Baghdad is unable to rein in the influence of Iranian proxies operating in Iraq, and Tehran-backed officers are working throughout the Iraqi Security Forces' ranks, a Pentagon report on the US-led coalition based in Iraq has found.
In its latest quarterly report, declassified last week, the office of the Pentagon Inspector General pointed to an increasing number of pro-Iran militia attacks against US interests in Iraq and Syria during the last three months of 2021. It said the government has a weak hand when it comes to dealing with Iran-backed militias.
“The Iraqi government’s ability to assert control over the Popular Mobilisation Committee (PMC) or hold its affiliated militias accountable remained tenuous," the report states.
The Baghdad government does not instruct its forces to challenge or confront these militias, despite an assassination attempt against Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi last November.
Instead, the report highlighted “strong ties” for these militias and Iran “to some elements of Iraq’s traditional security forces."
Specifically, it said former officers from the Badr Corps, the military arm of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, are being integrated into the Iraqi ministries of interior and defence, where they retain their ranks and are “often experiencing rapid promotions due to their political ties".
“The [Iraqi] Federal Police and Emergency Response Division, and the Iraqi Army’s 5th and 8th Divisions are the units thought to have the greatest Iranian influence, officers sympathetic to Iranian or militia interests are scattered throughout the security services,” the report states.
“Iran-aligned militias attempt to intimidate ISF units through information campaigns used to threaten security forces to stay away from coalition forces, offset real world weaknesses, and create false narratives in the case of defeats.”
However, the report assessed “that most ISF units remained committed to the Iraqi government and continued to follow orders from the prime minister in his role as commander-in-chief".
Iran-backed groups still pose a threat to US personnel in Iraq and Syria, the report noted, though attacks have gone down.
“The militias still maintained the ability to conduct UAV [drone] and IED [improvised explosive device] attacks against US interests, but have mostly paused attacks during the quarter,” the 142-page-report noted.
It attributed the reduction to a probable desire to manage escalation and evaluate American intentions following the end of the US combat role in Iraq on December 31.
The US announced then that it had completed transitioning its role in Iraq from a combat mission to an advise, assist and enable role.
In Syria, however, the report said Iran-backed groups posed an increased security threat to US forces, and have access to anti-aircraft systems.
Also on the Syrian battlefront, the Pentagon pointed to increasing incidents vis-à-vis Russian forces.
“The Russian military committed an increased number of violations of the deconfliction protocols it has with coalition forces to co-ordinate air and ground movements in Syria, compared with previous quarters.”
The report referenced two rare attacks by pro-Iran militias against Turkish forces in Iraq last quarter.
“These attacks came after Turkey and Azerbaijan conducted joint military exercises near the Iranian border in early October,” it said.
Iran and Turkey are on opposite sides of the conflict between Azerbaijan -- an ally of Ankara -- and Armenia, which maintains close ties to Tehran.
The last time a probable Iran-aligned militia conducted an attack against Turkish forces in Iraq was September 2021, the Pentagon said.
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
'I Want You Back'
Director:Jason Orley
Stars:Jenny Slate, Charlie Day
Rating:4/5
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
THREE
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TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20Z%20FLIP5
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company name: Play:Date
Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day
Founder: Shamim Kassibawi
Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US
Sector: Tech
Size: 20 employees
Stage of funding: Seed
Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 290hp
Torque: 340Nm
Price: Dh155,800
On sale: now
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The%20Specs%20
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'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
FIGHT%20CARD
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFeatherweight%204%20rounds%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EYousuf%20Ali%20(2-0-0)%20(win-loss-draw)%20v%20Alex%20Semugenyi%20(0-1-0)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWelterweight%206%20rounds%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EBenyamin%20Moradzadeh%20(0-0-0)%20v%20Rohit%20Chaudhary%20(4-0-2)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EHeavyweight%204%20rounds%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EYoussef%20Karrar%20(1-0-0)%20v%20Muhammad%20Muzeei%20(0-0-0)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWelterweight%206%20rounds%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMarwan%20Mohamad%20Madboly%20(2-0-0)%20v%20Sheldon%20Schultz%20(4-4-0)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESuper%20featherweight%208%20rounds%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EBishara%20Sabbar%20(6-0-0)%20v%20Mohammed%20Azahar%20(8-5-1)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECruiseweight%208%20rounds%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EMohammed%20Bekdash%20(25-0-0)%20v%20Musa%20N%E2%80%99tege%20(8-4-0)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESuper%20flyweight%2010%20rounds%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESultan%20Al%20Nuaimi%20(9-0-0)%20v%20Jemsi%20Kibazange%20(18-6-2)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELightweight%2010%20rounds%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EBader%20Samreen%20(8-0-0)%20v%20Jose%20Paez%20Gonzales%20(16-2-2-)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: CVT
Power: 170bhp
Torque: 220Nm
Price: Dh98,900
