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Libyan National Army Prepares for Air Battle by Downing 7 Turkish Drones

A destroyed and burnt tank is seen in Gharyan south of Tripoli Libya June 27, 2019. (Reuters)
A destroyed and burnt tank is seen in Gharyan south of Tripoli Libya June 27, 2019. (Reuters)
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Libyan National Army Prepares for Air Battle by Downing 7 Turkish Drones

A destroyed and burnt tank is seen in Gharyan south of Tripoli Libya June 27, 2019. (Reuters)
A destroyed and burnt tank is seen in Gharyan south of Tripoli Libya June 27, 2019. (Reuters)

The Libyan National Army (LNA), commanded by Khalifa Haftar, announced on Friday the downing of seven Turkish drones, in what was interpreted as a response to Ankara’s warning to the military of “grave consequences” if its interests in Libya were attacked.

Hours after Ankara’s threat, the LNA announced that its air defenses shot down seven Turkish drones in various regions in less than six hours.

The LNA said drones of the “Turkish invaders” were downed in the Qaryat and Abou al-Gharib regions south of Bani Walid and Tarhuna cities. Another aircraft was shot down over Wishka.

This takes to 90 the number of drones downed by the LNA since it launched its operation to liberate Tripoli in April 2019.

The LNA also announced the destruction of 20 Government of National Accord (GNA) armored vehicles in an airstrike in Gharyan city.

Politically, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized the flow of weapons to Libya.

Pompeo placed a phone call to GNA chief Fayez al-Sarraj to "reiterate US opposition to the continued level of weapons and munitions being brought into the country," the State Department said.

The statement was seen as a jab at Turkey that has been backing the GNA with weapons.

Pompeo and Sarraj "emphasized the importance of an immediate halt to the fighting and return to political dialogue," a statement said.

Fighting on Thursday centered around al-Asbiah, some 120 kilometers west of Tripoli. LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari said the military carried out a series of airstrikes against Turkish President Recep Tayyip “Erdogan’s takfiri militias” in Asbiah and the surrounding regions.

Mismari said four warplanes have become newly available after they were out of service for a long time. He added that LNA teams succeeded in refurbishing them, without specifying the type of aircraft, but promising “excellent results” from them.

“The time has come for them to be used at their maximum fire power,” he stressed.

The GNA, meanwhile, did not announce any new accomplishment on the ground, with a spokesman calling on the residents of Tarhuna, Wishka, Mizdah and Sirte to steer clear of LNA positions. The GNA will provide safe passage for trapped civilians.

In Tarhuna, after days of military buildup, the GNA said it was blocking the coastal road stretching from Castelverde to al-Qoaah, claiming it was protecting civilians from the LNA’s arbitrary shelling.

The GNA had recently launched an attack in an attempt to recapture Tarhuna from the LNA.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya, meanwhile, expressed its concern over the latest fighting in the country.

In a terse statement, it said it “is following with great concern the military developments and mobilization around the city of Tarhuna. UNSMIL reminds all parties of their obligations in accordance with international humanitarian law and warns against any acts of retribution, including attacks against civilians, extrajudicial punishments, looting, robberies and torching of public and private properties. UNSMIL calls on all parties to refrain from military escalation and resort to peaceful means.”

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Arab World

Wave of Apologies Prompts Reappraisal of Kadhimi's Government in Iraq

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi (AP)
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi (AP)
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Wave of Apologies Prompts Reappraisal of Kadhimi's Government in Iraq

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi (AP)
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi (AP)

After years of facing political and media accusations of corruption, former Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi is witnessing an unusual development in Iraq’s political scene: a wave of public apologies from media and political figures who had accused him and his government of corruption or helped promote those allegations.

The apologies came after a "legal battle" that ended with court rulings in Kadhimi’s favor in several lawsuits he filed against his accusers, after the judiciary concluded that no evidence had been presented to substantiate the allegations against him. The rulings have reopened debate over his government’s record, coinciding with a broad anti-corruption campaign led by Iraq’s current government.

In the years following his departure from office, Kadhimi faced a widespread campaign accusing his government of involvement in corruption and mismanagement. The campaign included political figures, media personalities and social media activists.

Those close to Kadhimi, however, argued that much of the campaign was an extension of the political struggle that accompanied the transfer of power rather than being based on fully substantiated judicial cases.

“Legal battle”

Kadhimi’s lawyer, Amir al-Daami, said the defense team turned to the courts after what he described as a surge in direct accusations linking Kadhimi and his government to corruption without evidence.

He said the “fair legal battle,” as he called it, “ended with justice for the former prime minister,” adding that “the judiciary treated those cases as direct criminal accusations, not merely political opinions or expressions of positions.”

“All those who were sued were unable to prove what they attributed to Kadhimi, leading to court rulings in his favor,” Daami told Asharq Al-Awsat. He said the judiciary “drew a line between the right to political criticism and making corruption accusations without legal basis.”

The issue did not stop at court rulings. It also led some of Kadhimi’s most prominent critics to publicly reassess their positions.

Journalists, politicians and former lawmakers have apologized to the former prime minister, saying they “were wrong to treat circulated accusations as facts without possessing conclusive evidence,” according to recent statements.

Journalist Iyad al-Samawi, once one of Kadhimi’s fiercest opponents, said: “The facts that emerged prompted him to review his position, and fairness requires admitting error when facts change.”

He said, “Political disagreement should not lead to adopting accusations without proof.”

Observers say the apologies, whether they grow or remain limited, point to a shift in how Kadhimi’s time in office is being judged, especially after a legal process ended without specific accusations being proven in court. Others described the apologies as “a wave of changes and a new political mood in the country.”

A source close to the former prime minister told Asharq Al-Awsat that “more than 14 Iraqi figures” have so far reviewed their positions on Kadhimi and apologized to him.

Kadhimi took office at one of the most difficult moments in Iraq’s modern history. He came to power amid mass protests, an economic crisis, the broad influence of armed factions and the pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During his term, his home was targeted in a drone assassination attempt. The Green Zone also saw demonstrations by armed factions that reached the perimeter of the government palace, reflecting the intensity of political polarization in the country at the time.

Supporters of Kadhimi’s government say it managed a sensitive transitional phase. They also say the state benefited from the Emergency Support for Food Security and Development Law, which provided major financial resources to cover spending when passing the general budget was not possible.

Some observers say those resources gave the following government financial room to maneuver. Kadhimi’s critics, however, say any assessment of that period should remain tied to a broader review of the economic and administrative policies his government pursued at the time.

Al-Zaidi and the corruption campaign

The debate comes as Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi leads a broad anti-corruption campaign, during which he has repeatedly said he is prepared to pay with his life to continue on this path.

The campaign has reached senior officials and opened files described as among the most sensitive in years, amid public calls for investigations to continue without political or partisan considerations.

Al-Zaidi’s government is facing mounting political pressure as the investigations widen.

A drone spotted near the government palace in Baghdad has drawn wide attention. Security authorities said they handled the incident without incurring losses.

But an informed political source told Asharq Al-Awsat that some circles interpreted it as a warning from parties harmed by the anti-corruption campaign. There has been no official confirmation of that interpretation.

Sadrist movement leader Moqtada al-Sadr on Friday affirmed “the firmness of his position on reform and fighting corruption,” declaring full support for the government’s reform campaign while warning against targeting “reformers,” in a reference to al-Zaidi.

Al-Zaidi has appeared among citizens in a Baghdad shopping center in recent days, a move observers saw as an attempt to underscore his reliance on public support.

He has also repeatedly said he does not intend to establish a political party or run in the next elections, reinforcing the image of his campaign as a government project rather than an electoral one.

Ihsan al-Shammari, head of the Political Thinking Center, told Asharq Al-Awsat that any future settlements in corruption cases should remain within legal frameworks and differ from the political deals seen in previous stages.

He said recovering funds and holding those involved accountable should take place under the law and after all those responsible are exposed, not through political understandings.

Arab World

Israeli Army Measures in South Lebanon Restrict UNIFIL Movement

A UNIFIL patrol in Mansouri, southern Lebanon (AFP)
A UNIFIL patrol in Mansouri, southern Lebanon (AFP)
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Israeli Army Measures in South Lebanon Restrict UNIFIL Movement

A UNIFIL patrol in Mansouri, southern Lebanon (AFP)
A UNIFIL patrol in Mansouri, southern Lebanon (AFP)

Restrictions are tightening on the movement of UNIFIL peacekeepers still deployed in southern Lebanon, as their mandate is set to end at the close of this year.

Israeli military measures inside a security zone set up along the Lebanese border, stretching more than 10 km into Lebanese territory, have sharply reduced the force’s movement and left residents of three Christian villages trapped inside.

Multiple sources said Israeli forces last Wednesday moved gates that had stood at the border fence into Lebanese territory, placing them at forward points inside the security zone. It was the first practical step of its kind since 2000.

At that time, after withdrawing from southern Lebanon, the Israeli army moved the gates to the border fence and reinforced them in 2018 with concrete walls along large sections of the frontier.

The gates were later opened when Israeli forces began pushing into Lebanese territory in October 2024 during the expanded war with Hezbollah.

Restrictions squeeze UNIFIL movement

UNIFIL’s area of operations covers southern Lebanon, specifically the zone between the Litani River in the north and the Blue Line in the south along the Lebanese-Israeli border.

Dany Ghafari, UNIFIL’s spokesperson in Lebanon, said that “since March 2, 2026, the date the latest round of fighting broke out between Israel and Hezbollah, UNIFIL soldiers have often faced restrictions on their movement across large parts of their area of operations because of road closures, checkpoints and other measures, forcing some patrols to be suspended or delayed.”

“Despite these challenges, peacekeepers continue their work on the ground, monitoring the situation and reporting observed violations in line with Resolution 1701,” he said. “They also help facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to residents who need it most.”

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Ghafari said all parties must be reminded that they are required to “respect the freedom of movement of all UNIFIL patrols, logistical convoys and operational activities, because any restrictions imposed on them are a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.”

He said the parties must also “meet their obligations to ensure the safety of these forces and UN property.”

No withdrawal from positions

Ghafari said UNIFIL remains at all its positions inside its area of operations and along the Blue Line.

He said the force is “doing what it can under the current conditions, monitoring developments on the ground, reporting them to the Security Council with full impartiality, securing access for humanitarian aid convoys and facilitating the work of humanitarian organizations.”

UNIFIL currently has about 7,500 troops from 47 countries.

Ghafari said coordination with the Lebanese army is “close, continuous and round-the-clock.”

“We carry out joint activities on land and at sea. The army is our strategic partner in implementing Resolution 1701,” he said.

“Through the liaison and coordination mechanism, UNIFIL communicates with Lebanon and Israel to contain tensions, prevent misunderstandings, and exchange information.”

In early June, a Serbian UNIFIL soldier was killed after shells landed on his position near Marjayoun in southeastern Lebanon, making him the seventh member of the international force to die since March.

A replacement coalition

The force is preparing to leave Lebanon after a presence dating back to the 1970s, following a UN Security Council decision adopted on Aug. 28, 2025.

The decision called for “reducing UNIFIL’s strength and withdrawing it in an orderly and safe manner starting on that date and within one year.”

Washington and Tel Aviv pushed for the decision, arguing that the force had proved ineffective. It had not prevented renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, nor had it guaranteed that the border area would become free of weapons and armed groups.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently announced during a summit in Antibes that France and Italy intend to form a multinational “coalition” after UNIFIL’s mandate ends, with the aim of strengthening “Lebanon’s sovereignty.”

France’s Foreign Ministry told Al Hadath television that the multinational force would deploy in southern Lebanon with US support and the participation of several European countries.

It said the deployment would come at the request of the Lebanese authorities and would aim to support the Lebanese army in carrying out its duties and strengthening stability.

A force outside the United Nations

Sami Nader, director of the Mashreq Center for Strategic Affairs, said there is “a European will not to leave southern Lebanon without international forces.

But at the same time, a new experience similar to UNIFIL would not be viable, because it failed to stop the war and acted more like a cover for Hezbollah to expand and build its capabilities. It also failed to deter Israeli attacks.”

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Nader said that “any international force must have new and different tasks. For that reason, we rule out it being under the UN umbrella.”

He said he expected the formation of “an international force to support the army in implementing government decisions and the framework agreement, especially since its fourth clause paved the way for that by noting Lebanon’s request for support from the international community.”

Arab World

Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Force Clashes with Faction in Baghdad, Oil Smugglers Arrested

An Iraqi security personnel stands guard along a street in Baghdad on June 28, 2026. (AFP)
An Iraqi security personnel stands guard along a street in Baghdad on June 28, 2026. (AFP)
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Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Force Clashes with Faction in Baghdad, Oil Smugglers Arrested

An Iraqi security personnel stands guard along a street in Baghdad on June 28, 2026. (AFP)
An Iraqi security personnel stands guard along a street in Baghdad on June 28, 2026. (AFP)

An Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service force carried out a pre-dawn operation on Friday in Dora, south of Baghdad, targeting a farm believed to be under the control of an armed faction and triggering a firefight between the two sides, Iraqi security sources said.

The sources said the farm belonged to an Iraqi citizen, but preliminary information indicated that control of it had passed to one of the armed factions active in the area. The full circumstances of the operation were still unclear.

A source familiar with the matter said the operation may have been limited to retaking the farm from an armed group that had refused, according to the source, to hand over its weapons to government authorities.

Other unconfirmed information suggested the raid may have targeted a leader from one of the factions operating under the Popular Mobilization Forces.

The source described the operation as the “first of its kind” since the launch on Sunday of a campaign known as “Dawn Assault.” It noted the possibility of tensions between the Counter-Terrorism Service, which has led arrests in recent days, and an armed formation.

The source explained that the operation could test the balance of power between the two sides.

Iraqi authorities have not issued an official statement clarifying the nature or outcome of the operation.

In a related development, a security source said five people were arrested in a special operation in the same area near in Dora.

The source said the detainees were accused of seizing land. Other sources said arrests linked to an oil-smuggling case targeted wanted individuals connected to people detained last Sunday.

Local reports, citing security sources, said Thursday night into Friday saw arrests in Baghdad, Maysan, and Salahuddin of suspects accused of “corruption,” as well as clashes with people accused of oil smuggling from an armed faction linked to Iran.

“A number of the detainees are relatives of people being held for questioning over corruption suspicions arising from oil smuggling,” sources said.

Anti-corruption drive expands

Meanwhile, thousands of followers of influential cleric Moqtada al-Sadr ralied to “support the government’s efforts to pursue the corrupt.”

In a unified address read after Friday prayers in several Iraqi provinces, Sadr said: “We have been and remain advocates of reform, and we do not gather with the corrupt.”

“You have been and remain with me in hardship and ease. Let us continue our path in support of reform and the new reform campaign whose light has begun to shine through our Iraq,” he urged.

Addressing his supporters, he said: “Rise for a peaceful stand that supports reform and the soldier of reform, our brother Ali al-Zaidi, the Iraqi prime minister, to strengthen his resolve and weaken the resolve of the corrupt, who are trying to pressure him and deter him from the brave and fruitful raids that have terrified and disturbed many inside and outside the country.”

Separately, a statement from al-Zaidi's office said he chaired a security and economic meeting attended by security and oversight chiefs.

He ordered anti-corruption measures expanded to all state institutions without exception and called for stronger coordination between law enforcement agencies and oversight bodies to track suspects and recover public funds.

The prime minister reiterated that the government would continue implementing its reform program, pursuing those involved in corruption cases and referring them to the judiciary, while adopting preventive measures to strengthen oversight bodies.