Iraq’s new Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi has said the military will soon begin a major offensive against ISIS and that militias backed by Iran will be part of the operation.
In an attempt to placate the pro-Iranian militias, Mr Al Kadhimi made the announcement during a visit to the Baghdad headquarters of the Popular Mobilisation Forces on Saturday.
Also known as the Hashed Al Shaabi, the PMF is an umbrella group of many militias in Iraq.
Mr Al Kadhimi had hinted they should eventually be disarmed unless they became totally subject to the country’s leadership as members of the military.
Most of the Hashed groups had indicated that they would not obstruct Mr Al Kadhimi’s reform drive.
The prime minister is a former intelligence chief supported by the US.
Hashed groups could still make or break his promise to restore the state and hold early elections after the previous government crushed a civil uprising demanding fundamental political change.
Mr Al Kadhimi said the military operation against ISIS would be widespread and aimed at preventing a resurgence of the group, “with a big role and with a fundamental participation of the Hashed".
“ISIS may be under the illusion that we are occupied with Cabinet formation and economic crisis and the coronavirus pandemic, and use it as an opportunity to expand," he said.
"They are wrong. We will soon launch the battle. ISIS, wait for us."
Among those attending was a representative of Kataib Hezbollah, whose leader, Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis, was killed in a US drone strike along with Iranian Al Quds Force commander Qassem Suleimani in Baghdad in January.
When Mr Al Kadhimi was nominated six weeks ago, Kataib Hezbollah accused him of helping the US to kill Suleimani and Al Muhandis, who was also de facto leader of the Hashed.
A photo of Al Muhandis was hung in the room where Mr Al Kadhimi spoke.
In his address to the Hashed, he referred only to its “martyrs” who died fighting ISIS, and not those who fought for the Syrian regime of President Bashar Al Assad.
Mr Al Kadhimi said the Hashed was a “legal entity tied with the army”.
“The strength of the state depends on the harmony of its institutions, so we have to work together on the spirit of this harmony,” he said.
Several times he reminded the militia chiefs that they owed their moral stature to Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, a relative moderate who is Iraq’s highest Shiite authority.
Mr Al Sistani played a main role in forming the Hashed in 2014, when he issued a fatwa calling on Iraq’s Shiites to take up arms against extremists.
But the ideological allegiance of many of the most lethal factions in the Hashed leans towards the ruling clerics in Iran.
Several Hashed groups regard themselves as soldiers of Mr Al Sistani’s religious seminary in Najaf.
They were mostly powerless as more militant groups helped the previous government to crush the peaceful protests that broke out in October, shooting demonstrators and killing and abducting civil activists.
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Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
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- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
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What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
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- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
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Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
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