Iraq: Armed Factions Accuse Anbar Commander of 'High Treason'
Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) march during a military parade in Daquq, nearby Kirkuk, Iraq (File photo: Reuters)
Iraqi Commander of operations in al-Anbar province Mahmoud al-Falahi was recorded in recently-leaked audio talking to who he said was a CIA agent. In the audio, he disclosed information on military bases and locations of Popular Mobilizations Forces (PMF) in western Iraq.
The audio also revealed that the Iraqi official was asked to provide geographic coordinates of existing PMF military bases especially of ''Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades'' and al-Nujbaa to be attacked by US and Israeli forces.
Iraqi Defense Minister Maj. Gen Najah al-Shammari ordered the establishment of a commission of inquiry after the recordings were published.
The Security and Defense Parliamentary Committee called for the formation of a committee to investigate the veracity of the leaks, and some members even pointed that Falahi might face the death penalty if the recordings were proven to be true.
''Hezbollah Brigades'' attacked Falahi accusing him of “high treason”, adding that some parties close to the commander and US embassy are trying to stoke sectarianism.
Brigades’ spokesman Mohammed Mohiuddin asserted that evidence is clear of Falahi’s involvement.
Mohiuddin said that ''Hezbollah Brigades'' expect the US Embassy to question what has been published and adding that the case of commander Falahi involves treason, espionage and conspiring against the Iraqi people.
Falahi’s silence on the accusations does not mean he is unable to respond, but because he has been instructed by the Defense Ministry to remain silent until the investigation results are released, according to a source close to Anbar Operations Command.
The source, who preferred not to be named, said that the recording is fabricated by well-known parties that seek to extend their influence over Anbar areas, especially in the west.
He indicated that the commander of the operations regularly meets with US leaders to coordinate with them on security issues in Anbar and the border with Syria and Jordan, therefore he does not need to contact intelligence agents.
The source believes the issue is that certain factions and PMF brigades are trying to take over al-Nukhayb Airport and other vital areas west of Anbar to facilitate the movement and transit to Syria, which was not allowed by Falahi.
Anbar MP Adel al-Mahallawi condemned the “offensive fabrications” and desperate attempts to undermine the army and its leaders.
He said that in recent days, a number of "unacceptable" statements were issued against the army and its leaders. He praised the military and its efforts, asserting that any offense against it is directed at all Iraqis.
The MP called on all political forces and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces to take firm stances against anyone trying to weaken the military for "evil" and "suspicious" purposes supported by foreign parties that are aiming to target the security and stability of the country.
Palestinians walk amid war-damaged buildings in Gaza City, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Israel's army said Friday that two reserve soldiers were killed in Gaza, with a military source telling AFP they died in an explosion of an Israeli army drone.
"The IDF drone crashed at a military post in the Gaza Strip but did not explode. The soldiers approached the drone, which exploded moments later," the official said.
The army identified the soldiers as Nadav Kali, aged 24, and Ofek Moalem, 23, from its 7007th Battalion, 16th Brigade.
‘Tripoli Cell’ Sparks Accusations Among Libya’s Rival Factionshttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5322381-%E2%80%98tripoli-cell%E2%80%99-sparks-accusations-among-libya%E2%80%99s-rival-factions
Firefighters fought to contain a blaze burning at an oil facility in Libya’s key western oil town of Zawiya, on Aug. 12, 2006, a day after a drone strike ignited a gasoline-storage tank. AP
‘Tripoli Cell’ Sparks Accusations Among Libya’s Rival Factions
Firefighters fought to contain a blaze burning at an oil facility in Libya’s key western oil town of Zawiya, on Aug. 12, 2006, a day after a drone strike ignited a gasoline-storage tank. AP
The dismantling of the alleged “sabotage cell” in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, has sparked accusations between the parties to Libya’s conflict, with each side pointing fingers over who is supporting the group.
On September 6, the Government of National Unity (GNU) announced the arrest of a cell accused of carrying out drone attacks on oil storage facilities and a power station in Tripoli and Zawiya. Since then, however, no further details have been released regarding the results of the investigation with five Libyans and several foreigners.
Some allege that Saddam Haftar, deputy commander-in-chief of the Libyan National Army (LNA), was behind the cell, claims that political analyst Omar Bousaada dismissed as “absurd accusations that no longer deceive anyone.”
The GNU’s Ministry of Defense had stated that it had also thwarted additional plots, including plans to target the South Tripoli power station as well as vital infrastructure and political, security, and military figures.
With the Public Prosecutor’s Office maintaining secrecy over the investigation into the detained cell members, some public figures have adopted narratives circulated by foreign media outlets, leading to intense political exchanges.
Libyan activist Ahmed Al-Zarrouq claimed that the Tariq Ben Zeyad Brigade, affiliated with the LNA, was responsible for the “sabotage cell” that targeted key facilities in Tripoli with the aim of creating crises in the capital.
Al-Zarrouq, a cousin of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, asserted that Saddam Haftar was behind the cell, which allegedly consisted of one Spaniard and four Libyans. He published their names and the roles they were assigned.
The Allibiya TV Channel, owned by the Al Ghad Media Group and considered close to Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, echoed Al-Zarrouq’s narrative. The channel also cited unnamed sources claiming that Tripoli authorities had released the Spanish suspect accused of involvement in the cell under pressure from Saddam Haftar.
A security source close to the LNA denied the allegations, telling Asharq Al-Awsat that Libya’s political, military, and security climate is moving toward greater stability and that ending the country’s division through elections is within reach.
The source, who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media, argued that some factions in Libya benefit from division and fragmentation rather than stability. He questioned how such allegations could emerge at a time when military and security leaders in both Benghazi and Tripoli are publicly emphasizing the need to end the country’s split.
On September 19, Presidential Council Chairman Mohamed Al-Menfi revealed that Libya had formally approached the International Criminal Court (ICC) for technical, technological, and legal support to strengthen investigations into the cell.
Bousaada told Asharq Al-Awsat that “fabricated statements and frivolous accusations have become a trademark of failure” propagated by what he described as “factories of illusion,” which, he said, resort to manipulating narratives and manufacturing scenarios whenever they feel politically marginalized or operationally weakened.
He argued that linking Saddam Haftar to the cell “is not merely false, but a desperate attempt to obscure the reality that his camp is currently operating from a position of strength and possesses genuine negotiating leverage that has secured its presence in major regional and international decision-making capitals.”
In his statement, Al-Menfi said Libya had submitted its request to the ICC Prosecutor’s Office through official diplomatic channels, via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in coordination with the Ministry of Defense, to enhance cooperation in the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, the GNU Ministry of Defense insisted that the case remains under the jurisdiction of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and denied any attempt to negotiate with any party regarding the matter. The ministry reaffirmed that investigations are continuing to identify all individuals involved in the sabotage cell and any entities connected to it.
Prefabricated Homes Arrive in Destroyed South Lebanon Townhttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5322378-prefabricated-homes-arrive-destroyed-south-lebanon-town
Workers set up a prefabricated house to provide housing for families whose homes have been destroyed in the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, in the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh (Western Zawtar) in southern Lebanon, on September 21, 2026. (Photo by Ammar Ammar / AFP)
Prefabricated Homes Arrive in Destroyed South Lebanon Town
Workers set up a prefabricated house to provide housing for families whose homes have been destroyed in the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, in the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh (Western Zawtar) in southern Lebanon, on September 21, 2026. (Photo by Ammar Ammar / AFP)
Nearly two months after the Lebanese army entered the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh in southern Lebanon, temporary housing units have started reaching families unable to live in their homes.
The army began deploying in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh end of July after Israeli forces withdrew from the area, marking the first test of a US-brokered plan agreed by Lebanon and Israel in direct talks.
The plan foresees the Lebanese army confiscating weapons from Hezbollah in designated areas and Israeli troops withdrawing in phases so that Lebanese troops can deploy. Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh is one of several towns or villages covered by the initial pilot program.
On Tuesday, the Council for the South began handing over the first batch of prefabricated homes to property owners whose plots had been cleared of rubble and prepared to receive the units.
This comes in coordination with the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon.
Workers set up a prefabricated house to provide housing for families whose homes have been destroyed in the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, in the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh (Western Zawtar) in southern Lebanon, on September 21, 2026. (Photo by Ammar Ammar / AFP)
On September 9, authorities announced that around 70 percent of the town’s residents had been able to return to inspect their properties, while only 16 percent, estimated at about 60 families out of 450, had been able to resettle. Officials estimated that 85 percent of homes had been completely destroyed and 15 percent partially damaged.
A source at the Higher Relief Commission told Asharq Al-Awsat that the prefabricated homes in Zawtar are part of a broader effort to support residents’ return and that solutions will vary according to the extent of destruction and local needs.
“We are now in the first phase, and while solutions in the villages covered by this stage may be similar or serve as models, they will not be identical because the scale of destruction differs from one area to another. The farther south we go, the more widespread the devastation becomes, making it impossible to apply a single solution to every town.”
The source explained that the response would rely on “a combination of solutions,” with prefabricated homes being one of them, adding that efforts are underway to secure available units locally as well as additional supplies from donors or foreign sources.
“We had the option of obtaining as many prefabricated homes as the local market could provide, while arranging for additional quantities from donor countries and external sources, allowing us to prepare for the first phase. In later stages, the need will certainly be greater.”
The source noted that Lebanese officials had explored opportunities for aid and grants during overseas visits, including to Türkiye, saying: “The cost of a prefabricated home in the local market is not cheap. We know this type of housing is only part of the solution, so we must secure it either through available resources or through grants and assistance.”
He added that while prefabricated homes may currently be a key solution in Zawtar, demand for them could be even greater in other areas during later phases.
“Unfortunately, our capabilities do not allow us to provide enough prefabricated homes for everyone in need. We are talking about roughly 300,000 housing units that are either completely destroyed or damaged to a degree that makes them uninhabitable. This is an enormous number. Therefore, prefabricated housing is one solution, not the only one.”
He stressed that the initiative marks the beginning of a broader process aimed at enabling residents to return and reasserting the presence of the state in the south, followed by restoring government agencies and institutions.
“It is not enough to ask people to return simply because homes are livable or because we have provided prefabricated housing if public institutions remain absent. If there is no municipal office, civil defense center, police station, or clinic, how can a normal return take place? The return of residents must go hand in hand with the return of state institutions, with prefabricated housing serving as one of the tools that help make this possible.”
Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh Mayor Abed Ezzeddine told Asharq Al-Awsat that introducing prefabricated homes addresses the “exceptional situation” of families who remain displaced. He explained that the municipality had requested 15 units.
“We have a number of families that are still displaced, some of whom can no longer afford rent. Other families are staying in buildings that must be vacated as schools reopen. We therefore needed to provide temporary shelter until their circumstances improve, especially with winter approaching.”
“There are also other families demanding to return to the town, which means we will likely need more than 15 homes,” he added.
“People want to return to Zawtar, but they need somewhere to stay while they work to rebuild their lives.”
“Many people come every day, sit in the town squares or on the ruins of their homes, and then return in the evening to the places where they are currently displaced. We therefore need to find a solution to this problem.”
He noted that displaced residents are spread across villages around Sidon, Iqlim al-Kharroub, and the Zahrani coast, where transportation costs and everyday living expenses add to their burdens amid limited employment opportunities and rising fuel costs. He confirmed that coordination is taking place directly with the Council for the South.
Workers set up a prefabricated house to provide housing for families whose homes have been destroyed in the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, in the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh (Western Zawtar) in southern Lebanon, on September 21, 2026. (Photo by Ammar Ammar / AFP)
Ezzeddine pointed out that “we in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh live in a state of anxiety. The security situation remains unstable, especially because Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh is very close to us, and the near-daily explosions frighten people ... Every so often we hear another explosion, and homes are destroyed.”
“There are children, women, and elderly people in the town, so it is impossible to say that conditions are stable. People want to return, settle down, and find peace, but the security situation remains difficult.”
He hoped there would be stability in the south “because people are exhausted and simply want to live in peace.”
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