Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s National SecurityService introduced on Tuesday a new multi-role drone system designed tostrengthen aerial surveillance and field intelligence operations.

The unmanned platform, named“SARA 1,” is equipped with advanced monitoring and imaging systems capable ofoperating day and night under various weather conditions while offering high maneuverability and rapid responsecapabilities.

According to the agency, thedrone has already undergone field deployment and demonstrated “efficiency andreliability” in executing security missions, with officials describing thelaunch as part of broader efforts to improve operational control and addressevolving threats through modern technology.

The announcement comes amidwider Iraqi efforts to upgrade the country’s military and air defenseinfrastructure. Earlier this year, caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed ShiaAl-Sudani directed authorities to modernize and expand Iraq’s air defensecapabilities.

On March 31, the cabinet alsoapproved contracts for new air defense systems and related logisticalrequirements while reviewing plans to resume air traffic across Iraqi airspaceunder enhanced security measures.

Read more: Iraq's air defense void: US vetoes, Russian limits leave Baghdad exposed

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraqi authorities on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant against Nour Al-Din Ahmed Mohsen Faraj, the son of a senior Kataib Hezbollah armed group leader, under Article 4 of Iraq’s anti-terrorism law.

According to the warrant, Nour Al-Din is accused of “using violence and threats aimed at undermining the country’s security and stability, spreading fear among the public, and endangering lives, freedoms, and public safety.”

The warrant came one day after Al-Israa University announced that its president, Abdul Razzaq Jabr Al-Majidi, had received direct threats from an armed group after the university administration refused to pass an engineering student in violation of official academic regulations and ministry standards.

Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Hamburg

Intelligence-sharing and judicial coordination with Germany helped prevent a “dangerous terrorist plot” in the city of Hamburg, Iraq’s National Center for International Judicial Cooperation announced Tuesday.

In a statement, the center said the attack had reached advanced preparatory stages and was intended to target civilian gatherings inside the German city.

The statement indicated that the operation was disrupted following the exchange of high-value information and evidence between the Iraqi and German sides, enabling German authorities to intensify surveillance and take urgent measures before the attack could be carried out.

Shafaq News- Karbala/ Najaf

Iraq's Karbala Operations commander on Tuesday delivered the first detailed on-record account of the early March clash in the Al-Nukhaib desert linked by international reporting to an alleged covert Israeli site.

Accompanied by Shafaq News, Lieutenant General Ali Al-Hashemi led a field tour through the Janana area, near the administrative boundary with Najaf, alongside the Army Chief of Staff, senior military commanders, Defense Ministry media officials, and a group of journalists. The delegation inspected the incident sites across the desert stretch between Karbala and Najaf.

Al-Hashemi said a report came in on March 2 that an unidentified force had been airlifted into Janana, prompting the Joint Operations Command and the Army Chief of Staff to order an immediate response. A column of around 40 vehicles from Karbala Operations advanced on the location and came under fire on March 4, leading to the death of one soldier and the injury of another. Iraqi forces then established full control of the zone, and a comprehensive search the following day turned up no camps, fixed positions, or irregular formations.

Lieutenant General Saad Maan, head of Iraq's Security Media Cell, separately confirmed that troops had fired on aerial targets during the confrontation. He said the unidentified group's presence lasted only a few hours, rejected accounts of a permanent foreign military base in the western desert, and added that operations are continuing to deter further breaches.

The disclosures follow a Wall Street Journal report last week stating that Israel had established a covert military site in Iraq's western desert linked to its operations against Iran during the regional escalation that began on February 28, and that Iraqi troops approaching the location had come under air strikes. Israeli outlets, including the Jerusalem Post and JFeed, have separately reported on an alleged secret facility inside Iraq used for Iran-related operations, alongside claims of outside intervention to block any investigation.

In earlier statements, the Joint Operations Command has maintained that wide-ranging sweeps across the Karbala and Najaf deserts produced no evidence of foreign troops or equipment after the March incident, while Badr bloc MP Shaker Abu Turab Al-Tamimi told our agency on May 11 that what he described as an "American-Israeli camp" remained active in western Iraq, and that Iraqi forces had not been permitted to approach it.

Shafaq News- Najaf/ Karbala

Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) launched on Tuesday, a securityoperation across desert areas in Najaf and Karbala in central Iraq, aimed tosecure the remote region.

Ali al-Hamdani, commander of Middle Euphrates operations within the PMF,noted that the operation, titled “Imposing Sovereignty,” will span more than120 kilometers. It involves explosive ordnance disposal teams, intelligenceunits, and supporting formations.

Search and clearance activities extend from the al-Fajj checkpointtoward the Nukhayb district and continue to the Arar border crossing with SaudiArabia, he added.

Israeli newspaper Maariv previously reported that Israel operated asecret military base in Iraq’s western desert during the 2026 conflict withIran, deploying commando teams, emergency medical units, and Special Forces tothe area. Iraq later dismissed the reports, maintaining that no evidence offoreign troops or military equipment has been found.

Shafaq News

Below is asummary of key security and public safety incidents reported across Iraq on Monday,May 11, 2026.

AccidentalShooting (Babil)

A securitymember was killed after mishandling his weapon while on duty at a checkpoint ineastern Babil, a security source reported.

Drug Arrests(Kirkuk)

Kirkukpolice arrested suspects caught in possession of narcotics and drug-useparaphernalia.

WantedSuspects Arrested (Kirkuk)

Anti-crimeunits in Kirkuk carried out raids and search operations across the city,arresting five suspects wanted in cases related to theft and breach of trust.

FatalDispute (Baghdad)

A Syrian workerwas shot dead by an Interior Ministry member following a dispute at a generatorsite in southern Baghdad. Security forces arrested the suspect.

OfficialDetained (Kirkuk)

Authoritiesin Kirkuk detained the province’s director of administrative affairs forinvestigation over allegations of cooperating with cold-storage owners toillegally introduce frozen meat into the city.

Stabbing(Baghdad)

A young manfatally stabbed his sister inside their home in the capital, according to amedical source. Security forces took legal measures against the suspect.

Snake Attack(Dhi Qar)

Two girlswere injured in a snake attack in Dhi Qar and transferred for treatment.

RestaurantFire (Diyala)

A large firebroke out at a restaurant in Diyala without causing casualties, according tosecurity sources.

Shafaq News-Baghdad

Iraq’s JointOperations Command (JOC) on Monday reiterated that no unauthorized foreignforces are operating on Iraqi territory, dismissing recent reports andpolitical claims about a secret “Israeli base” in the country’s western desert.

In a statement,the command described allegations regarding foreign military sites in thedesert areas of Karbala and Najaf provinces as inaccurate, urging media outletsand politicians not to circulate “unverified information.”

It referredto a March 5, 2026 security incident east of al-Nukhaib, where Iraqi forcesfrom Karbala and Najaf clashed with “unidentified and unauthorized detachments”backed by aircraft, leaving one Iraqi security member dead, two others wounded,and a military vehicle damaged.

According tothe JOC, Iraqi forces later intensified operations and maintained a securitypresence across the area, prompting the groups to withdraw under aerial cover,as regular search missions continue across desert sectors extending to Iraq’sinternational borders.

The commandalso accused some political figures of exploiting the case through statementsmade “without knowledge of the facts,” warning that such claims damage Iraq’sreputation and undermine its security institutions. It further warned of legalaction against anyone spreading “misleading information or malicious rumors”that harm Iraq’s sovereignty.

The Israelinewspaper Maariv reported on Sunday that Israel had operated a secret militarybase in Iraq’s western desert during the 2026 war with Iran, allegedlydeploying commando teams, emergency medical units, and special forces to theremote area. The JOC later announced that search operations in the westerndesert found no evidence of foreign troops or military equipment.

A lawmakerfrom Iraq’s Shiite Badr bloc, however, told Shafaq News on Monday that a joint“US-Israeli” military camp still exists in western Iraq. The MP also criticizedthe Interior Ministry, the Joint Operations Command, and border forces, notingthat the area falls under the responsibility of Iraq’s border guards.

Shafaq News- Nineveh

Two people died by suicide and twoothers survived separate suicide attempts in Nineveh province, northern Iraq,over the past 24 hours, a security source told Shafaq News on Monday.

The two suicide cases involved a mansouth of Mosul and a woman in al-Qayyarah district, both of whom died byhanging. The motives remain unknown.

In eastern Mosul, two teenage girlswere hospitalized after separately ingesting large quantities of pills. Bothare in stable condition.

A 2025 report by the Ministry ofLabour and Social Affairs indicated that the national monthly average ofsuicide cases ranged between 55 and 70. Iraq recorded approximately 1,100 casesin 2022, rising to around 1,300 in 2023 and approaching 1,500 in 2024.

Read more: When life feels closed from all sides: Iraq’s rising suicide cases

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraqi andIranian officials stressed, during high-level security talks in Baghdad onMonday, the need to prevent armed groups in the Kurdistan Region from launchingactivities or cross-border attacks that could threaten regional stability.

The meeting of the Iraqi-Iranian HighSecurity Committee focused on implementing the bilateral security agreementbetween the two countries, tightening border controls, and enhancing jointcoordination to prevent infiltration and movements by “terrorist or armedgroups.”

The Iranian side presentedinformation regarding alleged activities of some Iranian armed groups based in IraqiKurdistan, while both sides agreed to take the necessary measures to addressthe issue and prevent any activity that could undermine regional security.

During the meeting, Iraqi NationalSecurity Adviser Qassim al-Araji reaffirmed Baghdad’s position that Iraqiterritory must not be used to launch hostile acts or military operationsagainst neighboring countries.

Iran has long accused KurdishIranian opposition groups in northern Iraq of smuggling fighters and weaponsacross the border to carry out attacks inside Iran.

In 2023, Baghdad and Tehran signed asecurity agreement aimed at tightening border controls and enhancing securitycooperation. Under the deal, Iraq committed to preventing armed groups in the Regionfrom using Iraqi territory to launch attacks on Iran. Kurdistan RegionalGovernment (KRG) officials have repeatedly assured Tehran that Kurdistan willnot be used as a base to threaten neighboring countries.

Read more: Iraqi–Iranian Security MoU rekindles a decade of border deals—and old controversies

Since hostilities escalated betweenthe United States, Iran, and Israel on February 28, the Kurdistan Region haswitnessed repeated missile and drone incidents, including strikes targetingsites linked to Iranian Kurdish opposition groups. On Sunday, four missilesstruck a camp hosting these groups in the Alana Valley of Khalifan district,northeast of Erbil, according to a source who spoke to Shafaq News.

Read more: 650 Strikes in Iraqi Kurdistan: How deniability became a weapon

Shafaq News- Kirkuk

Iraq’ssecurity authorities have assigned Lieutenant General Maad Baday al-Darraji asthe new commander of the Kirkuk Operations Command.

A securitysource told Shafaq News that the orders also included reassigning former KirkukOperations Commander Lieutenant General Saleh Herz to head the Planning Commission atthe Joint Operations Command.

The newlyappointed commanders are expected to assume their duties in the coming periodunder directives issued by higher authorities.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraqi authorities on Monday released journalist Salemal-Sheikh on bail of one million Iraqi dinars (around $770) after he wasdetained for criticizing services provided following the purchase of Jetourvehicles, a Chinese automobile brand.

A source familiar with the case told Shafaq News thatal-Sheikh had been summoned on Sunday to a police station in Baghdad’sAl-Rusafa district over a report in which he criticized the company’s customerservice and after-sales support.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

A joint “US-Israeli” military camp remains in western Iraq, a lawmakertold Shafaq News on Monday, claiming that Iraqi security forces were preventedfrom approaching the site.

According to Shaker Abu Turab al-Tamimi, a member of Iraq’s Badrparliamentary bloc, the Iraqi government was initially unaware of the matterbefore security agencies briefed Baghdad on the issue.

He also blamed the Interior Ministry, the Joint Operations Command, andborder forces, pointing out that the area falls within the jurisdiction ofIraq’s border guards.

Israeli newspaper Maariv previously reported that Israel operated asecret military base in Iraq’s western desert during the 2026 conflict withIran, deploying commando teams, emergency medical units, and Special Forces tothe area. Iraqi security forces dismissed the reports, maintaining that noevidence of foreign troops or military equipment had been found.

Shafaq News

Below is a summary ofkey security and public safety incidents reported across Iraq on May 10.

- WantedTerror Suspect Dies in Clash (Basra)

A suspect accused ofterrorism died during an armed clash with security forces carrying out anarrest operation in Basra.

- MissilesStrike Iranian Kurdish Opposition Camp (Erbil)

Between three and fourmissiles hit a camp hosting Iranian Kurdish opposition group in the AlanaValley northeast of Erbil.

- PoliceArrest Child Rape Suspect (Babil)

Anti-crime forcesarrested a suspect accused of assaulting and raping a child after tracking himto Baghdad less than 24 hours after the incident.

- CourtSentences Man to Death for Murder (Wasit)

A criminal courtsentenced a young man to death after he confessed to killing and burying hisfriend over personal disputes.

- SearchTeams Recover Teen’s Body from Tigris (Nineveh)

Authorities recoveredthe body of a teenager born in 2008 from the Tigris River two weeks after hedrowned southeast of Mosul.

- HorseRiding Accident Kills Child (Kirkuk)

A fifth-grade pupildied after falling from a horse inside an orchard southeast of Kirkuk during asummer outing.

- SecurityForces Shut Down Gambling Hall (Baghdad)

Baghdad OperationsCommand closed a gambling hall in Karrada, arrested four suspects, and seized90 gambling devices.

- CrashNear Checkpoint Leaves One Dead (Baghdad)

A collision betweentwo vehicles near an armored checkpoint killed one person and injured twoothers.

- CarOverturn Kills Woman, Injures Husband (Dhi Qar)

A vehicle overturnedon Al-Gatiya road near Al-Shatra, killing a woman and critically injuring herhusband.

- TribalClash Over Water Shares Injures Four (Dhi Qar)

A tribal dispute overwater shares wounded four people, and security forces arrested more than 20participants after surrounding the area.

- SecurityForces Bust Extortion Network (Nineveh)

Iraqi policedismantled an extortion gang that falsely claimed ties to armed factions tothreaten government employees and private companies for money.

- AuthoritiesSeize Marijuana Shipment (Kirkuk)

Anti-drug forcesseized three kilograms of marijuana and arrested a suspected trafficker duringa joint operation between Kirkuk and Al-Sulaymaniyah units.

- PoliceArrest Foreign Theft Suspect (Diyala)

Security units trackedand arrested a foreign suspect in Baghdad after he confessed to stealing moneyfrom a resident in Diyala’s Kanaan district.

- Ira’sriver police Rescue Woman from Drowning (Najaf)

River police rescued awoman after she jumped into the Kufa River basin in an apparent suicide attempt.

- PoliceArrest Fraud Suspect in Ambush (Babil)

Police arrested awoman wanted on fraud and forgery charges after luring her into Babil, whereshe admitted using forged checks purchased in Baghdad to buy modern vehicles.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraqi security forces found no evidence of foreigntroops or military equipment during search operations in the western desertregions, particularly in Karbala and Najaf provinces, Iraq’s Joint OperationsCommand confirmed on Sunday.

Head of the Security Media Cell, Lieutenant GeneralSaad Maan, indicated that the incident referenced in recent reports dates backto March 4, 2026, when Iraqi forces stationed east of al-Nukhaib in the Karbaladesert clashed with unidentified armed groups supported by air cover, leaving oneIraqi security member dead and two others wounded.

Iraqi forces maintained their deployment in the areaafterward and carried out extensive search operations across all sectorswithout finding any trace of the groups or military equipment, he added.

The statement followed claims published by Israelioutlet JFeed alleging that US forces intervened to prevent Iraqi securityagencies from inspecting suspicious activity at a purported Israeli-linkedairbase inside Iraq. The report claimed the facility operated as a covert hubfor Israeli special forces and a logistical support center for the Israeli AirForce during operations targeting Iran, with a temporary 1.6-kilometer airstripreportedly built on a dry lake bed roughly 180 kilometers southwest of Najafand Karbala, allowing aircraft to shorten flight routes and avoid conventionalmonitoring near Iranian borders.

JFeed also alleged that the reported US interventionraised questions over Iraqi sovereignty and Washington’s influence in thecountry, while pointing to possible operational coordination between the UnitedStates and Israel despite Baghdad’s declared neutrality and rejection of anyIsraeli presence on Iraqi territory.

Neither the US Department of War nor the IsraeliMinistry of Defense has commented on the allegations.

Israeli newspaper Maariv had previously reported thatIsrael operated a secret military base in Iraq’s western desert during the 2026conflict with Iran, deploying commando teams, emergency medical units, andspecial forces to the area.

Shafaq News- Basra

A wanted suspect accused of terrorism died onSunday after clashing with security forces carrying out an arrest operation in Basra,southern Iraq, a security source told Shafaq News.

The suspect threw a hand grenade at the force, but it failed to explode,before opening fire with a Kalashnikov rifle, prompting security personnel torespond and wound him in several parts of the body. He was reportedly transferredto a hospital following the clash but later died from his injuries.

The source did notdisclose the group to which the suspect was allegedly affiliated.

ShafaqNews- Middle East

Israeloperated a secret military base in Iraq’s western desert during its 2026 waragainst Iran, deploying commando teams, emergency medical units, and SpecialForces to the remote area, the Israeli newspaper Maariv reported on Sunday.

TheIsraeli Air Force’s Seventh Wing, which coordinates special operations andcommando units, deployed most of the ground forces at the site.

Accordingto Maariv, the mission narrowly avoided a major accident after two Israelimilitary helicopters collided during a sandstorm in the Iraqi desert. One helicopterwas preparing to take off when poor visibility forced the pilot to abort themaneuver and try to land. The aircraft overturned and struck a secondhelicopter nearby.

Noinjuries were recorded among the crews or fighters, though one helicopter sustainedsevere damage. Maintenance teams repaired the second aircraft on site, whilethe heavily damaged helicopter was later transported to Tel Nof Airbase inIsrael for repairs.

Detailsof the covert activity remained under Israeli military censorship for monthsbefore authorities cleared publication following a Wall Street Journal accounton Saturday. Citing US officials, the American outlet detailed that Israeliwarplanes carried out strikes against Iraqi forces that approached the area andcame close to discovering the site.

Therevelations renewed questions surrounding a mysterious incident reported onMarch 4, 2026, in the desert between Karbala and Najaf provinces, where anIraqi reconnaissance force came under air attack, leaving one fighter dead andtwo others wounded. At the time, security leaks pointed to a possible airborneoperation carried out by US forces deep in the western desert of Karbala.However, a later statement from the Iraqi Joint Operations Command dismissedany airborne deployment and did not identify the party responsible for thestrike.

Shafaq News

Below is a summary of key security and crime-related incidents reported across Iraq on May 9, 2026.

Terror Suspects Arrested (Baghdad)

Iraq’s Police forces arrested several suspects wanted under Iraq’s anti-terrorism law during an operation in Albu Aitha area south of Baghdad. Security sources said the suspects had been hiding inside a farm in the district.

Five Wanted Suspects Detained (Kirkuk)

Police in Kirkuk arrested five wanted individuals while attempting to pass through external security checkpoints after their identities were matched with the national wanted database.

ISIS Hideouts Discovered (Al-Anbar)

Security forces in Al-Anbar uncovered two ISIS hideouts in the Thumeil area containing rocket-propelled grenades, suicide belts, hand grenades, and logistical equipment previously used by the group.

Drug-Filled Balloon Intercepted (Al-Anbar)

Border forces foiled an attempt to smuggle more than 34 kilograms of narcotics into Iraq using a hot-air balloon along the western frontier. Authorities said the shipment contained over 198,000 narcotic pills.

Fuel Smuggling Sites Targeted (Basra)

Energy Police arrested two suspects and seized tanker trucks and modified vehicles allegedly used for fuel smuggling during a raid in Basra following intelligence-led surveillance.

Woman Killed in Gas Cylinder Explosion (Al-Anbar)

A woman died and several relatives suffered severe burns after a gas cylinder exploded inside a house in Karma district east of Ramadi, triggering a large fire.

Young Man Dies by Suicide (Al-Anbar)

A man in his twenties died by suicide in Fallujah, according to a local security source. Authorities opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Shafaq News- Al-Anbar

Iraqi border forces on Saturday intercepted an airborne balloon carrying more than 34 kg of narcotic pills along the international border in western Al-Anbar.

The Border Forces Command said the shipment of more than 198,000 pills was blocked before it entered the country.

Smugglers have turned to airborne balloons to move drugs across Iraq’s borders, particularly along Syrian and Jordanian routes, to evade direct contact with border patrols, Brig. Gen. Akram Al-Rashid, director of Al-Anbar’s Anti-Narcotics Directorate, earlier told Shafaq News.

Last week, border forces intercepted another balloon carrying more than 33 kg of narcotics in western Al-Anbar. In April, they seized 154 kg of narcotics, including 893,000 pills, after detecting five balloons with surveillance systems and thermal cameras.

In the first quarter of 2026 alone, the ministry reported more than one ton of seized drugs and more than 3,500 arrests.

Read more: The Smuggler's Almanac: Iraq's war against narco-innovation

Shafaq News

Below is a summary of key security and crime-related incidents reported across Iraq on May 8, 2026.

Three Arrested After Fatal Shooting (Kirkuk)

Police in Kirkuk arrested three suspects after investigating the fatal shooting of a man in the Azadi area. Authorities said the victim was killed unintentionally while the suspects were mishandling a firearm without proper safety precautions.

Suspect Arrested for Blackmailing Girls Online (Maysan)

Maysan anti-crime units arrested a suspect accused of blackmailing girls through fake social media accounts. Investigators said the man threatened victims with publishing private photos and videos unless they paid money.

Farmer Injured by ISIS Remnant Explosive (Al-Anbar)

A farmer was wounded after an explosive device left behind by ISIS detonated in Kubaisa subdistrict near Hit. Security forces launched an investigation into the incident.

Child Killed in Accidental Family Shooting (Kirkuk)

A child died after being accidentally shot while playing with a handgun belonging to a family member, according to a security source in Kirkuk.

Sixteen Arrested After Violent Clash (Najaf)

Police in Najaf detained 16 suspects involved in a large brawl in Kufa following a security deployment to contain the violence.

Hit-and-Run Driver Arrested (Baghdad)

Baghdad police arrested a suspect accused of fleeing after fatally running over an elderly woman. Authorities also seized the vehicle used in the incident.

Two Sisters Rescued from Drowning (Nineveh)

Police rescued two sisters from drowning near the waterfalls area north of Mosul during spring holiday patrols and later handed them over to their family.

Fuel Smuggling Operations Foiled (Diyala/ Saladin)

Military intelligence units intercepted two illegal fuel transport operations in Diyala and Saladin, arresting the drivers and seizing the tanker trucks involved.

Nine Injured in Armed Brawl (Dhi Qar)

Nine people, including a PMF member and a lawyer, were wounded in a violent dispute involving bladed weapons in Al-Gharraf district north of Nasiriyah.

Woman Arrested in Gambling Den Raid (Basra)

National Security Service forces arrested a woman known locally as “Suwayra al-Basrawiya” during a raid on a café allegedly hosting gambling activities in Basra. Authorities said she faces accusations linked to human trafficking, exploiting minors, and public morality violations.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s National Security Service (INSS) infiltrated a bannedBaathist network operating through social media platforms, arresting several ofits members in coordinated raids across multiple provinces, the agencyannounced on Friday.

In a statement, the agency said operations also resulted inthe seizure of electronic devices, documents, and communication equipment,revealing that “the network had been operating secretly through onlineplatforms, private groups, and live broadcasts.”

During one of thegroup’s online streams involving its leaders and members, National SecurityService spokesperson Arshad Al-Hakim appeared on the broadcast and announcedthat it had come under the agency’s control, the statement noted.

Earlier this week, Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council sentencedfour individuals to six years in prison for affiliation with and promotion ofthe banned Baath Party after authorities found material supporting Baathistideology on their mobile phones. The case was linked to activities recorded inKirkuk during 2025 and 2026.

The Baath Party, which ruled Iraq under Saddam Hussein untilthe US-led invasion in 2003, was officially outlawed under the 2005 IraqiConstitution. Iraqi law criminalizes any form of promotion or glorification ofthe party.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s Interior Ministry dismissed on Friday reports about agrant of light weapons to Lebanon outside official channels, noting that therequest dates back to 2023.

Lebanese General Security director Hassan Choucair,according to the ministry, submitted the request during a visit to Baghdad aspart of official security coordination with Iraqi authorities, seekinglogistical and security support, including light weapons, generators, and otherequipment.

However, authorities have not carried out the transfer dueto security conditions and regional developments, including escalating tensionsand conflict, which halted the procedures.

ايضاح صادر عن وزارة الداخليةhttps://t.co/nu9oRWZZM9 pic.twitter.com/GkOnuibeE7

— وزارة الداخلية العراقية (@socialmoigoviq) May 8, 2026

Shafaq News

Below is a summary of keysecurity and crime-related incidents reported across Iraq on May 07, 2026.

-Two Arrested in Antiquities Trafficking Operation (Babil)

Police arrested two suspectsaccused of trafficking antiquities after a sting operation led to the seizureof 73 archaeological pieces.

-Seven Killed in Road Crash (Al-Diwaniyah)

Seven people died and twoothers were critically injured after a truck collided with a passenger minibusnear Al-Bdeir district south of Al-Diwaniyah, a source told Shafaq News. In aseparate incident, three people were injured when another truck overturned at acheckpoint in Al-Shamiya district.

-Three Injured in Knife Fight (Kirkuk)

A security source told ShafaqNews that three people were wounded in a violent brawl involving knives amongsix individuals near Souq Al-Hasir in central Kirkuk, prompting a securitydeployment and arrests.

-American Woman Takes Shelter at US Embassy (Baghdad)

An American woman whodisappeared from her home in Baghdad’s Al-Mansour district was later found atthe US Embassy after allegedly fleeing domestic abuse by her Iraqi husband,sources noted to our agency.

-Two Young Men Drown While Learning to Swim (Dhi Qar)

Two men in their twentiesdrowned in the Al-Islah River east of Nasiriyah while attempting to learnswimming, with their bodies later recovered.

-Two Suicide Cases Recorded (Diyala/ Nineveh)

A teenage girl died by suicidein Baqubah, while a woman in Sinjar took her own life by self-immolation, withpreliminary reports pointing to psychological distress in both cases.

-Fire Erupts in Market (Kirkuk)

A fire damaged several shopsin Kirkuk’s historic Al-Qalaa market, though no casualties were reported asfirefighters contained the blaze and prevented it from spreading.

Shafaq News- Babil

Seventy-three antiquities were recovered during an operation targetingthe illegal trade of Iraq’s historical relics, the Babil Police Commanddisclosed on Thursday.

The operation resulted in the arrest of two suspected traffickers,caught while selling the items to undercover officers. Authorities did notspecify the historical era to which the pieces belong.

Iraq has recovered more than 40,000 artifacts in 2024 and 2025 throughdomestic seizures and international repatriation campaigns, according to theMinistry of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities. In one of the latest operationson Tuesday, the National Security Service uncovered 255 archaeological relicshidden inside abandoned quarries between the southern provinces of Basra andDhi Qar.

Under Iraq’s Antiquities Law No. 55 of 2002, individuals who fail tohand over archaeological finds to the state within 30 days face penalties of upto 10 years in prison, in addition to fines worth twice the estimated value ofthe objects. The law also imposes prison terms of up to 15 years for the theftof antiquities and heritage property.

Shafaq News

Below is a summary of security and public safety incidents reportedacross Iraq on May 6, 2026.

Airstrikes Kill Militants (Kirkuk)

Iraqi F-16 jets conducted two strikes targeting ISIS positions in theHamrin mountain range within the Kirkuk operations sector, killing threemilitants.

Datura Crops Destroyed (Baghdad)

Security forces destroyed around 40,000 datura plants cultivated acrossagricultural plots covering 13 dunams in Baghdad.

Young Man Dies (Al-Muthanna)

A young man died by suicide in Al-Muthanna province for unknown reasons.

Conference Postponed (Babil)

The Interior Ministry postponed a press conference on the investigationinto the assassination attempt on civil activist Dirgham Majid after the Courtof Appeal requested further investigative procedures. Majid survived an attackon April 20, when masked gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire, injuring his foot.

Blackmail Suspect Arrested (Karbala)

Police in Karbala arrested a suspect accused of blackmailing a girlthrough social media and attempting to extort money.

Residency Violations (Najaf)

Three foreign nationals were detained in Kufa, Najaf province, overviolations of residency regulations.

Fraud Suspect Detained (Al-Diwaniyah)

Security forces detained a suspect accused of impersonating a securityofficer and using the role to solicit money in exchange for promised jobs andofficial appointments.

Border Wall Completed (Nationwide)

The Interior Ministry reported the completion of a concrete barrieralong the Iraq–Syria border.

Antiquities Case Seized (Baghdad)

A suspect was detained in an antiquities trafficking case, with sixarchaeological pieces and a handgun seized.

Alcohol Distribution Case (Baghdad)

Police in Baghdad’s Al-Karkh detained a man seen in a video distributingalcoholic beverages to drivers on a public road.

Shafaq News- Kirkuk

Iraqi F-16 fighter jets carried out two airstrikestargeting ISIS positions in the Hamrin mountain range* within the Kirkukoperations sector on Wednesday, killing three militants, the Joint OperationsCommand announced.

The command said the strikes hit two sites allegedlyused by ISIS members for shelter and logistical support, with both locationsdestroyed.

Although ISIS lost territorial control in Iraq in2017, it continues operating as an insurgent network across desert and ruralregions, including Diyala, Kirkuk, Saladin, and Al-Anbar. In mid-April, Iraq’sInterior Ministry reported that security forces had dismantled four ISIS-linkedcells during operations conducted in 2026, warning that the group hasincreasingly relied on social media and online gaming platforms to recruityoung people.

* The Hamrin Mountains are a rugged range stretchingacross Diyala, Saladin, and Kirkuk provinces in northeastern Iraq.

Read more: On ISIS defeat anniversary, Iraq confronts a reawakening insurgency