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Global Coalition Expands Cooperation with Iraq

An Iraqi soldier walks at the Qayyarah air base, where US-led troops in 2017 had helped Iraqis plan out the fight against ISIS in Mosul in northern Iraq, before a planned US pullout on March 26, 2020. (AFP)
An Iraqi soldier walks at the Qayyarah air base, where US-led troops in 2017 had helped Iraqis plan out the fight against ISIS in Mosul in northern Iraq, before a planned US pullout on March 26, 2020. (AFP)
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Global Coalition Expands Cooperation with Iraq

An Iraqi soldier walks at the Qayyarah air base, where US-led troops in 2017 had helped Iraqis plan out the fight against ISIS in Mosul in northern Iraq, before a planned US pullout on March 26, 2020. (AFP)
An Iraqi soldier walks at the Qayyarah air base, where US-led troops in 2017 had helped Iraqis plan out the fight against ISIS in Mosul in northern Iraq, before a planned US pullout on March 26, 2020. (AFP)

The US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS is expanding the scope of its cooperation with Iraq in various fields, undeterred by the various terrorist attacks against its logistical support convoys.

Iraqi Joint Operations Command spokesman Major General Tahsin al-Khafaji stressed that the coalition continues to support the security forces, noting that it began providing the border guards with smart towers, thermal cameras and technical equipment used for reconnaissance.

The Global Coalition recently supplied Iraq with over $1 million worth of equipment to aid in its battle against terrorism.

The semi-open border between Iraq and Syria is one of the most important factors allowing ISIS to reorganize its ranks and launch continuous attacks, posing a new threat.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior arrested 15 ISIS terrorists in the northern Nineveh governorate.

The ministry issued a statement saying the detainees are wanted by the judiciary on charges of terrorism, and they confessed during the preliminary investigations to their affiliation with ISIS.

They also participated in several terrorist attacks before Iraq defeated the group in 2017.

Iraqi security expert, Fadel Abul Ragheef believes the international coalition’s interest in the Iraqi file stems from the need to preserve its national security.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the security of the countries of the international coalition begins with maintaining the security of Iraq and Afghanistan.

He warned that if ISIS reestablished itself in Iraq, its activities will spread to the countries of the international coalition, including the US and its allies.

Abul Ragheef added that the coalition also wants to protect its forces, presence and facilities in Iraq, especially Baghdad.

It also supported the Special Forces in the Green Zone with equipment worth about $20 million, in addition to another possible batch of aid amounting to more than $50 million, according to the expert.

He said the coalition plans to increase the combat level of Iraqi forces given the growing risks of the terrorist organization and its attempt to restore its presence in the country.

Advisor at the European Center for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies (ECCI), Major General Imad Allaw told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Global Coalition is entering a new phase and extending its Central Command to include Israel, Bahrain and the UAE.

Allaw believes it is a clear indication that normalization with Israel may include other countries in the region.

The expert noted that the coalition may want to boost the military capabilities in the Middle East against the Iranian-Turkish-Russian alliance that aims to share influence in the region, especially the resource-rich eastern Mediterranean.

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Kabbashi: Sudan War Nearing End, Arms Proliferation Poses Major Threat

Shams al-Din Kabbashi, a member of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and deputy commander of the army, said his government has no objection to delivering aid to other states, provided guarantees are in place (Sudan News Agency)
Shams al-Din Kabbashi, a member of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and deputy commander of the army, said his government has no objection to delivering aid to other states, provided guarantees are in place (Sudan News Agency)
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Kabbashi: Sudan War Nearing End, Arms Proliferation Poses Major Threat

Shams al-Din Kabbashi, a member of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and deputy commander of the army, said his government has no objection to delivering aid to other states, provided guarantees are in place (Sudan News Agency)
Shams al-Din Kabbashi, a member of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and deputy commander of the army, said his government has no objection to delivering aid to other states, provided guarantees are in place (Sudan News Agency)

The war in Sudan is nearing its end, a top military official said on Saturday, warning that the widespread availability of weapons could pose one of the biggest threats to the country’s stability in the post-war period.
Shams al-Din Kabbashi, a member of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and deputy commander of the army, told state governors in the temporary capital of Port Sudan that arms proliferation is a “major danger awaiting the state.”
“The areas that have been retaken must be handed over to the police for administration,” Kabbashi said, stressing that civilian policing, not military control, should take over in recaptured territories.
He also pointed to the need to redeploy troops currently stationed at checkpoints and security outposts in liberated regions. “We need these forces on other frontlines,” he said.
Kabbashi described the rise in hate speech triggered by the conflict as “unacceptable” and warned that Sudan would face deep social challenges once the fighting stops.
According to Kabbashi, the Sudanese armed forces are in a strong position after initial setbacks at the start of the war, as the military seeks to shift focus to restoring internal security and supporting civil governance in liberated areas.
“The situation of the armed forces and supporting units is more than good,” said Kabbashi. “We were in a bad place at the beginning of the war — now we are more than fine.”
Kabbashi added that army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is highly focused on ensuring public safety across the country, calling security “a top priority, ahead of all other services.”
He warned, however, that Sudan faces deeper challenges beyond the battlefield. “The plot against Sudan is bigger than the militia we’re fighting — they are only the front,” Kabbashi said, referring to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) without naming them directly.
He pointed to rising crime, widespread weapons, and looting as major security threats that emerged during the war, saying state authorities would have a significant role to play in restoring order.
Kabbashi urged state governors to back police forces in their efforts to maintain law and order, emphasizing that police support is “urgently needed” during the current transitional phase.