Iraqi Air Force Strikes ISIS Positions in Hamrin Mountains

An Iraqi military force in a previous operation to pursue ISIS in Salahuddin, Diyala, and Samarra (Iraqi News Agency)
An Iraqi military force in a previous operation to pursue ISIS in Salahuddin, Diyala, and Samarra (Iraqi News Agency)
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Iraqi Air Force Strikes ISIS Positions in Hamrin Mountains

An Iraqi military force in a previous operation to pursue ISIS in Salahuddin, Diyala, and Samarra (Iraqi News Agency)
An Iraqi military force in a previous operation to pursue ISIS in Salahuddin, Diyala, and Samarra (Iraqi News Agency)

The Iraqi Security Media Cell reported on Friday that an aerial strike by F-16 aircraft in Mount Hamrin, near the border of Kirkuk and Salahuddin governorates, killed three ISIS militants.

In a statement, the cell said the operation was executed with “high-level coordination” between the Counter-Terrorism Service and the Joint Operations Command.

A force from the Counter-Terrorism Service’s Kirkuk regiment, assisted by technical and reconnaissance support from the Joint Operations Command, proceeded to inspect the site of the strike.

They discovered the bodies of three ISIS militants and seized light weapons, ammunition, explosives, and two explosive belts. They also found several destroyed weapons, equipment, communication devices, and various logistical materials.

This comes at a time when Baha Araji, an Iraqi official, announced that a deal has been reached with Washington to end the US-led international coalition’s operations in Iraq.

The official stated that this decision comes after careful consideration and discussions that have been ongoing since February.

The announcement was made on a televised broadcast, where Araji highlighted the significance of this move, emphasizing the longstanding ties between Iraq and the US.

This decision marks the end of a cooperative phase that began with the coalition’s establishment.

Additionally, it was mentioned that Iraqi forces have taken control of several areas, maintaining security and stability. Araji underscored that this transition reflects Iraq’s growing capabilities and sovereignty.

This development follows the recent interactions between Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani and US representatives, aimed at redefining the future relationship between Baghdad and Washington.



Tunisian President Announces Re-Election Bid

Tunisia’s President Kais Saied
Tunisia’s President Kais Saied
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Tunisian President Announces Re-Election Bid

Tunisia’s President Kais Saied
Tunisia’s President Kais Saied

Tunisia’s President Kais Saied said Friday he will stand for re-election in the Oct. 6 presidential vote.

“I officially announce my candidacy for the Oct. 6 presidential election in order to keep up the fight in the battle for national liberation,” Saied said in a video released by his office.

In a related development, a Tunisian court sentenced opposition party leader Lotfi Mraihi, a potential presidential election candidate, to eight months in prison on a charge of vote buying, his lawyer said on Friday.

Mraihi had been arrested on July 3 on suspicion of corruption.

The court also banned Mraihi, leader of the Republican Union Party and one of the most prominent critics of Saied, from running in presidential elections for life, his lawyer Omar Ismail said.

Mraihi will appeal the sentence, Ismail added.

In 2021, Saied dissolved parliament and began ruling by decree in a move the opposition has described as a coup. Saied said his steps were legal and necessary to end years of rampant corruption among the political elite.

On another note, the president of the Rabaka Observatory, Imed Daimi, officially declared his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election.

The announcement was made this Thursday through a video published on his official Facebook page.

Daimi, a well-known figure on the Tunisian political stage, was a member of the Constituent Assembly and also acted as minister director of the presidential office.

In addition, he was one of the leaders of the Congress Party for the Republic (CPR), a significant party in the post-revolutionary Tunisian political landscape.

The coming months will be decisive for the electoral campaign, as candidates refine their strategies and programs to convince Tunisian voters.