BAGHDAD: Iraqi forces on Monday launched an attack against jihadist-held areas southeast of the Daesh group’s bastion of Hawija, the operations commander said.
Government forces and the Hashed Al-Shaabi, an alliance mostly of Shiite militias, are fighting to retake the northern town of Hawija after expelling Daesh from large parts of the territory they seized in Iraq in 2014.
“The Counter-Terrorism Service and Hashed Al-Shaabi have started a broad operation to liberate Rashad and nearby villages as part of the second phase to liberate Hawija,” Lt. Gen. Abdel Amir Yarallah said.
The Hashed Al-Shaabi confirmed the offensive and said it had retaken five villages west of Rashad, which is 35 kilometers (20 miles) southeast of Hawija.
On September 21, Iraqi forces backed by a US-led coalition launched an offensive to retake a jihadist enclave around Hawija, swiftly taking the town of Sharqat on its second day before pushing on toward Hawija itself.
On Friday, they started the battle to retake the town itself, one of the last Daesh bastions in the country along with a stretch of the Euphrates Valley near the border with Syria.
Iraq forces launch assault to retake Daesh-held areas near Hawija
Iraq forces launch assault to retake Daesh-held areas near Hawija
Jordanian anti-drugs authorities arrest 35 suspects in nationwide raids
- Public Security Directorate said suspects are linked to 13 criminal cases involving drugs and weapons
- In the capital, Amman, authorities handled seven major drug-related cases
LONDON: The Jordanian Anti-Narcotics Department arrested 35 suspects nationwide for drug production, dealing and smuggling, while seizing large quantities of drugs and firearms.
The Public Security Directorate on Sunday said that the suspects are linked to 13 criminal cases involving drugs and weapons, the Petra news agency reported.
Security forces conducted raids targeting drug dealers and promoters in several governorates, including Ma’an, where 10 wanted dealers were arrested. Additionally, two dealers were apprehended in Zarqa, and four suspects were arrested in Ajloun. The security forces in the southern Shouneh district raided three locations, arresting two suspects involved in marijuana cultivation.
In Amman, authorities handled seven major cases. A drug dealer was arrested with 17,000 narcotic pills, another with 18 blocks of hashish, and three traffickers were caught after a chase, resulting in the seizure of five blocks of hashish, 500 narcotic pills, crystal meth, and a firearm.
The fourth case in Amman led to the seizure of 1.25 kilograms of crystal meth, while the fifth resulted in the arrest of two traffickers with 14 blocks of hashish. In the sixth case, four dealers were arrested with 5 kg of marijuana, and the final case involved the seizure of six blocks of hashish from a dealer.
Authorities raided a site in the Ramtha District used by a drug dealer for distributing crystal meth. They arrested the suspect and seized 1.5 kg of the substance. In Mafraq, authorities arrested three drug promoters who were found with 4,000 narcotic pills after being tracked and raided.
