Iraqi Army Carries out ‘Sophisticated’ Operation against ISIS

A member of Iraqi Federal Police waves an Iraqi flag as they celebrate victory of military operations against ISIS militants in West Mosul. (Reuters file photo)
A member of Iraqi Federal Police waves an Iraqi flag as they celebrate victory of military operations against ISIS militants in West Mosul. (Reuters file photo)
TT

Iraqi Army Carries out ‘Sophisticated’ Operation against ISIS

A member of Iraqi Federal Police waves an Iraqi flag as they celebrate victory of military operations against ISIS militants in West Mosul. (Reuters file photo)
A member of Iraqi Federal Police waves an Iraqi flag as they celebrate victory of military operations against ISIS militants in West Mosul. (Reuters file photo)

Iraq Defense Ministry spokesperson Yahya Rasoul stressed that military operations against ISIS were ongoing, revealing that a recent “sophisticated” operation led to the arrest of four terrorists.

Rasoul told Iraqi News Agency on Thursday that Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi ordered the continuation of operations against ISIS remnants, based on a strategy set in coordination with intelligence and security agencies.

Sophisticated operations are regularly being carried out, he added.

He went on saying that that the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Force (CTF) carried out such an operation on Wednesday, covering regions north of Baghdad and in Babel, Kirkuk and Diyala. Four terrorists were detained for being part of a terrorist network aimed at destabilizing security.

Kadhimi is following up on the air and ground operations against ISIS strongholds, he said.

Last week, the army launched a military operation to cleanse vast areas north of Baghdad of ISIS remnants.

Iraq's Security Media Cell announced that the operation was ordered by the PM and supervised by the Joint Operations Command. It added that the troops were backed by the air force, after receiving delicate intelligence information regarding ISIS remnants.



Lebanese PM Designate Says he is Against Exclusion

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam speaks to journalists after his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam speaks to journalists after his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
TT

Lebanese PM Designate Says he is Against Exclusion

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam speaks to journalists after his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam speaks to journalists after his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam said on Tuesday that his hands are extended to everyone, saying he was opposed "to exclusion" a day after Hezbollah accused opponents of seeking to exclude it by nominating him.

Salam said he was against exclusion and on the contrary supported unity. "This is my sincere call, and my hands are extended to everyone," he said at Baabda presidential palace.

Salam spoke after meeting President Joseph Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri.

Aoun has asked Salam to form the country’s new government after he was named prime minister by a large number of legislators Monday. The move apparently angered Hezbollah and its allies.

In past years, Hezbollah has repeatedly blocked Salam from becoming prime minister.

“We will see their acts when it comes to forcing the occupiers to leave our country, bringing back prisoners, reconstruction” and the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution that ended the Israel-Hezbollah war, the head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, Mohammed Raad, said after meeting with Aoun on Monday.

But Salam said: "Reconstruction isn't just a promise, but a commitment, and this requires complete implementation of UN Resolution 1701, implementation of all articles of the ceasefire, and imposing the full withdrawal of the Israeli enemy from every inch" of Lebanon.

He stated that he would work for justice for the victims of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, and for depositors whose savings have been frozen inside the Lebanese financial system since its collapse in 2019.

"It is time to begin a new chapter, one that we want to be rooted in justice, security, progress, and opportunity," Salam added.