Middle-East Arab News and Opinion - Asharq Al-Awsat is the world’s premier pan-Arab daily newspaper, printed simultaneously each day on four continents in 14 cities
Middle-East Arab News and Opinion - Asharq Al-Awsat is the world’s premier pan-Arab daily newspaper, printed simultaneously each day on four continents in 14 cities
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Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi ordered security forces to increase operations against militants after deadly attacks that officials blamed on ISIS.
Mr Al Kadhimi, who is also commander-in-chief of the armed forces, issued the directives at meeting convened late on Sunday after attacks on security troops in central and northern Iraq claimed at least 18 lives on Friday and Saturday.
These included “revitalising intelligence and security efforts, reactivating pre-emptive operations to confront ISIS terrorist gangs’ movements, drying up their sources and destroying their sleeper cells”, his office said.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Iraqi officials said they were carried out by ISIS militants.
Monday, 28 December, 2020 - 07:15
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. (Reuters) Baghdad – Fadhel al-Nashmi
Iran-backed factions in Iraq are increasing their threats against Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and President Barham Salih as the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Iran’s Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis draws near.
Soleimani and Muhandis were killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad airport in January 2020.
The escalation is taking place despite the outward calls for calm by the pro-Iran factions. Their actions, however, belie their words, prompting observers to speculate that they will continue to forge ahead towards a confrontation as long as relations between Washington and Tehran continue to be strained.