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.



Hamas Expects 'Real Progress' in Cairo Talks to End Gaza War

 Palestinians make their way with belongings as they flee areas in the eastern part of Gaza City, after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders, in Gaza City, April 11, 2025. (Reuters)
Palestinians make their way with belongings as they flee areas in the eastern part of Gaza City, after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders, in Gaza City, April 11, 2025. (Reuters)
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Hamas Expects 'Real Progress' in Cairo Talks to End Gaza War

 Palestinians make their way with belongings as they flee areas in the eastern part of Gaza City, after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders, in Gaza City, April 11, 2025. (Reuters)
Palestinians make their way with belongings as they flee areas in the eastern part of Gaza City, after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders, in Gaza City, April 11, 2025. (Reuters)

Hamas expects "real progress" towards a ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza, an official said, as senior leaders from the Palestinian movement hold talks with Egyptian mediators in Cairo on Saturday.

The meeting between Hamas and Egyptian mediators come amid ongoing violence in Gaza, as the Israeli military intercepted three projectiles fired from the territory and launched air strikes and artillery shelling on several areas. No injuries were reported, the military said in a statement.

The scheduled talks in Cairo also come days after US President Donald Trump suggested an agreement to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza was close to being finalized.

A Hamas official told AFP that the Palestinian group anticipated the meeting with Egyptian mediators would yield significant progress.

"We hope the meeting will achieve real progress towards reaching an agreement to end the war, halt the aggression and ensure the full withdrawal of occupation forces from Gaza," the official familiar with the ceasefire negotiations told AFP on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

The delegation will be led by the group's chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, he said.

According to the official, Hamas has not yet received any new ceasefire proposals, despite Israeli media reports suggesting that Israel and Egypt had exchanged draft documents outlining a potential ceasefire and hostage release agreement.

"However, contacts and discussions with mediators are ongoing," he added, accusing Israel of "continuing its aggression" in Gaza.

The Times of Israel reported that Egypt's proposal would involve the release of eight living hostages and eight bodies, in exchange for a truce lasting between 40 and 70 days and a substantial release of Palestinian prisoners.

President Trump said during a cabinet meeting this week that "we're getting close to getting them (hostages in Gaza) back".

Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was also quoted in an Israeli media report as saying "a very serious deal is taking shape, it's a matter of days".

Israel resumed its Gaza strikes on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire with Hamas.

Since then, more than 1,500 people have been killed, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory to which Israel cut off aid more than a month ago.

Dozens of these strikes have killed "only women and children," according to a report by UN human rights office.

The report also warned that expanding Israeli evacuation orders were resulting in the "forcible transfer" of people into ever-shrinking areas, raising "real concern as to the future viability of Palestinians as a group in Gaza".

On Saturday, Israel continued with its offensive.

Gaza's civil defense agency reported an Israeli air strike on a house in Gaza City on Saturday morning.

AFP footage of the aftermath of the strike showed the bodies of four men, wrapped in white shrouds, at a local hospital, while several individuals gathered to offer prayers before the funeral.

The Israeli military, meanwhile, said its air force intercepted three projectiles that were identified as crossing into Israeli territory from southern Gaza on Saturday.

The ceasefire that ended on March 17 had led to the release of 33 hostages from Gaza -- eight of them deceased -- and the release of around 1,800 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

The war in Gaza broke out after Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. It resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Militants also took 251 hostages, 58 of whom are still held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.

Gaza's health ministry said on Friday that at least 1,563 Palestinians had been killed since March 18 when the ceasefire collapsed, taking the overall death toll since the war began to 50,933.