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Summary
Domestic
Iraq has taken custody of the first group of ISIS members from the al-Hol camp in Syria and initiated formal judicial procedures against them. In a separate development, two men linked to international organized crime were arrested: Kazem Hamad, deported from Australia, and a man accused of recruiting for Sweden's Foxtrot network. Authorities also denied reports of flight suspensions at Baghdad International Airport amid regional tensions.
International
The most significant development was the start of a major U.S. military operation to transfer up to 7,000 ISIS detainees from prisons in northeastern Syria to Iraq, with an initial group of 150 already moved. Iraq is opening three new prisons for this purpose and has begun legal proceedings, stating the move is necessary for national security. Concurrently, Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, have urgently called on European Union countries to repatriate their citizens who joined ISIS, warning that holding these prisoners is a burden. The U.S. has reportedly slowed the transfer process. In Syria, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces destroyed two bridges over the Euphrates River in Raqqa province, with Turkey conducting drone strikes on SDF positions nearby. Separately, Iran expressed approval of the U.S. evacuation from the Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq, while Trump warned the U.S. would end support for Iraq if Nouri al-Maliki becomes prime minister.
Domestic and International Topics
5 topics | 193 sources
JO/LB/SYThe US military has started transferring thousands of Islamic State detainees from Syria to Iraq. The operation involves moving up to 7,000 people. This transfer comes as fighting in Syria has threatened the security of detention centers. The US has also launched large-scale retaliatory strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria after an ambush that killed three Americans. At the same time, the US is weighing a complete military withdrawal from Syria. US officials have stated that the anti-ISIS mission with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has 'largely expired.'
person:trumpperson:erdoganorg:isisorg:islamic stateorg:sdftopic:ceasefiretopic:withdrawalplace:syria
Jan 27 — Jan 30
Iraq is calling on European Union states to repatriate their citizens who are detained in Iraq for alleged links to the ISIS group. The Iraqi prime minister raised the issue directly with France's president, Emmanuel Macron. Iraq's intelligence chief also warned that the threat from ISIS is reemerging as its ranks grow. Separately, in neighboring Syria, Kurdish-led forces were reported to have blown up bridges over the Euphrates River.
org:isisorg:sdfplace:raqqaplace:euphrates river
Jan 29
IQTwo men linked to separate criminal networks in other countries were arrested in Iraq. One is an exiled gangland boss connected to tobacco wars in Victoria, Australia. The other is accused of recruiting a hit squad for the Foxtrot criminal network in Sweden.
place:iraq
Jan 14
IRIran has said it is 'pleased' with the evacuation of US forces from the Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq. Abbas Araghchi, an Iranian official, stated that the US withdrawal strengthens Iraq's national sovereignty.
place:ain al-asad
Jan 18
USTrump said the United States would end its support for Iraq if the country selects Nouri al-Maliki as its next prime minister. The statement was a direct warning about the potential consequences of Iraq's leadership choice.
person:trumpperson:maliki
Jan 27
+ 38 additional sources tracked