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Iraqi President Calls on Security Forces to Prevent Infiltration of ISIS Militants

Iraqi President Barham Salih in Baghdad (AFP - Getty Images)
Iraqi President Barham Salih in Baghdad (AFP - Getty Images)
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Iraqi President Calls on Security Forces to Prevent Infiltration of ISIS Militants

Iraqi President Barham Salih in Baghdad (AFP - Getty Images)
Iraqi President Barham Salih in Baghdad (AFP - Getty Images)

Iraq President Barham Salih called on the national security services to carry out their duties in combating terrorism, including stopping ISIS from infiltrating Iraqi territories.

Salih met with the Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army, First Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah, and the two discussed security developments in the country.

Salih stressed the need to support the state’s authority and its security agencies to better enforce the law, protect citizens, and enhance the capabilities of security forces.

For his part, Yarallah briefed the President about the recent military operations against ISIS.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Interior Minister Othman al-Ghanimi suspended three military commanders of the Arar border guard forces for not carrying out their duties during a recent terrorist attack.

The Ministry published a video showing an ISIS attack at the Arar crossing, on the border with Saudi Arabia, during which the terrorists opened fire on the border patrol of the Fifth Brigade of the Third Regiment.

A source at the ministry explained that the terrorists took control of al-Abyad police station, and stole communications equipment and a vehicle, as well as weapons.

The Iraqi security forces are trying to secure Kirkuk and Diyala following a series of ISIS attacks during the last period.

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Syria’s Reconciliation Committee Prioritizes Stability after Anger Over Prisoner Releases

Member of the High Committee for National Reconciliation Hassan Soufan and the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Facebook)
Member of the High Committee for National Reconciliation Hassan Soufan and the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Facebook)
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Syria’s Reconciliation Committee Prioritizes Stability after Anger Over Prisoner Releases

Member of the High Committee for National Reconciliation Hassan Soufan and the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Facebook)
Member of the High Committee for National Reconciliation Hassan Soufan and the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Facebook)

Syria’s High Committee for National Reconciliation has defended recent controversial prisoner releases, saying the decision aims to preserve national stability amid ongoing tensions.

Committee member Hassan Soufan confirmed that several officers recently freed had voluntarily surrendered in 2021 at the Iraqi border and in the Al-Sukhna region, under a formal request for safe conduct.

Speaking at a press conference in Damascus on Tuesday, Soufan addressed public backlash following the releases and acknowledged the deep pain felt by victims’ families.

“We fully understand the anger and grief of the families of martyrs,” he said. “But the current phase requires decisions that can help secure relative stability for the coming period.”

The controversy erupted after the Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday the release of dozens of detainees in Latakia, many of whom were arrested during the “Deterrence of Aggression” operation, which contributed to the fall of the Assad regime.

Among those involved in the mediation effort was Fadi Saqr, a former commander in the regime’s National Defense Forces, who has been accused of war crimes, including involvement in the Tadamon massacre in southern Damascus.

Soufan explained that the released officers had undergone investigation and were found not to have participated in war crimes. “Keeping them imprisoned no longer serves a national interest,” he said. “It has no legal justification.”

He stressed that Syria is in a delicate phase of national reconciliation, in which balancing justice and peace is critical.

“There are two parallel tracks - transitional justice and civil peace - and today, the priority is civil peace, as it lays the groundwork for all other strategic efforts,” he said.

Soufan added that the committee has requested expanded powers from the Syrian president, including the authority to release detainees not proven guilty and to coordinate directly with state institutions.

He insisted that the aim is not to bypass justice, but to prevent further bloodshed. “Vengeance and retribution are not paths to justice,” he said. “They allow real criminals to slip away while deepening divisions.”

While affirming that transitional justice remains essential, Soufan noted that it should focus on top perpetrators of atrocities, not individuals who merely served under the regime. “Justice means accountability for those who planned and carried out major crimes, not blanket punishment.”