Iraq
Members of Iraq's Rapid Intervention forces driving in a village in the Hawi al-Azim area, in the eastern Diyala province in January 2022. AFP file photo
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - One Iraqi soldier was killed and another was injured in a shooting at a checkpoint in the southern province of Maysan, the Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday.
The incident occurred in al-Kahla district where the army had set up a temporary checkpoint as part of efforts to apprehend wanted suspects.
“During the inspection, a pickup truck carrying four people approached. When the forces attempted to stop it, the vehicle refused to comply and suddenly changed course. The security forces immediately pursued the vehicle, at which point the suspected individuals opened fire on the forces,” the ministry stated.
One soldier was killed and a second was injured.
Security forces cordoned off the area and arrested those involved, seizing their weapons and vehicle. According to the ministry, the shooters had intended to carry out an attack on a person from the local area.
In a separate statement, Iraq’s intelligence service reported the arrest of 18 wanted individuals in Baghdad, Salahaddin, and Maysan provinces. It did not detail what allegations the suspects are facing.
"As part of ongoing field security operations targeting all individuals wanted by the judiciary, 18 suspects facing various legal charges were apprehended in separate operations across Baghdad and the provinces of Salahaddin and Maysan," the statement read.
Maysan has recently experienced a surge in criminal activity. During a major security operation in early September, the Interior Ministry said that over 300 individuals were arrested within just two days.
Hussein al-Mariani, a member of Maysan’s security council, has previously warned that the security situation in the province is “getting out of hand.” He blamed the growing influence of drug gangs, frequent harassment of wealthy individuals, and the proliferation of vehicles with tinted windows. According to Mariani, violent incidents have reached alarming levels, with two to three murders reported daily.
Tribal conflicts are another major security concern for authorities in southern Iraq. Armed clashes among tribes occur frequently in Maysan, Basra, and Dhi Qar provinces, sometimes requiring military intervention. These disputes often involve light and medium weapons, and in some cases, mortar shells.
The violence is frequently rooted in disputes over agricultural land, water resources, and control of border crossings. It is further exacerbated by the widespread availability of arms, with local tribes in possession of large caches of weapons.
In recent years, the dynamics of tribal violence have grown more complex, with political parties sometimes shielding their tribal affiliates, complicating the government’s efforts to enforce the rule of law.
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