Shafaq News / Since Mustafa Al-Kadhimi took office; the arrest of members of the Iraqi Kata’ib Hezbollah has been the most prominent security challenge and a prelude of the internal dangerous political-security view in the next phase.
To say that terms such as “pre-raid” and “post-raid” that took place on the night of June 25-26, would chronicle the security development in Iraq is not an overstatement.
Since the counter-terrorism services (ICTS) raided the headquarters of the Iran-backed Shiite militia after hours of Al-Kadhimi’s statement to a group of journalists and political analysts “we will not allow external parties’ gambles in Iraq, as regional interventions only succeed if there is a party inside working on it”.
The raid came at a critical time; less than two weeks after the Iraqi-U.S. strategic dialogue and less than a month before Al-Kadhimi’s planned visit to Washington D.C. in July and his forthcoming visit to Tehran.
In addition to its internal backlashes, ICTS’s raid carried out a multifaceted message that reflects the determination of the keen and calculated statesman; who draw the line firmly in the face of challenges that threaten the sovereignty and security of the country. However, the massage of Al-Asa’ib’s leader, Qais Khazali, summarized what was happening by asking Al-Kadhimi to “ignore” the current events; creates several readings of the already disturbing internal scene.
Commenting on the sensitivity of the situation, the Iraqi security analyst, Hisham Al-Hashimi said "After the Iraqi-U.S. strategic dialogue, the prime minister took a covenant from the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) to steer clear of provoking U.S. interests in Iraq, but they did not abide by it and started this confrontation”.
Al-Hashimi also mentioned what the Joint Special Operations Command referred to as, “failing attacks planned by the Iraqi Kata’ib Hezbollah on the Green Zone and other Iraqi and U.S. positions".
In fact, the Joint Special Operations Command added other aspects in its statement to Shafaq News agency, "Armed factions with government vehicles moved - without official approvals - towards government headquarters inside and outside the Green Zone, approached one of the headquarters of the ICTS inside the Green Zone, and took over it. These parties do not want to be part of the state and its obligations and seek to remain outside the authority of the Commander in Chief of the Constitutional and Legal Armed Forces".
A security source declared to Shafaq News agency “these elements remained scattered within Al-Jadriyah area and the Green zone’s vicinity; to press for the release of the detainees”, and he noted "after negotiations led by Abu Zainab Al-Lami, the head of the PMF security, the detainees were received in the building of the PMF security Directorate in Al-Kanat area (east of Baghdad), awaiting the decision of the special investigating judge".
The Joint Special Operations Command also emphasized the seriousness of this behavior and the threat it poses on the security of the state and its democratic political system, "it is clear that these parties have used the capabilities of the state, and that is not allowed under any pretext whatsoever. We affirm the determination to continue the march in achieving security for the Iraqi people and to bring the matter to the authority and judiciary".
A security source revealed - as part of the judicial process - the fate of the 14 detainees arrested during the raid and charged of involvement in rocket attacks on civil and military targets. Three of the detainees will be charged with terrorism under Article 4 and will be brought to court after the preliminary investigation is completed; the remaining detainees will be released.
In his statement to Shafaq news agency, Al-Hashimi had observed the performance of the militias and the shift it went through after the assassination of Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis on January 3rd, reaching the current disobedience of what he called “The Katyusha cells” that openly declared, “We are not the offender, but we bless any operation against the American presence”.
Al-Hashimi continues, “In March, the challenge increased and became clear; even though the official statements in Adel Abdul-Mahdi’s era classified it as an act of terrorism”.
According to Al-Hashimi, "The scene summarizes that we have moved from a state of hidden rebellion to a state of apparent defiance and then to a state of confrontation. The raided cell may have been preparing for a large-scale operation with 23 Katyusha rockets targeting the Green Zone, Baghdad International Airport, and Taji and was nullified by the raid".
Al-Hashimi did not seem optimistic regarding the militias’ position as he said, "This confrontation may prohibit them, but only temporarily” especially since Qais Khazali made it clear in his speech that “this deterrence is temporary and we do not allow anyone to prevent the katyusha cells from carrying out these operations, and the state must understand that it has no duty but ignore”.
The leader of Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq, Qais Khazali said on Friday, “Mustafa al-Kadhimi's directive to arrest members of PMF through ICTS is a total mess and a dangerous event"
Khazali considered, “the issue should have been addressed by the head of PMF; ICTS is a national body that fought alongside PMF against terrorism".
He also criticized the joint special operations command’s statement, which he claimed was "written by the Americans", adding that” since the parliament voted to remove the U.S. forces from Iraq, their staying is considered an invasion”.
In a further indication of the seriousness of the situation in the next phase, "Al-Abdal movement" distributed a statement after the raid, "Know that everyone who holds the status of mujahid (Combatant) and patriot is one body, do not be deceived by following the enemy for we will bring down the dens that America has fortified for you; we are free and will do what we promise. So, be aware of what we say”.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Baghdad's Tahrir Square on Friday in a remarkable scene; carrying banners supporting and praising the government’s move to crack down on Iraq’s Kata’ib Hezbollah and corrupt militias. According to video footage, the demonstrators chanted slogans in support of the ICTS which carried out the raid.
In sum, if the concerned parties - Al-Kadhimi, the leaders of Kata’ib Hezbollah, and the PMF in general – manage this confrontation with politics, not weapons the "night of the raid" could turn into a new Iraqi starting point; otherwise, it would be the beginning of additional tension in Iraq.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Today at 7:23 am by Rocky
» Governor of Baghdad: 20 projects will be included during the current year in the city of Nahrawan
Today at 7:20 am by Rocky
» More than $242 million in central bank sales today
Today at 7:17 am by Rocky
» Advisor: Sudanese is determined to close the displacement file
Today at 7:14 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The implementation of the 2023 budget witnessed a success that must be invested in
Today at 7:13 am by Rocky
» The Baghdad Council will decide on the nomination of the committees in the coming days
Today at 7:10 am by Rocky
» Al-Samarrai: The Sunni community is not in favor of removing American forces
Today at 7:08 am by Rocky
» A warning from Al-Rasheed to those wishing to apply for advances and loans
Today at 7:06 am by Rocky
» Azerbaijan expresses its desire to participate in the implementation of joint projects in the oil an
Today at 7:05 am by Rocky
» Fuel cards arouse citizens' discontent
Today at 7:03 am by Rocky
» utube 3/18/24 MM&C Iraqi Dinar-- IQD-- Dinar Update -100% Electronic - Real Effective Exchange Rat
Today at 5:21 am by Rocky
» utube MM&C 3/16/24 0:05 / 18:16 Iraq Federal Court Brings - Strength to Financial - Politic
Today at 5:18 am by Rocky
» MM&C 3/18/24 Sudanese Advisor: Iraq will leave government monetary dealing in mid-2024
Today at 5:17 am by Rocky
» A delegation from the Kurdistan government visits Baghdad to discuss the issue of localization of sa
Today at 5:11 am by Rocky
» Director of the Central Oil Company: We are keen to provide the appropriate investment environment
Today at 5:10 am by Rocky
» The Energy Parliament calls for reporting generators violating government pricing
Today at 5:08 am by Rocky
» A representative reveals the fate of the laws of “previous sessions”
Today at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Politician: Coordination holds the keys to resolving the “Parliament Presidency” conflict
Today at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Iraq wants to carry out its peaceful activity in the field of atomic energy
Today at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Including a minister and a parliamentarian... 38 arrest and recruitment orders were issued against t
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Integrity: Citizens’ cooperation resulted in detecting inflation and returning state funds
Today at 5:01 am by Rocky
» Agriculture presents 97 projects to the Ministerial Council for the Economy
Today at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: We succeeded in implementing the 2023 budget, and we must continue to complete economic p
Today at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Labor adopts new mechanisms to reduce the phenomenon of begging
Today at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Electronically.. directing the collection of fees tomorrow in an Iraqi governorate
Today at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Held in Brussels.. Iraq receives an official invitation to attend the Nuclear Energy Summit
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan has been paralyzed. There has been no liquidity in hand for 50 days, and the truth has bee
Today at 4:53 am by Rocky
» The dollar continues to decline against the Iraqi dinar on the stock exchange and exchange offices
Today at 4:52 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Oil reveals the reasons for Shell’s withdrawal from Nebras: It will be divided into
Today at 4:51 am by Rocky
» The Housing Fund advises loan applicants and launches a link for inquiries
Today at 4:50 am by Rocky
» He stressed that the government’s vision is to make one class not exceed 25 students...Government me
Today at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Al-Hakim and Al-Halbousi stress the importance of choosing a speaker for Parliament in accordance wi
Today at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Iron and Steel Company: Iraq is on the verge of a major industrial revolution
Today at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Economists: Citizens still prefer cash transactions over electronic transactions
Today at 4:45 am by Rocky
» The compass of Iraq's foreign policy in a world of turbulent polarization
Today at 4:43 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: The federal budget is in the corridors of the Council of Ministers, and there
Today at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Integrity calls on citizens to report the inflation of funds in the sector of the Ministry of Labor
Today at 4:40 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani directs the launch of initiatives for young businessmen and investors
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Representative agriculture emphasizes taking supportive measures for the local product
Today at 4:37 am by Rocky
» An economist calls on the government to support and stimulate the private sector
Today at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Al-Ittihad: Employees and retirees in Kurdistan paid the price of political differences with Baghdad
Today at 4:34 am by Rocky
» Al-Samarrai and Al-Hakim discuss the importance of achieving political and constitutional entitlemen
Today at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Only 23 million dunums. Iraq exploits approximately 50% of its arable land
Today at 4:30 am by Rocky
» Türkiye considers it a political issue.. Where have the negotiations reached regarding Iraq’s water
Today at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Sudanese receives an invitation to attend the Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels - Urgent
Today at 4:27 am by Rocky
» Central Bank sales exceed $240 million today
Yesterday at 6:52 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance calls on the government to expedite sending the 2024 budget to Parliament
Yesterday at 6:47 am by Rocky
» ‘We’re So Sick of It’: Northern Border Crisis Gets Worse
Yesterday at 6:35 am by Bama Diva
» A representative holds Kurdistan responsible for the faltering legislation of the oil and gas law
Yesterday at 5:27 am by Rocky
» Warnings of the danger of the increase in foreign labor in Iraq
Yesterday at 5:26 am by Rocky
» Iraq's oil exports to America decreased within a week
Yesterday at 5:25 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani chairs an “important” meeting to form the Kirkuk government
Yesterday at 5:23 am by Rocky
» Investment confirms the adoption of a new method in new residential cities and explains its details
Yesterday at 5:21 am by Rocky
» For the first time in 2024.. exchange rates fall to the threshold of 149 thousand in Baghdad
Yesterday at 5:19 am by Rocky
» Including gold.. An increase in exports of 3 Turkish products to Iraq during 2024
Yesterday at 5:18 am by Rocky
» A detailed integrity report regarding the Housing Fund... called for this matter
Yesterday at 5:17 am by Rocky
» Resources count the number of trespassers in Baghdad.. What about restaurants?
Yesterday at 5:16 am by Rocky
» At a cost of approximately two billion dinars... determining the completion rates achieved in the Ma
Yesterday at 5:15 am by Rocky
» Parliament awaits the “Cabinet of Ministers” law
Yesterday at 5:14 am by Rocky
» Provincial councils return after an absence with a heavy legacy
Yesterday at 5:13 am by Rocky
» Iraq is the axis and meeting point of East and West
Yesterday at 5:11 am by Rocky
» One million beneficiaries of health insurance early next May
Yesterday at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: Delaying the budget had a negative impact on the performance of the ministrie
Yesterday at 5:09 am by Rocky
» The chaos of urban expansion threatens the agricultural character of Diwaniyah
Yesterday at 5:08 am by Rocky
» A project to plant Japanese trees in Erbil
Yesterday at 5:07 am by Rocky
» A team to prepare the national strategy for national security in Kirkuk
Yesterday at 5:06 am by Rocky
» Next Tuesday...concluding a contract to expand the basic design of the city of Mosul
Yesterday at 5:04 am by Rocky
» A festival to reduce food prices in Mosul
Yesterday at 5:03 am by Rocky
» Technical committees between Baghdad and Erbil to resume oil exports through Türkiye
Yesterday at 5:02 am by Rocky
» A model of economic diversification
Yesterday at 5:01 am by Rocky
» Variation in the extent to which Iraq was affected by the decision to reduce the credit rating of {T
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Iraq has made a commitment to receive the entire security file from the Ministry of Inter
Yesterday at 4:58 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic stresses the important role of Mr. Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim in the first st
Yesterday at 4:56 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi Center for Combating Rumors warns against social media celebrities misleading their follow
Yesterday at 4:54 am by Rocky
» Integrity investigates the work of the Housing Fund and indicates debts worth 56 billion dinars
Yesterday at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Agricultural associations in Karbala welcome the provincial council’s decision to prevent the fragme
Yesterday at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Free education lecturers demand that they be given job opportunities and contracts in Kirkuk
Yesterday at 4:51 am by Rocky
» The Digital Media Center calls for not browsing links published on a government page
Yesterday at 4:50 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic confirms the strength of relations between Iraq and Italy
Yesterday at 4:48 am by Rocky
» A decline in Iraq's oil exports to America during the past week
Yesterday at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Economic researcher for / NINA /: Iraqi youth are qualified for the labor market and relying on them
Yesterday at 4:46 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Planning is following up on the Statistics Authority’s preparations to conduct the g
Yesterday at 4:45 am by Rocky
» 5 days after sending the money and the Kurdistan government has not paid the salaries...a political
Yesterday at 4:44 am by Rocky
» A political reading about Sudanese political concern.. Amending the election law is one of the attem
Yesterday at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani to the Baghdad government: Pay attention to the outskirts of the capital, and drainage mus
Yesterday at 4:41 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi dinar recovers against the dollar in local markets
Yesterday at 4:39 am by Rocky
» Investment provides a summary of Bismaya units... and the new cities have “fixed prices” for the fir
Yesterday at 4:38 am by Rocky
» “Hidden commissions” on electronic fuel cards, contrary to what is advertised.. To whom does 100 mil
Yesterday at 4:37 am by Rocky
» Al-Hasnawi: The government is continuing to accelerate the completion and opening of lagging health
Yesterday at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Oil: The gasoline import file will be closed early next year
Yesterday at 4:35 am by Rocky
» “My account or your account”... a new problem behind the delay in the salaries of the region’s emplo
Yesterday at 4:34 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Iraq is about to host important events and conferences
Yesterday at 4:33 am by Rocky
» In Erdogan's visit to Iraq...the path of development in exchange for water
Yesterday at 4:33 am by Rocky
» An American report on Washington’s seriousness in withdrawing from Iraq: Biden does not want to lose
Yesterday at 4:30 am by Rocky
» The organization is banned in Iraq.. Baghdad decides the fate of the Workers’ Party after 40 years o
Yesterday at 4:29 am by Rocky
» The rain exposes the poor quality of service projects and calls for the dismissal of officials and h
Yesterday at 4:28 am by Rocky
» Politician: Ankara needs Baghdad economically, and the path of development is Iraq’s trump card
Yesterday at 4:26 am by Rocky
» Economic calls to adopt a new philosophy for implementing strategic projects
Yesterday at 4:24 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki: My alliance with Al-Sadr is possible, and the movement’s distance from it is an unhealthy
Yesterday at 4:23 am by Rocky