Iraq's Kurdish Regional Security Council Announces Arrest of Top Aide of Former ISIS Leader

File photo: Security forces secure a location after an ISIS attack in Kirkuk, Iraq. Reuters
File photo: Security forces secure a location after an ISIS attack in Kirkuk, Iraq. Reuters
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Iraq's Kurdish Regional Security Council Announces Arrest of Top Aide of Former ISIS Leader

File photo: Security forces secure a location after an ISIS attack in Kirkuk, Iraq. Reuters
File photo: Security forces secure a location after an ISIS attack in Kirkuk, Iraq. Reuters

The Kurdish Regional Security Council announced in a statement on Friday that it captured a senior ISIS figure, Socrates Khalil.
Khalil was known to be a confidant of the late ISIS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
"After spending five years in Türkiye, Khalil returned to Kurdistan with a forged passport and was swiftly apprehended," the statement said.
Khalil made bombs for the ISIS group and was entrusted by al-Baghdadi with various major operations, the statement added, saying that he was instrumental in the 2014 ISIS takeover of Mosul, and participated in many battles against Iraqi forces and the Peshmerga forces, Reuters reported.



Israel Says It Intercepted a Missile Fired by Yemen’s Houthis

A person passes in front of a display of Houthis-made mock missile and drones at a square in Sanaa, Yemen, 13 January 2025. (EPA)
A person passes in front of a display of Houthis-made mock missile and drones at a square in Sanaa, Yemen, 13 January 2025. (EPA)
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Israel Says It Intercepted a Missile Fired by Yemen’s Houthis

A person passes in front of a display of Houthis-made mock missile and drones at a square in Sanaa, Yemen, 13 January 2025. (EPA)
A person passes in front of a display of Houthis-made mock missile and drones at a square in Sanaa, Yemen, 13 January 2025. (EPA)

Israel’s military said it intercepted a missile fired toward the country by Yemen’s Houthi militias, setting off sirens on Monday across the Jordan Valley and the occupied West Bank.

There were no reports of injuries from Magen David Adom, Israel’s rescue service.

The Iran-backed Houthis have been firing drones and missiles at Israel for almost a year, and the frequency has increased to near-daily attacks over the past month — attacks the Houthis say won’t stop until Israel agrees to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has carried out multiple waves of intense strikes in recent weeks in Yemen in response to the missile attacks. The latest launch raises the likelihood of further Israeli retaliation.

The US and partner forces have also launched multiple rounds of airstrikes against the Houthis.