Iraq to Enforce Law in Diyala

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. (Reuters)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. (Reuters)
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Iraq to Enforce Law in Diyala

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. (Reuters)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. (Reuters)

Iraqi special forces coming from the capital Baghdad have started enforcing the law in the province of Diyala (60 km northeast of Baghdad), in implementation of orders by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

The forces deployed in various regions of the province in search of wanted individuals who carried out recent assassinations of citizens, and medical and scientific figures.

Meanwhile, the Sheikh of Bani Tamim tribes Mustafa al-Tamimi granted the government 10 days to arrest the perpetrators.

A security source in the province stated that the special forces would carry out security missions in other administrative units in line with plans set by Sudani during a visit to Diyala on Wednesday.

Sudani has given security commanders two weeks to stabilize the area.

The source added that the operations would continue until all arrest warrants issued against individuals involved in various crimes and charges are executed.

The forces deployed in around nine regions in Diyala to assure the locals, track suspects and fugitives and deter criminal and terrorist networks and groups, the source added.

Minister of Interior Abdul Amir Al-Shammari ordered security forces in Diyala to intensify security and intelligence efforts and to end the violations.

Major General Khaled Al-Mahna, the spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, stressed that the security agencies are keen on arresting whoever attempts to destabilize the province.



Israeli Forces Fire at UNIFIL Positions in South Lebanon

Armored vehicles of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) are pictured during a patrol around Marjayoun in south Lebanon on October 8, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
Armored vehicles of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) are pictured during a patrol around Marjayoun in south Lebanon on October 8, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
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Israeli Forces Fire at UNIFIL Positions in South Lebanon

Armored vehicles of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) are pictured during a patrol around Marjayoun in south Lebanon on October 8, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
Armored vehicles of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) are pictured during a patrol around Marjayoun in south Lebanon on October 8, 2024. (Photo by AFP)

Israeli forces fired on two positions used by UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon on Thursday and at another one on Wednesday, the UN force said, as Israel pressed its assault on Hezbollah and told Lebanese civilians not to return to homes in the south.

The UNIFIL force said two of its peacekeepers were injured in one of the incidents, when an Israeli tank fired at an observation tower at the force's main headquarters in Naqoura, hitting the tower and causing them to fall.

There were no casualties in the other two incidents, a UN source said.

"Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law," UNIFIL said in a statement, adding that it was following up with the Israeli military.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which is waging a widening offensive in Lebanon against Hezbollah.

Israel says its Lebanon offensive aims to secure the return home of tens of thousands of Israelis who evacuated northern Israel due to cross-border rockets launched by Hezbollah, which opened fire a year ago to support Hamas in Gaza.

UNIFIL said Israeli soldiers had also fired at a UN position in Ras Naqoura "hitting the entrance to the bunker where peacekeepers were sheltering, and damaging vehicles and a communications system.”

"An IDF drone was observed flying inside the UN position up to the bunker entrance," UNIFIL said. The previous day, Israeli forces had "fired at and disabled the position’s perimeter-monitoring cameras,” it added. They also deliberately fired at and damaged another position, it said.