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Head of Iraqi Judiciary Defends Performance amid Criticism in Tackling Killing of Protesters

Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq, Faiq Zaidan. (INA)
Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq, Faiq Zaidan. (INA)
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Head of Iraqi Judiciary Defends Performance amid Criticism in Tackling Killing of Protesters

Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq, Faiq Zaidan. (INA)
Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq, Faiq Zaidan. (INA)

Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq, Faiq Zaidan defended on Thursday the judiciary against massive criticism from the people and local and international rights groups over his handling of and verdicts in several cases, especially those related to the killing and assassination of protesters and activists.

In an interview with the official state news agency (INA), he said the judiciary has issued warrants against the murderers of prominent researcher Hisham al-Hashemi as Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of his murder.

Zaidan did not elaborate over the case that has preoccupied the Iraqi public for a year.

Commenting on the progress in cases of the murder of anti-government protesters, he stated that some death penalties have been issued against officers in Babel and Wasit.

He added, however, that these cases are “complicated” as many sides are involved in them, including political parties eyeing electoral goals.

Months ago, government authorities had announced an official tally of 550 protester deaths in anti-government demonstrations. Thousands of others in Baghdad and central and southern provinces have also suffered critical injuries.

The government had formed teams to probe the violence but they have yet to announce any findings and rulings.

Asked about the release of prominent Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) official, Qassem Muslih, weeks ago after his arrest on suspicion of involvement in the killing of protesters, Zaidan replied that the judiciary had not succumbed to any pressure to let him go.

Rather, he explained there was insufficient evidence to implicate him in the murder of protesters, including prominent activist Ihab al-Wazni.

Moreover, he revealed that Muslih was not even in Iraq when Wazni was killed and that was why he was released.

The activist was killed in Karbala in May and his family openly accused Muslih of being involved.

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Arab World

Syria Says Foiled Hezbollah-Linked Plot to Bomb Oil Refinery

Explosives and other equipment that were seized in possession of the detainees. (Syrian internal security forces)
Explosives and other equipment that were seized in possession of the detainees. (Syrian internal security forces)
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Syria Says Foiled Hezbollah-Linked Plot to Bomb Oil Refinery

Explosives and other equipment that were seized in possession of the detainees. (Syrian internal security forces)
Explosives and other equipment that were seized in possession of the detainees. (Syrian internal security forces)

Syrian authorities said on Tuesday they had prevented a sabotage attempt against an important refinery by figures linked to Lebanon's Hezbollah group, which denied the accusation.

The announcement comes after a series of unclaimed attacks against oil and gas pipelines across several parts of Syria.

Domestic intelligence and security forces "foiled a terrorist plot by a cell affiliated with the Hezbollah militia that was targeting the Homs refinery", the security forces said in a statement.

They said they had arrested two members of the cell and seized explosives intended for use in the attack.

In a statement later, Hezbollah denied the accusations "in their entirety", condemning "the repetition of these accusations".

It reiterated that it "has no presence or connections in Syrian territory and has nothing to do with any activity that undermined Syria's security and stability".

The Homs refinery, in central Syria, is the only operational one in a country devastated by more than a decade of civil war that ended in late 2024.

Another refinery, on the coast at Banias, is undergoing maintenance.

Damascus has previously announced the dismantling of cells linked to Hezbollah, which has denied the allegations each time.

The Lebanese group took part in Syria's war on the side of the since-overthrown Bashar al-Assad, fighting against those now in power in Damascus and earning their ongoing enmity.

On Sunday, Syrian news agency SANA reported a foiled plot against the refinery, while in early October Damascus reported sabotage attacks first against an oil pipeline and then a gas one.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem have both raised the possibility of meeting each other.

Arab World

Jordan Charges Church Attack Suspects with Terrorism

Relatives mourn as they hold a framed portrait of a victim killed in an attack on a Greek Orthodox church during a funeral ceremony in Karak, Jordan, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP)
Relatives mourn as they hold a framed portrait of a victim killed in an attack on a Greek Orthodox church during a funeral ceremony in Karak, Jordan, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP)
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Jordan Charges Church Attack Suspects with Terrorism

Relatives mourn as they hold a framed portrait of a victim killed in an attack on a Greek Orthodox church during a funeral ceremony in Karak, Jordan, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP)
Relatives mourn as they hold a framed portrait of a victim killed in an attack on a Greek Orthodox church during a funeral ceremony in Karak, Jordan, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP)

Jordanian prosecutors on Tuesday charged three men with terrorism-related offences over a deadly gun attack last month on a church in the kingdom's south.

On October 23, gunmen killed nine people and wounded 25 others when they stormed a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Hammoud village, in Jordan's Karak governorate.

Authorities said the suspected gunmen, two Jordanian brothers and their relative by marriage, fled after the attack but were arrested three days later.

According to a statement from Jordan's state security prosecutor, "the public prosecution has completed all investigative procedures... related to the terrorist attack carried out at Saint George Church".

The seven charges include "committing terrorist acts resulting in the death of a person, carrying out terrorist acts using weapons and ammunition, possessing weapons and ammunition for terrorist purposes, conspiring to carry out terrorist acts and promoting the ideology of a terrorist group".

Under Jordan's anti-terrorism law, a conviction on the most serious charge -- carrying out terrorist acts resulting in death -- is punishable by death.

Authorities have described the suspects as followers of a hardline extremist ideology.

The attack shocked the kingdom, where Christians make up around three percent of Jordan's Muslim-majority population.

Jordan retaliated by launching deadly strikes on "terrorist organizations" in Syria, claiming to have killed more than 20 extremists, but sparking a brief diplomatic crisis with its neighbor.

Arab World

Bab al-Mandeb Close to Liberation, Houthis Intensify Fighting in Lahj

A Yemeni solider in battle near Taiz city. (AFP)
A Yemeni solider in battle near Taiz city. (AFP)
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Bab al-Mandeb Close to Liberation, Houthis Intensify Fighting in Lahj

A Yemeni solider in battle near Taiz city. (AFP)
A Yemeni solider in battle near Taiz city. (AFP)

Yemeni government forces are close to ending the Houthi presence in most positions the group still holds in the Bab al-Mandeb region, coinciding with intensifying battles in Lahj governorate.

There, the group has escalated its attacks on government force positions in the Al-Maqatirah district in an attempt to achieve a military breakthrough that would allow it to bypass toward Bab al-Mandeb and advance toward the Tur Al-Baha district.

The Giants Brigades continue to pressure the remaining Houthi pockets in Bab al-Mandeb, as government forces and the Popular Resistance are engaged in escalating confrontations along the Taiz and Lahj fronts. The clashes come amid Houthi attempts to reclaim positions lost over the past few days and open new advance routes toward strategic areas overlooking the west coast.

These developments were accompanied by decrees by Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al-Alimi, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, under which he reorganized the leadership of the Tur Al-Baha axis and the military command of the Taiz front.

The development took place following setbacks at certain positions over the past weeks, and coincides with the political leadership's reaffirmation to press ahead with the Dawn of Yemen Operation until its declared goals are achieved.

According to field sources, the Houthis only hold one main in the Bab al-Mandeb region, as well as a handful of hills where a limited number of fighters are positioned.

The sources said government forces are close to establishing full control over these sites; however, the high density of mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by the group is hindering the advance and poses a direct threat to the troops, requiring clearing operations before military objectives can be fully completed.

Houthi pressure on Lahj

The Houthis launched a violent pre-dawn attack on Tuesday against government positions on the Al-Maqatirah front north of Lahj governorate.

Units from the National Resistance successfully repelled the assault for the second consecutive day, following a similar attack on Monday.

Government forces targeted Houthi positions in the Sawalihah mountains of the Al-Nusayrah area with medium and heavy weapons, inflicting casualties and equipment losses.

According to military information, forces managed to reclaim positions in the Al-Khazzan Al-Ahmar area on the Al-Nusayrah front and expel Houthi elements.