Latest news with #ISIS-affiliated
Shafaq News
a day ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Hundreds of ISIS families from Al-Hol camp resettle in Saladin
Shafaq News – Saladin Nearly 500 families associated with the Islamic State (ISIS) have returned to Saladin province since the beginning of July, an Iraqi security source told Shafaq News on Wednesday. The source explained that the families were relocated in phases after undergoing strict security screening and preliminary rehabilitation at Al-Jadaa camp, southern Mosul. They have since been distributed across several districts, including Baiji, Shirqat, Tikrit, Dhuluiya, Samarra, and Balad, under the supervision of Saladin Operations Command and local security forces. The returns coincide with Iraq's preparations to receive a new batch of displaced families from Al-Hol on Thursday. According to the source, around 230 families are expected to arrive at Al-Jadaa, where they will participate in psychological and social rehabilitation programs before being sent back to their hometowns. Security warnings Security expert and academic researcher Khalil al-Jubouri warned that reintegration efforts could backfire without effective rehabilitation programs addressing the psychological, social, and security dimensions of these families. 'Integrating ISIS families into Iraqi society is a major challenge, especially in areas still reeling from the war, sectarian conflict, and tribal disputes,' he told Shafaq News, noting that earlier reintegration programs, funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), have largely stalled following US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw financial support. Civil society activist Hussein Abdullah emphasized the need for meaningful local participation in the reintegration efforts. 'The challenge isn't just about returning the families—it's about ensuring they're not marginalized again, which could lead to isolation or renewed radicalization,' he told Shafaq News. Abdullah noted that while civil society organizations have worked to promote social cohesion, these efforts need tangible support from both the government and international partners to be sustainable. Additionally, Sheikh Saadoun al-Dulaimi, a community leader in Saladin, voiced concern over the return of ISIS-affiliated families, particularly to areas that were directly targeted by the group during years of conflict. 'Forgiveness or reconciliation cannot be imposed through administrative measures,' al-Dulaimi affirmed to Shafaq News, stating that real healing requires genuine community reconciliation, security guarantees, and continuous monitoring. Located in northeastern Syria, Al-Hol camp is considered one of the world's most complex displacement sites, housing some 50,000 people—mostly women and children, including thousands of Iraqis. United Nations reports have described the camp as a 'ticking time bomb,' warning that it serves as fertile ground for extremist recruitment and ideology amid deteriorating security and humanitarian conditions. According to official figures, Iraq has repatriated over 5,000 individuals from Al-Hol as of mid-2025 as part of a broader plan to close the file on ISIS-linked displacement. However, authorities acknowledge that major social, political, and security obstacles remain.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Bloody Church Massacre Condemned by World Leaders: 'Deeply Disturbing'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. An attack against a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo over the weekend that killed nearly 50 civilians drew condemnation from global leaders. Vicky Hartzler, who chairs the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), told Newsweek that the attack is "disturbing." "The recent increase in attacks on Christians and other religious communities by the ISIS-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in the Democratic Republic of Congo is deeply alarming. The most recent attack is particularly disturbing as it targeted a place of worship during an evening service—individuals should have the freedom to worship without the fear of putting one's life at risk. USCIRF strongly condemns these attacks and calls on the U.S. government to provide all possible support to curtail this disturbing trend," Hartzler said. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. State Department for comment via email. The Context The violence, attributed to Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), highlights the persistent threat that extremist militias pose to civilians in eastern Congo, a region that has faced decades of unrest. The deadly attack also underscored the escalating violence targeting Christian communities in the area. What To Know On Sunday, Islamic State-backed rebels attacked a Catholic church in Komanda, a city in the Ituri province. The United Nations reported that at least 49 civilians, including nine children, were killed during the attack. Several others were injured. The attackers burned down the church and several other nearby homes and businesses. The attack drew condemnation from world leaders. The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as MONUSCO, a peacekeeping mission in the region, said in a statement that it held "deep outrage at these heinous acts of violence, which constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and infringements on human rights." "These targeted attacks against defenseless civilians, particularly in places of worship, are not only appalling, but also in violation of all human rights standards and international humanitarian law," Vivian van de Perre, acting head of MONUSCO, wrote. Pope Leo XIV also condemned the attack. "May the blood of these martyrs become a seed of peace, reconciliation, fraternity, and love for the Congolese people," he wrote. The aftermath of an attack in Komanda, in the Ituri province of eastern Congo, on July 27, 2025. The aftermath of an attack in Komanda, in the Ituri province of eastern Congo, on July 27, 2025. Olivier Okande/UGC via AP The French Foreign Affairs Ministry released a statement on the attack, as well: "France expresses its solidarity with the Congolese government and offers its condolences to the victims' families and loved ones. France stands with the Congolese authorities in their effort to combat terrorist groups and protect the Congolese people," the statement reads. The attack on the Catholic church began at about 1 a.m. on Sunday when armed members of the ADF stormed the church. Video footage from the aftermath showed burning structures and bodies scattered inside the church. The ADF originated in Uganda in the 1990s and has been affiliated with the Islamic State since 2019. It largely operates around the Uganda-Congo border and has targeted civilians living in the area's villages, the Associated Press reported. The ADF was believed to have beheaded 70 Christians in a church in the province of North Kivu. What People Are Saying Dieudonne Duranthabo, a civil society coordinator in Komanda, described the aftermath to the Associated Press: "The bodies of the victims are still at the scene of the tragedy, and volunteers are preparing how to bury them in a mass grave that we are preparing in a compound of the Catholic church." UNICEF, in a statement: "The uptick in violence between armed groups in Ituri is worsening an already dire humanitarian situation. It is becoming increasingly difficult for UNICEF and partners to reach those most in need – and children, as ever, are bearing the brunt." What Happens Next Local and international pressure is mounting for stronger security interventions to protect civilians and religious minorities in eastern. The ADF remains active in the region.
Shafaq News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
US-Iraq raid: Top ISIS commander killed in Syria
Shafaq News In a high-stakes operation deep inside Syrian territory, US-led coalition forces, acting on intelligence from Iraqi counter-terrorism units, killed one of the Islamic State's most senior figures—Diaa Zoba' Mislah al-Hardan, known by his nom de guerre 'Abu Abdullah al-Ansari'—in a precision raid in the city of al-Bab, Aleppo province, early on July 25. According to multiple Iraqi and coalition sources, including an official statement by the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation targeted a residential compound where al-Hardan and his family had been hiding. Two of his sons—identified as Abdullah and Abdulrahman—were also killed in the assault, which involved an airborne insertion and heavy drone surveillance. No civilian or coalition casualties were reported. CENTCOM Forces Kill Senior ISIS Leader in Al Bab, SyriaEarly this morning in al Bab, Aleppo Governate, Syria, CENTCOM Forces conducted a raid resulting in the death of senior ISIS Leader, Dhiya' Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, and his two adult ISIS-affiliated sons, Abdallah Dhiya… — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 25, 2025 The raid marks one of the most significant blows to ISIS's operational leadership. Iraqi intelligence services had identified al-Hardan as a top-tier commander and a strategic coordinator for ISIS activities along the Iraq-Syria border. Deep Intelligence Network Behind the Operation The Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) confirmed its role in the operation, emphasizing that 'persistent intelligence-gathering and surveillance' by its units directly facilitated the cross-border mission. An arrest warrant for al-Hardan had previously been issued by Iraq's Counter-Terrorism Court. Security sources told Shafaq News that loudspeakers were used to call for the suspects to surrender before the assault, suggesting that capturing al-Hardan alive was the initial objective. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم (وَاللَّهُ يُؤَيِّدُ بِنَصْرِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِأُولِي الْأَبْصَارِ) صدق الله العلي العظيم =========بمعلومات استخبارية من جهاز مكافحة الإرهاب.... مقتل مايسمى والي (ولاية الخير والبركة) في عصابات داعش الإرهابية 00000000 — جهاز مكافحة الإرهاب (@iraqicts) July 25, 2025 Who Was Abu Abdullah al-Ansari? Al-Hardan was born in Iraq's Al-Anbar province in 1975 and began his militant career with al-Qaeda before joining ISIS at its inception in 2013. Over the years, he rose through the group's ranks, becoming wali (governor) of ISIS's self-declared 'Wilayat al-Furat' (Euphrates Province) and a key member of its so-called 'delegated committee.' At the time of his death, he reportedly held the position of wali of 'Wilayat al-Khayr wal-Baraka,' ISIS's nomenclature for eastern Syria. Intelligence sources confirmed that al-Hardan was responsible for coordinating cross-border operations, recruitment, smuggling networks, and financial flows between Iraq and Syria. He is believed to have operated a secure communications and logistics channel linking remnant ISIS cells on both sides of the border. Two of his sons, killed alongside him, are said to have occupied key security roles within his inner circle. Social media accounts affiliated with ISIS circulated what they claimed to be an internal document from the group's "Judicial Committee" confirming al-Hardan's death. While the document's authenticity could not be independently verified, its contents matched the details provided by both CENTCOM and Iraqi authorities. Strategic Implications Security analyst Abbas al-Bayati told Shafaq News that the elimination of al-Hardan is not just a tactical win, but a strategic intelligence breakthrough. 'He wasn't merely a battlefield commander,' al-Bayati said. 'He functioned as a coordinator for ISIS's transnational logistics—money, fighters, weapons. His removal disrupts an already fragmented network.' Nonetheless, the analyst warned that the ideological and operational threat posed by ISIS persists. 'Leadership decapitation affects functionality, not ideology,' he said. 'New figures will emerge unless governance and border security are reinforced.' The Broader Threat Landscape Despite the operation's success, regional officials and counter-terrorism experts caution against complacency. ISIS, though territorially defeated, remains active in ungoverned areas of Syria and Iraq. 'The killing of a high-ranking commander like al-Hardan delivers a critical blow to ISIS's structure,' a military source said. 'But it does not end the fight.'
L'Orient-Le Jour
6 days ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
US forces kill an Islamic State group leader in Syria raid
American forces killed an Islamic State group leader in a raid in Syria's Aleppo province on Friday, the U.S. military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said. The raid resulted "in the death of senior ISIS leader, Dhiya Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, and his two adult ISIS-affiliated sons," CENTCOM said in a statement, using an acronym for the jihadist group. "These ISIS individuals posed a threat to U.S. and Coalition forces, as well as the new Syrian government," it said, adding that three women and three children were at the location that was raided and were unharmed in the operation. The Islamic State group rose out of the chaos of the Syrian civil war to seize swaths of territory there and in neighboring Iraq over a decade ago. It has since suffered major defeats in both countries, but the United States still periodically targets the jihadist group's remnants with raids or strikes to prevent it from resurging.
UPI
6 days ago
- Politics
- UPI
U.S. Central Command says it killed senior ISIS leader, two adult sons
Gen. Michael E. Kurilla announced Friday that Central Command forces killed a senior ISIS leader an his two adult ISIS-affiliated sons. File photo by Leigh Vogel/UPI | License Photo July 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. Central Command announced Friday that it had conducted an operation in Aleppo, Syria, killing a senior Islamic State leader and his two adult sons. Those killed in the raid by U.S. forces were: Dhiya' Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, and his sons, Abdallah Dhiya al-Hardani and Abd al-Rahman Dhiya Zawba al-Hardani. The sons were also affiliated with ISIS, a press release said. Three women and three children also were there and were unharmed, officials said. "We will continue to relentlessly pursue ISIS terrorists wherever they operate," said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, U.S. Central Command commander. "ISIS terrorists are not safe where they sleep, where they operate, and where they hide. "Alongside our partners and allies, U.S. Central Command is committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS terrorists that threaten the region, our allies, and our homeland." The press release said the ISIS officials threaten the United States and coalition forces, as well as the new Syrian government. The attack comes weeks after the White House ordered a drawdown of U.S. military presence in Syria, which had about 2,000 personnel on eight bases in the area. Hundreds have returned home recently. Syria's Foreign Ministry released a statement earlier on Friday that said its representatives had met with American and French officials to "reinforce our cooperation on the shared fight against terrorism in all forms, and strengthen the capacities of the Syrian government to deal with security challenges through institutions of the state."
