyrs.”

During the memorial event on the tragedy, Akca added that efforts will continue to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“The international community, under international law, considers these crimes to be among the greatest crimes committed, and by collecting evidence, the perpetrators of this crime will be held accountable in accordance with international standards, even after decades.”

Akca pointed out that the team is working with the Iraqi authorities to find the culprits.

Despite the brutality of the "Speicher" crime, many of its chapters remain unresolved. The identity of all the elements involved in the massacre remain unknown.

Also, there are still hundreds of unidentified bodies in the forensic medicine department while no exact figures were given regarding the number of people killed in the massacre. Reports said ISIS killed between 1,700 to 2,000 Iraqi cadets.

Meanwhile, families of the victims have not received the compensation approved by Iraqi laws for this type of victim.

ISIS members were held responsible for the crime. Iraqi courts already sentenced several people to death over their involvement in the June 2014 massacre.

However, Hassan Salem, a deputy from Asaib Ahl al-Haq, held the family of the late President Saddam Hussein responsible for the massacre, as they resided near the area of ​​the presidential palace where the massacre was carried out.

Meanwhile, Moeen al-Kadhimi, the head of the Speicher Massacre Memorial Committee, said on Saturday that more than 900 families of the victims, distributed in the governorates of Najaf, Diwaniyah, Babel and Karbala, did not obtain their full rights, guaranteed by law.

At the memorial event held in the presidential palace complex, he added that “we are working diligently to search for the 500 missing persons through the Martyrs' Foundation/Mass Graves Department.”

Al-Khadhimi also said that the Committee is working to expedite DNA testing for 140 remains currently at the forensic department.

The Ministry of Health must hasten this process and end the suffering of the martyrs' families, he added.

 



Iraq Preoccupied with Potential Broad Israeli Attack

Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)
Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)
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Iraq Preoccupied with Potential Broad Israeli Attack

Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)
Iraqi PM Mohammed Shi al-Sudani at an emergency national security council meeting. (Iraqi government)

Baghdad has been preoccupied this week with serious possibilities that Israel may expand its war on Gaza and Lebanon by striking several targets in Iraq in retaliation to attacks by Iran-backed armed factions.

Concern has been high that Israel may attack government buildings, oil fields and strategic locations, not just the positions of the armed factions that have previously launched attacks against Israel, said sources close to the pro-Iran ruling Coordination Framework.

Media sources have spoken of government speculation that Iraq could come under “300 Israeli attacks”.

The fears in Iraq have been compounded by an Israeli complaint to the United Nations Security Council against seven armed factions and holding Baghdad responsible for the attacks they have carried out against it.

This prompted the government, through the foreign ministry, to send an official letter to the Security Council, UN Secretary-General, Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation in response to the Israeli threats.

The ministry said on Saturday that Iraq is “the cornerstone of stability in the region and world and it is one of the countries that are most committed to the UN Charter.”

“The Zionist entity’s letter to the Security Council is part of a systematic policy aimed at creating claims and excuses in an attempt to expand the conflict in the region.”

It said Iraq has turned to the Security Council out of Iraq’s keenness on the international body carrying out its duty in maintaining international peace and security and the need to rein in the “Zionist aggression in Gaza and Lebanon.”

Moreover, it stressed that Iraq has been keen on exercising restraint when it comes to the use of its airspace to attack a neighboring country.

Israel has used Iraqi airspace to launch attacks against Iran in October.

Iraq underscored the importance of the international community stepping in to “stop this hostile behavior that is a flagrant violation of international law.”

It called for international efforts to stop the Israeli escalation in the region and ensure that international laws and treaties are respected to consolidate security and stability.

Meanwhile, a source close to the Coordination Framework said the main Shiite parties are taking the Israeli threats “very seriously”, urging Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's government to take “all the necessary measures to avert a potential Israeli strike.”

All leaders of armed factions, as well as Shiite leaders, have taken up alternative locations and are moving under great secrecy, confirming that they have changed the majority of their military positions, said the source.

It also dismissed claims that Israeli jets have overflown Iraq, saying nothing has been confirmed, but not ruling out the possibility, especially since US forces have control over Iraqi skies and Iraq is helpless against stopping these violations.

Iraq had submitted a formal complaint to the UN and Security Council over Israel’s use and violation of its airspace to attack Iran.

Analyst and former diplomat Ghazi Faisal said the pro-Iran armed factions have been gathering their forces in the Sinjar province, which is strategic for Iran’s arms deliveries and logistic support to Syria where attacks can be carried out against American forces and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Sinjar is one of the most important strategic bases for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, he added.

Furthermore, he noted that the armed factions insist on continuing the war against Israel, rejecting government calls for calm and neutrality.

The government’s statements are aimed at delivering a message that it “is not directly responsible for the strategy of these factions,” which follow Iran’s policies.

Iraq has repeatedly said that it refuses for its territory to be used to attack another country, but some observers believe that it may allow Iran to do so should Israel strike.