Iraqi Army Kills 3 Terrorists in Diyala

A Turkish soldier patrols on a road near the Turkish-Iraqi border, on October 23, 2011. (Mustafa Ozer/AFP)
A Turkish soldier patrols on a road near the Turkish-Iraqi border, on October 23, 2011. (Mustafa Ozer/AFP)
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Iraqi Army Kills 3 Terrorists in Diyala

A Turkish soldier patrols on a road near the Turkish-Iraqi border, on October 23, 2011. (Mustafa Ozer/AFP)
A Turkish soldier patrols on a road near the Turkish-Iraqi border, on October 23, 2011. (Mustafa Ozer/AFP)

Three terrorists were killed in two airstrikes launched by Iraqi forces within the Diyala Operations Sector, the Iraqi Security Media Cell (SMC) said in a statement on Sunday.

“Iraqi F-16 fighter jets carried out two airstrikes killing three terrorists and injuring another, in addition to destroying a cave in the Zarlouk area in the Hamrin mountains,” the Cell said.

The operation was conducted thanks to accurate intelligence data received from the Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS), in coordination with the targeting cell in the Joint Operations Command.

"The security forces, with their various formations, are determined to continue their qualitative and preemptive operations against the remaining defeated terrorist elements in the mountains and deserts," SMC stressed.

Separately, a Turkish soldier was killed and another was injured on Saturday in a military operation against Kurdish fighters in the north of Iraq, Turkey’s defense ministry reported.

It brings to seven the number of Turkish troops killed in the region since Tuesday.

The Ministry said the incident happened when an explosive device went off while Turkish soldiers were passing near it.

Turkey is conducting several operations in Iraq and Syria against the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) that Ankara considers a terrorist organization.

In mid-April, Turkey launched Operation Claw-Lock to target PKK hideouts in northern Iraq's Metina, Zap and Avasin-Basyan regions.

The operation was preceded by Operations Claw-Tiger and Claw-Eagle, which were launched in 2020 to root out terrorists who hide in northern Iraq and plot cross-border attacks in Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recently announced that his country was about to launch a new military operation against the PKK in northern Syria aimed at creating a 30- kilometer security zone along the border.



US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
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US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)

The United States is deferring the removal of certain Lebanese citizens from the country, President Joe Biden said on Friday, citing humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon amid tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The deferred designation, which lasts 18 months, allows Lebanese citizens to remain in the country with the right to work, according to a memorandum Biden sent to the Department of Homeland Security.

"Humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon have significantly deteriorated due to tensions between Hezbollah and Israel," Biden said in the memo.

"While I remain focused on de-escalating the situation and improving humanitarian conditions, many civilians remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Lebanese nationals who are present in the United States."

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire since Hezbollah announced a "support front" with Palestinians shortly after its ally Hamas attacked southern Israeli border communities on Oct. 7, triggering Israel's military assault in Gaza.

The fighting in Lebanon has killed more than 100 civilians and more than 300 Hezbollah fighters, according to a Reuters tally, and led to levels of destruction in Lebanese border towns and villages not seen since the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.

On the Israeli side, 10 Israeli civilians, a foreign agricultural worker and 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from both sides of the border.