Iranian kills cleric in Erbil in revenge attack
Shafaq News/ An Iranian man fatally shot a local cleric in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, a local source told Shafaq News Agency on Wednesday.
The victim, a 33-year-old imam and preacher, was struck by six bullets while inside his car in Qushtapa subdistrict. His body was later transferred to the forensic department.
According to the source, the killing appears linked to a years-old dispute. The cleric had previously caused a fatal traffic accident that killed a child riding a bicycle. Although the case was closed following a tribal settlement and compensation exceeding $30,000, the victim was reportedly targeted by the child's father, who currently resides in Erbil's Kawa camp.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
9 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Global Coalition reinforces Syria bases despite US drawdown Shafaq
News/ The US-led coalition deployed extensive military and logistical reinforcements to its bases in northeastern Syria over the past two days, Shafaq News correspondent reported on Thursday. More than 100 trucks carrying military equipment and logistical supplies crossed from Iraq through the Al-Waleed border crossing to coalition bases in Syria's Hasakah province, according to the correspondent, who informed that the convoy included military vehicles, fuel, water, food supplies, and sealed trucks believed to contain weapons and ammunition. The trucks were dispatched to bases in Khrab al-Jeer, Qasrak, and Al-Shaddadi in rural Hasakah. The reinforcements arrived despite recent announcements from Washington regarding the reduction of US troops in Syria and the closure of at least three military bases. A source from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) told Shafaq News that US forces remain stationed at their bases in the Kurdish-controlled areas of northeastern Syria, confirming that weekly deliveries of military and logistical equipment are ongoing. He also noted that the Coalition, in coordination with the SDF, continues to monitor ISIS cells 'to prevent the group from exploiting the current situation to reorganize or carry out attacks in Syria.' Meanwhile, the SDF announced on Wednesday that it had carried out a security operation in cooperation with the coalition in the town of Al-Mansoura, west of Raqqa, targeting an ISIS cell. The statement said the operation followed close surveillance and led to the arrest of two prominent members of the group: Abdul Sattar Abdul Fattah Al-Mohammed, known as "Abu Amira," and his brother Mohammed Abdul Fattah Al-Mohammed, known as "Abu Al-Baraa," both from Al-Mansoura, who are involved in manufacturing improvised explosive devices and car bombs at a metal workshop used to produce silencers and explosives. The SDF reaffirmed its commitment to continuing security operations against the Islamic State, pointing out that the group's attempts to exploit instability in the country would be met with 'firm resistance' to safeguard civilians and public institutions in the region.
Shafaq News
12 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Israel arrests Hamas suspects in Southwest Syria
Shafaq News/ Israeli troops arrested several Hamas operatives in southwestern Syria, the Israeli military announced on Thursday. Carried out overnight, the raid targeted the town of Beit Jinn, about 50 kilometers southwest of Damascus, where Hamas members were allegedly planning attacks on Israeli troops in Syria, according to the military. Firearms and ammunition were seized, and the suspects were transferred to Israel for interrogation. Hamas has yet to comment on the incident. Syria's Interior Ministry rejected Israel's claims, stating that those arrested were civilians from the area. A ministry spokesperson told Reuters that seven people were detained and one person was killed by Israeli fire. Tel Aviv has warned that Damascus could serve as a base for Hamas-style attacks, referring to the October 7 assault, since which Israel has killed more than 54,981 Palestinians—mostly women and children. Following the collapse of Bashar Al-Assad's regime on December 8, 2024, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes, destroying missile depots, radar systems, and chemical weapons facilities, citing concerns about alleged security threats emanating from Syria under its new government. Israeli forces have also launched ground incursions into southern Syria, seizing the demilitarized buffer zone in the Golan Heights, a move seen as a violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. Troops have also fortified positions on Mount Hermon, signaling a push for long-term control.
Shafaq News
14 hours ago
- Shafaq News
400+ arrested amid LA immigration protests
Shafaq News/ Authorities in Los Angeles have arrested nearly 400 individuals during a wave of protests against immigration policies sweeping across California, officials announced Thursday. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, most arrests involved individuals who remained in protest zones despite repeated dispersal orders from law enforcement. A smaller group faces more serious charges, including assaulting officers and unlawful possession of a Molotov cocktail and a firearm. Although tensions had flared over several nights, the most recent evening saw fewer clashes between demonstrators and security forces. A nighttime curfew, previously imposed by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in the downtown area, is being credited with helping reduce unrest and restore a measure of order. Officials view the curfew as a preventive measure aimed at curbing 'vandalism and looting,' which they attribute to a limited number of agitators. 'If the raids continue, and if we see soldiers walking in our streets, I imagine the curfew will remain in effect,' Bass stated. By early Thursday, the atmosphere in the city center had begun to normalize. Pedestrians were walking dogs along familiar routes, while office workers resumed their morning routines—coffee cups in hand—amid a lighter police presence. Protests have also spread to other major US cities, including Dallas and Austin in Texas, as well as Chicago and New York. Thousands have joined the demonstrations, leading to additional arrests in multiple locations.
