Security Forces Pursue ISIS Remnants in West Iraq

An Iraqi special forces soldier waves an Iraqi flag from top of a church damaged by ISIS militants in Bartella, east of Mosul, Iraq (Reuters)
An Iraqi special forces soldier waves an Iraqi flag from top of a church damaged by ISIS militants in Bartella, east of Mosul, Iraq (Reuters)
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Security Forces Pursue ISIS Remnants in West Iraq

An Iraqi special forces soldier waves an Iraqi flag from top of a church damaged by ISIS militants in Bartella, east of Mosul, Iraq (Reuters)
An Iraqi special forces soldier waves an Iraqi flag from top of a church damaged by ISIS militants in Bartella, east of Mosul, Iraq (Reuters)

The Iraqi security forces launched a military operation to pursue ISIS cells in various areas to the west of the country in Kirkuk, Saladin, and Nineveh, including Kanous Island, one of ISIS’ strongholds.

The forces issued a statement announcing that Iraqi artillery violently bombed Kanous, in preparation for storming it and clearing it of the remnants of the terrorist organization.

In addition, the Diyala Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Interior arrested ISIS commander Abu Taha al-Bakri, who is in charge of kidnap and assassination operations.

The directorate said in a statement on Monday, that Bakri was arrested based on intelligence information and confessions of arrested terrorists. Bakri admitted his responsibility for several terrorist operations.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commander-Strategy of the Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve, Major General Kevin Copsey, said that the international coalition does not have military units on Iraqi territories.

Copsey said during his meeting with Iraq's National Security Advisor Qassim al-Araji that the coalition's tasks were limited to providing advice to the Iraqi military.

Araji's media office issued a statement after the meeting indicating that the officials discussed joint cooperation in the field of combating terrorism, strengthening security, and intelligence coordination.

The Iraqi advisor asserted that the security forces’ capabilities have greatly developed and they have grown capable of carrying out their tasks in maintaining security, confronting terrorist cells, and promoting peace.

According to the statement, Copsey confirmed the international coalition's continued support to Iraq to help eliminate ISIS terrorist cells.

Meanwhile, security experts and strategists said that ISIS was trying to regain power in Iraq, however, ensuring that the support enjoyed by Prime Minister Mustafa Kadhimi from the international coalition would be sufficient to help eliminate the terrorist organization.

Strategist Moataz Mohieddine told Asharq Al-Awsat that despite the support of the international coalition, Iraqi forces would not be enough to secure the vast areas between northern Baghdad, Diyala, Kirkuk, and Saladin.

Mohieddine explained that ISIS was trying to expand its operations, cautioning that disagreement over who should be in charge of the areas, remained an issue between various parties.

National Security Professor Hussein Allawi believes the international coalition’s support to Iraq comes from its commitment towards the country.

Allawi told Asharq Al-Awsat that the PM was achieving progress, despite the fact that the political forces have not provided the government with ample assistance to carry out its tasks.



Far-Right Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir Visits Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound

 Palestinians attend Eid al-Fitr holiday celebrations by the Dome of the Rock shrine in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians attend Eid al-Fitr holiday celebrations by the Dome of the Rock shrine in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP)
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Far-Right Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir Visits Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound

 Palestinians attend Eid al-Fitr holiday celebrations by the Dome of the Rock shrine in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP)
Palestinians attend Eid al-Fitr holiday celebrations by the Dome of the Rock shrine in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP)

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City on Wednesday, his spokesperson said, prompting strong condemnation from Jordan and Palestinian group Hamas.

The firebrand politician was visiting the site, which is sacred to Jews and Muslims, in occupied east Jerusalem after returning to the Israeli government last month following the resumption of the war against Hamas in Gaza.

Ben-Gvir had quit the cabinet in January in protest at the ceasefire agreement in the Palestinian territory.

Since the formation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government at the end of 2022, Ben-Gvir has made several trips to the Al-Aqsa compound, each time triggering international outcry.

In a statement, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry condemned Wednesday’s visit as a “storming” and “an unacceptable provocation.”

Hamas called it a “provocative and dangerous escalation,” saying the visit was “part of the ongoing genocide against our Palestinian people.”

“We call on our Palestinian people and our youth in the West Bank to escalate their confrontation... in defense of our land and our sanctities, foremost among them the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque,” it said in a statement.

The site is Islam’s third-holiest and a symbol of Palestinian national identity.

Known to Jews as the Temple Mount, it is also Judaism’s holiest place, revered as the site of the second temple destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

Under the status quo maintained by Israel, which has occupied east Jerusalem and its Old City since 1967, Jews and other non-Muslims are allowed to visit the compound during specified hours, but they are not permitted to pray there or display religious symbols.

Ben-Gvir’s spokesperson told AFP the minister “went there because the site was opened (for non-Muslims) after 13 days,” during which access was reserved for Muslims for the festival of Eid al-Fitr and the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

In recent years, growing numbers of Jewish ultranationalists have defied the rules, including Ben-Gvir, who publicly prayed there in 2023 and 2024.

The Israeli government has said repeatedly that it intends to uphold the status quo at the compound but Palestinian fears about its future have made it a flashpoint for violence.