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Iraq
Arbaeen walk: 16 Iranian pilgrims killed in Iraq road accident
2023-09-03
[GEO.TV] A road accident in northern Iraq has killed at least 16 people, mostly Iranian pilgrims, as millions of people converge on the holy city of Karbala for Arbaeen, one of the world’s biggest religious gatherings.

A traffic accident in northern Iraq has claimed at least 16 lives, the most of them Shia Iranian pilgrims in the midst of one of the largest religious gatherings in history, Arbaeen, which draws millions of people to the holy city of Karbala.

According to the state news agency INA, who cited the corpse count from Khaled Burhan, the director of health services in Salaheddine province, the accident between the cities of Dujail and Samarra also resulted in the injuries of at least 13 persons.

Burhan added that the majority of the dead were Iranian tourists but did not go into detail about the crash's causes. He stated that the injured were transferred to hospitals.

On condition of anonymity, because he was not licensed to speak to the media, a medical official in Salaheddine told AFP news agency that two minibuses collided soon before midnight on Friday.

The official stated, citing witness testimony, that it is thought that one of the drivers dozed off behind the wheel. He estimated 18 fatalities.

Since the start of Arbaeen this year, 2.6 million pilgrims—many of them from Iran—have visited Iraq either land or air, according to statistics released on Friday by the interior ministry.
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Iraq
Security forces arrest ISIS terrorist involved in multiple attacks
2023-04-18
[Shafaq News] The Iraqi Security Media Cell announced on Monday the arrest of a "terrorist target" affiliated with ISIS, who participated in multiple attacks in northern Baghdad and Samarra.

In a statement, the Media Cell said that "the Iraqi National Intelligence Service managed to arrest one of the important terrorist targets involved in targeting security forces and civilians in several Iraqi provinces."

The Media Cell added that the target was working with the so-called 'Al-Sawari Brigade' terrorist group, which was active in northern Baghdad and participated in terrorist operations in Samarra, before joining the ranks of ISIS in what is known as the Kirkuk governorate.

The arrest took place in al-Sulaymaniyah governorate based on precise intelligence information, and a tracking operation that lasted for ten months, in cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Agency in the governorate.
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Iraq
Iraqi security forces arrest prominent ISIS member in Saladin Governorate
2023-04-09
[Shafaq News] Iraqi security forces, in coordination with the Iraqi National Intelligence Service, announced on Friday the arrest of a prominent ISIS member in the Saladin Governorate.

The Security Media Cell stated that the detained individual was responsible for transporting faceless myrmidons and security mail from "Samarra Island" to the so-called state north of Baghdad. He was also an official in ISIS al-Sawary's division.
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Iraq
Babel Residents Protest Against ''Return of Terrorism'' to Jurf Al-Sakhar
2023-04-09
[Shafaq News] Hundreds of residents of Babel governorate staged a protest in the district of al-Musayyib on Friday, saying it was against the "return of terrorism" to the Jurf al-Sakhar area, controlled by Hezbollah brigades and other factions of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (PMF) Forces.

The demonstration comes days after the head of al-Siyada Alliance, Khamis al-Khanjar, called for the return of displaced people to the area, and reiterated his commitment to holding Eid prayers there soon.

Protesters held up signs rejecting the "return of terrorism" to the area, saying, "We will not forget the suicide belts and boom-mobiles that used to come from Jurf al-Sakhar."

Others held up a banner that read, "The people of Babel have not forgotten the blood of their deaders in the bombing of al-Sha'ab Street, which was caused by the terrorism of Jurf al-Sakhar."
Related:
Jurf al-Sakhar: 2022-12-07 Suspected ISIS suicide bomber kills 2 PMF fighters in Babil
Jurf al-Sakhar: 2022-11-25 A leader of Saraya Al-Salam was killed in Maysan, another injured
Jurf al-Sakhar: 2022-09-22 Al-Sadr military wing forces kill an ISIS member in Samarra
Related:
Hezbollah brigades: 2022-02-07 PMF military convoys enter al-Anbar
Hezbollah brigades: 2021-12-20 IED explosion targets a convoy of the Coalition in al-Anbar, Hezb Brigades sez wusn’t them
Hezbollah brigades: 2019-12-30 Abu Ali al-Khazali was a close associate of Qassem Suleimani - killed by USAF.
Link


Iraq
Al-Sadr suspends the Sadrist movement's activities in Diyala
2023-03-12
[Shafaq News] The work of Saraya al-Salam (The Peace Companies), an gang loyal to Shiite holy man Moqtada Tater al-Sadr
...hereditary Iraqi holy man and leader of a political movement in Iraq. He had his hereditary rival, al-Khoei, assassinated only a few hours after the holy rival's appearance out of exile in 2003. Formerly an Iranian catspaw, lately he's gagged over some of their more outlandish antics, then went back to catspawry...
, has been suspended in Diyala, a leaked document confirmed on Saturday.

A volatile governorate that borders Iran, Diyala has long been a hotbed for Sunni Islamist bad boy activity, including ISIS and al-Qaeda, who have sought refuge in its palm groves and orchards. It has also witnessed periodic Shiite militia activity. The governorate is also home to a diverse mix of Kurdish, Shiite, and Sunni Arab communities, with a complex web of tribal and political dynamics that have often contributed to its instability.

In a handwritten note on an official correspondence about the work of the gang in Diyala, al-Sadr confirmed, "Indeed, the work of Saraya [al-Salam] is suspended in Diyala."

"Nobody is authorized to make statements on behalf of the Saraya," the note read, "in fact, starting from the moment, the work of the entire [Sadrist] movement in Diyala is suspended."
Related:
Saraya al-Salam: 2023-01-30 A leading figure in the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq movement pits al-Sudani against al-Maliki: source
Saraya al-Salam: 2022-11-25 A leader of Saraya Al-Salam was killed in Maysan, another injured
Saraya al-Salam: 2022-09-22 Al-Sadr military wing forces kill an ISIS member in Samarra
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Iraq
Four terrorists were arrested in Saladin and Al-Anbar
2023-02-16
[Shafaq News] The Iraqi Directorate of Military Intelligence announced, on Wednesday, the arrest of four persons on charges of terrorism in the Saladin and al-Anbar governorates.

The Directorate explained that the hard boyz were apprehended in the districts of Ramadi, Samarra, Tikrit
...birthplace of Saddam Hussein...
, and al-Rutba and handed over to the relevant authorities.

n Tuesday, the Security Media Cell announced the killing of three hard boyz in Wadi al-Shay in the Kirkuk district after "continuous field follow-up for more than three days and a successful ambush."

The Iraqi forces also killed six hard boyz in the governorates of Kirkuk and al-Anbar and arrested others outside the borders.

The Security Media Cell stated that a force of the Intelligence Agency killed three terrorists, one of whom was wearing an boom belt.

Three others were rubbed out in Wadi al-Shay in Kirkuk.

The Iraqi Intelligence Service also arrested several ISIS leaders through a security operation outside the Iraqi borders.

The Agency explained that the Iraqi forces tracked these hard boyz in many countries and then arrested them in a non-neighboring country.

Iraq celebrates the fifth anniversary of its liberation and victory over ISIS.
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Iraq
Nine Bad Guys detained in nationwide sweep
2023-02-03
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Iraq
A leader of Saraya Al-Salam was killed in Maysan, another injured
2022-11-25
[Shafaq News] On Thursday, a leader in the Saraya al-Salam (Peace Brigades) faction was killed, and another was maimed in an armed attack in the Maysan governorate, southern Iraq.

A local source told Shafaq News agency that unidentified gunnies killed a high-ranking commander and maimed another.

The maimed is in critical health condition. The source said.

The security services cordoned off the scene to find the perpetrators.

Saraya al-Salam, headed by Mustafa al-Hamidawi, is the military wing of the Sadrist Movement led by the Shiite Cleric Moqtada Tater al-Sadr
...hereditary Iraqi holy man and leader of a political movement in Iraq. He had his hereditary rival, al-Khoei, assassinated only a few hours after the holy rival's appearance out of exile in 2003. Formerly an Iranian catspaw, lately he's gagged over some of their more outlandish antics, then went back to catspawry...
; it is basically responsible for securing the Samarra district, which includes the shrine of two of the 12 revered Shi'ite imams.

The faction is a 2014 Mahdi Army revival that confronted the US forces in Iraq.

The Brigades has been involved in the fight against ISIS in many regions of Iraq, including Samarra, Diyala, Amerli, Jurf al-Sakhar, and Ishaqi districts.

After declaring victory over ISIS, former Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi decided to join the popular armed forces with the army and police formations.

The Brigades are now a part of Popular Mobilization Forces but under the direct command of al-Sadr.
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Iraq
A joint Iraqi force thwart a terrorist attack in Saladin
2022-11-01
[Shafaq News] On Monday, a joint force of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and National Security forces foiled an ISIS attempt to target the Yathrib district of the Saladin governorate.

A PMF statement explained that the joint force seized two boom belts the hard boyz attempted to use against people in the Shehabi area, south of Samarra.
Link


Iraq
Muqtada Al-Sadr's Saraya Al-Salam kills three ISIS militants within two days in Samarra
2022-09-23
[PUBLISH.TWITTER]
Link


Iraq
Al-Sadr military wing forces kill an ISIS member in Samarra
2022-09-22
[Shafaq News] On Wednesday, a terrorist was killed, and another fled southeast of Samarra, southeast of Tikrit
...birthplace of Saddam Hussein...
A security source told Shafaq News Agency that a force from the Saraya al-Salam Samarra Operations Command ambushed two ISIS members in Jalam Samarra, which resulted in the death of one terrorist. At the same time, the other was able to run away.

The Saraya al-Salam forces continued to look for the ISIS terrorist, and a joint support force arrived at the scene.

Saraya al-Salam (Al-Salam Brigades), headed by Mustafa al-Hamidawi, is the military wing of the Sadrist Movement led by the Shiite Cleric Moqtada Tater al-Sadr
...hereditary Iraqi holy man and leader of a political movement in Iraq. He had his hereditary rival, al-Khoei, assassinated only a few hours after the holy rival's appearance out of exile in 2003. Formerly an Iranian catspaw, lately he's gagged over some of their more outlandish antics, then went back to catspawry...
; it is responsible for securing the Samarra district, which includes the shrine of two of the 12 revered Shi'ite imams.

A 2014 Mahdi Army revival confronted the US forces in Iraq.

The Brigades has been involved in the fight against ISIS in many regions of Iraq, including Samarra, Diyala, Amerli, Jurf al-Sakhar, and Ishaqi district.
Link


Iraq
Saraya al-Salam's General Commander says NO to ''consensus'' government
2022-09-01
[SHAFAQ] The General commander in Saraya al-Salam (The Peace Companies), a paramilitary group loyal to influential Shiite holy man Moqtada Tater al-Sadr
...hereditary Iraqi holy man and leader of a political movement in Iraq. He had his hereditary rival al-Khoei assassinated shortly after the holy rival's appearance out of exile in 2003. Formerly an Iranian catspaw, lately he's gagged over some of their more outlandish antics, then went back to catspawry...
, reiterated the movement's rejection for forming a "consensus" government in Iraq.

"There would not be a consensus government according to an external taste," Hahseen "Abu Mustafa" al-Hamidawi tweeted that he deleted shortly later.
Related:
Saraya al-Salam: 2022-07-26 ISIS killed members of Saraya Al-Salam in Samarra
Saraya al-Salam: 2022-05-21 Security forces seize a rocket launchpad in Saladin
Saraya al-Salam: 2021-11-20 Kataib Hezbollah dissolves militia following Sadr’s call
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