New Assassinations in Syria’s Hol Camp

A general view of al-Hol displacement camp in Hasakeh, northeastern Syria, April 1, 2019. (Reuters)
A general view of al-Hol displacement camp in Hasakeh, northeastern Syria, April 1, 2019. (Reuters)
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New Assassinations in Syria’s Hol Camp

A general view of al-Hol displacement camp in Hasakeh, northeastern Syria, April 1, 2019. (Reuters)
A general view of al-Hol displacement camp in Hasakeh, northeastern Syria, April 1, 2019. (Reuters)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Tuesday that seven assassinations were documented in the al-Hol camp in Syria’s Hasakeh province in the past two weeks.

Al-Hol is one of a half dozen displacement and refugee camps in northeastern Syria for families from ISIS-controlled areas.

Reliable sources told the Observatory that the Asayish security forces found two Iraqi brothers and one child, killed in their tent in the Hol camp.

The London-based watchdog also documented another assassination, whereby unknown gunmen killed Tuesday an Iraqi refugee working for the Asayish.

Clashes took place between members of Asayish and the gunmen who carried out the assassination. Security forces managed to arrest one of the attackers.

On Sunday, Observatory sources reported that a female Iraqi refugee was shot dead while in front of her tent.

On December 28, the monitor said another female Iraqi refugee was also killed in the camp after being shot by unidentified gunmen in front of her tent.

Three days earlier, gunmen assassinated an Iraqi refugee. Sources said the victim was a former collaborator with the Syrian Democratic Forces intelligence service.

Separately, hundreds of Qamishli residents and Asayish members attended Tuesday the funeral of Bashar Nayef Ahmed, an Asayish element, who was killed last Saturday “while performing his military duties”. There was no information about how he was killed.



Al-Mashhadani Emphasizes Strengthening Iraqi-Saudi Relations

Al-Mashhadani during his meeting with the Saudi Ambassador in Baghdad (Iraqi Parliament)
Al-Mashhadani during his meeting with the Saudi Ambassador in Baghdad (Iraqi Parliament)
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Al-Mashhadani Emphasizes Strengthening Iraqi-Saudi Relations

Al-Mashhadani during his meeting with the Saudi Ambassador in Baghdad (Iraqi Parliament)
Al-Mashhadani during his meeting with the Saudi Ambassador in Baghdad (Iraqi Parliament)

Iraqi Parliament Speaker Dr. Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani has called for prioritizing stronger ties with Saudi Arabia, citing shared regional interests and the potential for positive outcomes.
During a meeting with Saudi Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Shammari, Al-Mashhadani highlighted the importance of Iraqi-Saudi cooperation, particularly in addressing regional challenges. The meeting explored ways to enhance bilateral relations in economic and political spheres while discussing major Arab issues, including the Gaza war, Lebanon’s instability, and changes in Syria.
This comes after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last week in AlUla to address the challenges of the Syrian crisis, regional security, and stability. The summit focused on aligning efforts to tackle broader geopolitical issues and fostering cooperation.
As part of Iraq’s deepening engagement with Gulf countries, Baghdad recently signed numerous agreements with Saudi Arabia through the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council. Additionally, Iraq signed two memoranda of understanding with Oman, covering political consultations, economic collaboration, and transportation.
Sudani also received Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, who delivered an invitation from Sultan Haitham bin Tariq to visit Oman. Discussions emphasized on enhancing bilateral economic and trade ties, particularly in oil derivatives. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of stability in Syria and the need to preserve its sovereignty and diversity while supporting its people.
In a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart, Albusaidi underscored the strong cultural and fraternal ties between Iraq and Oman. He noted opportunities for collaboration in tourism, energy, trade, and finance, while underlining his country’s commitment to participate in the Baghdad International Trade Fair in February 2024.
For his part, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein highlighted efforts to abolish visa requirements between Iraq and Oman, expressed hope for inclusive political progress in Syria, and pointed to Iraq’s commitment to further agreements that strengthen bilateral cooperation across various sectors.