Middle Orient News

Lebanon’s US-backed military is gearing up for a long-awaited assault to dislodge hundreds of Daesh militants from a remote corner near Syrian border, seeking to end a years-long threat posed to neighbouring towns and villages by the extremists. The campaign will involve cooperation with the militant group Hezbollah and the …

Turkey is limiting cross-border movement at Bab Al-Hawa (Cilvegözü) crossing with Syria after the area was taken by a terrorist group, Customs Minister Bülent Tüfenkci said Wednesday. Tüfenkci told reporters that the restrictions were imposed after Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militants took control of the area.

The Iraqi army will remain responsible for security in the northern city of Mosul until local police forces restore their pre-Daesh capabilities, a military spokesman said Monday. “There are no plans to withdraw military units from newly recaptured Mosul; it’s still too early for that,” Brigadier-General Yehia Rasul, a spokesman …

Two Islamic State rest houses were destroyed in Hamreen Mountains area, Diyala government, local police source announced on Thursday. “A joint force of Diyala police and al-Hashd al-Ashaeri (Tribal Mobilization Forces) carried out an operation in Al Safra village in Hamreen Mountains,” the Diyala Police Command said in a statement.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the bilateral ties and the combat against terrorism on Monday. During a phone conversation, initiated by Macron, the French leader reiterated support for the Iraqi government in its efforts to restore security and stability and rebuild the state

A senior Islamic State (IS) leader and five other elements were killed as an air raid targeted a rest house, south of Kirkuk governorate, Alsumaria News reported on Tuesday. A local source told Alsumaria News that an air raid targeted a rest house belonging to the IS on the outskirts …

The UN’s humanitarian aid coordinator for Iraq on Tuesday warned of major evacuations due to three possible additional military operations against Daesh-held areas of the country. The deputy special representative of the United Nations’ Assistance Mission for Iraq, Lise Grande, told reporters in Geneva that, after Mosul, the UN expected …

A U.S. military base has been established near Iraq’s northwestern Tal Afar city, according to an Iraqi military source. “The establishment of the base came upon talks held between U.S. and Iraqi forces Friday in Mosul’s Zammar district,” Lt. Col. Mahdi al-Khafaji said.

Thirteen Islamic State militants were killed in an airstrike in western Anbar on Wednesday. “Army jets shelled IS members gathering in Rawa and Qaim towns, western Anbar, killing 13 members, most of whom are foreigners,” the source said. “IS transferred its main headquarters on main roads in the two towns …

Britain’s Chief of the Armed Forces, Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach affirmed Thursday on his country’s support for Iraq to liberate the remaining cities from the grip of terrorist groups. Peach met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi and conveyed to him congratulations of Britain on the liberation of Mosul …