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Officials: ISIS 'Blows Up' Iraq Oil Wells, Kills Policeman

Flames and smoke rise from oil wells inside the Khabbaz oilfield after they were bombed on the outskirts of Kirkuk, Dec 9, 2020. Reuters
Flames and smoke rise from oil wells inside the Khabbaz oilfield after they were bombed on the outskirts of Kirkuk, Dec 9, 2020. Reuters
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Officials: ISIS 'Blows Up' Iraq Oil Wells, Kills Policeman

Flames and smoke rise from oil wells inside the Khabbaz oilfield after they were bombed on the outskirts of Kirkuk, Dec 9, 2020. Reuters
Flames and smoke rise from oil wells inside the Khabbaz oilfield after they were bombed on the outskirts of Kirkuk, Dec 9, 2020. Reuters

Militants on Wednesday killed a policeman before blowing up two oil wells in Kirkuk, a northern province claimed by both Iraq's federal government and the Kurds, officials said.

A security official told AFP that "ISIS assailants" killed a policeman and "wounded two others."

The attackers then "blew up wells 177 and 183 at the Bay Hassan field," the oil ministry said in a statement.

The first fire was "brought under control in record time", but "firemen are still active at the second" well several hours after the attack, the ministry added.

Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga forces took control of Kirkuk, home to key oilfields including Bay Hassan, in June 2014 after federal forces withdrew in the face of an ISIS offensive.

In late 2017, Baghdad officially claimed victory against ISIS, after a grinding military campaign supported by a US-led coalition.

But the Kurds -- who run an autonomous government in Erbil -- and the federal government dispute ownership of Kirkuk's lucrative oilfields.

ISIS maintains an ability to perpetrate attacks, operating mainly at night and often exploiting the discord between Baghdad and Erbil.

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Arab World

Katz: Orders for Israel Army to Destroy More Bridges in South Lebanon

Israeli military vehicles are parked on the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon, March 21, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
Israeli military vehicles are parked on the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon, March 21, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
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Katz: Orders for Israel Army to Destroy More Bridges in South Lebanon

Israeli military vehicles are parked on the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon, March 21, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
Israeli military vehicles are parked on the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon, March 21, 2026. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Sunday that the army had been ordered to destroy more bridges over the Litani river being used by Hezbollah in south Lebanon and to step up the demolition of houses.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I instructed the 'army' to immediately destroy all the bridges over the Litani River that are used for terrorist activity, in order to prevent Hezbollah terrorists and weapons from moving south," Katz said in a statement.

He said the military was also instructed to "accelerate the demolition of Lebanese houses in the contact villages in order to thwart threats to Israeli communities".

Arab World

Israeli Settlers Smash Cars and Set Fires in Attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank

Israeli settlers gesture during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma
Israeli settlers gesture during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma
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Israeli Settlers Smash Cars and Set Fires in Attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank

Israeli settlers gesture during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma
Israeli settlers gesture during a weekly settlers' tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 7, 2026. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma

Israeli settlers rampaged through multiple Palestinian villages overnight Saturday and into Sunday, smashing cars, setting fires and wounding several men in the latest flare-up of violence in the occupied West Bank.

The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported attacks in at least six communities on Sunday. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said at least three Palestinians in the village of Jalud suffered head wounds from beatings and were hospitalized after confronting settlers, who were also reported injured.

The violence came as Israel’s government presses ahead with new settlements in the occupied West Bank. Attacks by settlers have intensified alongside a broader surge in violence since the Iran war started, said The Associated Press.

Israel’s military said it responded to Israeli civilians carrying out “arson against structures and property, as well as engaging in disturbances in the area,” but did not report any arrests or indicate whether investigations were opened.

WAFA reported attacks in the villages of Silat al Dahr and Fandaqumiya, both near Jenin; in Jalud and Salfit, both south of Nablus; and in the agricultural regions Masafer Yatta and the Jordan Valley. Homes and cars were set ablaze, Palestinians were pepper-sprayed and at least five people were wounded in the overnight assaults, which took place during the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the agency said.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported 25 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli settlers and soldiers this year as of March 15. The Palestinian Authority has also documented a series of arson attacks, including on mosques, across the territory.

Arab World

Israeli Military Instructed to Accelerate Demolition of More Bridges, Lebanese Homes in 'Frontline Villages'

Israeli tanks are deployed along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon, 21 March 2026. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
Israeli tanks are deployed along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon, 21 March 2026. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
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Israeli Military Instructed to Accelerate Demolition of More Bridges, Lebanese Homes in 'Frontline Villages'

Israeli tanks are deployed along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon, 21 March 2026. EPA/ATEF SAFADI
Israeli tanks are deployed along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon, 21 March 2026. EPA/ATEF SAFADI

Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that he and the Prime Minister had instructed ‌the ⁠military to accelerate ⁠the demolition of Lebanese homes in frontline villages to ⁠end threats to ‌Israeli ‌communities.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I instructed the IDF to immediately destroy all the bridges over the Litani River that are used for terrorist activity, in order to prevent Hezbollah terrorists and weapons from moving south," Katz said in a statement.

He said the military was also instructed to "accelerate the demolition of Lebanese houses in the contact villages in order to thwart threats to Israeli communities."

Earlier,  Israel said rocket fire from Lebanon killed one person as Hezbollah said it attacked soldiers in northern Israel, the first fatality there in fire from Lebanon since the latest war erupted.