A settlement led to the entry of an Iraqi government investigation team, headed by the Popular Mobilization Forces, into Jurf al-Sakhar yesterday. A stronghold of pro-Iranian factions south of Baghdad.
The Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces formed an investigation team from security institutions, headed by an officer in the PMF, to investigate leaked information about the smuggling of oil derivatives from the region, which is difficult to enter without the approval of factions, most notably the Hezbollah Brigades, according to sources. Military units moved towards the vicinity of Al-Jarf, with the aim of securing the entry of investigators and conducting field examinations, before “mediation” led to the suspension of the military movement, amid a dispute over the committee’s entry mechanism and the body supervising its work.
However, the head of security media, Saad Maan, confirmed yesterday (Friday) that no political parties or factions are participating in the investigation, indicating that the committee is present in the field and carrying out its investigative work.
On Friday, the Iraqi Security Media Cell announced the killing of three “terrorists” and the arrest of a fourth in a security operation in Kirkuk (250 km north of Baghdad).
The Security Media Cell said in a press statement: “Our security forces in the Kirkuk Operations Command were able, this evening (Friday), to carry out a qualitative duty and a precise air strike in the Alton Kubri area (northwest of Kirkuk Governorate) by army aviation within the sector of responsibility of the 32nd Infantry Brigade of the 8th Mechanized Division.”
She added, "This operation resulted in the killing of three terrorists, and the terrorist carrying them was arrested," stressing that the security forces are currently continuing searches and careful inspections in the area, according to what was reported by the German News Agency.
She indicated that this comes in implementation of the directives of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, a continuation of proactive qualitative operations and an effort by the Directorate of Military Intelligence to pursue the remnants of “terrorist” gangs and dry up their sources.
The mother of the 15-year-old Palestinian boy, Izz al-Din al-Lahaliya, embraced her son, who looked small and dazed in the gray prison uniform intended for adults, after spending a month in an Israeli prison.
The boy, who was accused of throwing stones, was reunited with his family on Thursday night in a touching scene documented by an Agence France-Presse photographer.
Ezzedine's mother held back her tears as she kissed his cheeks, while other children and women greeted men who had been released with him.
A scene interrupted by tear gas canisters fired by Israeli forces.
Al-Lahaliya, who is from the town of Sa'ir in the southern West Bank, met his family in the village of Al-Jib near Jerusalem, where the Israeli authorities usually release Palestinian detainees on Thursdays.
Since 1967, Israel has occupied the West Bank, where about 3 million Palestinians and 500,000 settlers live.
Izz al-Din's mother, Rania Jaradat, told Agence France-Presse: “After the Israelis took the prisoners out, and after we received them, they fired tear gas,” adding that the scene brought to mind the moment the soldiers took the boy from the family home on October 14, 2026.
She continued: “They were afraid that families would gather near the gate and celebrate.”
She pointed out that after Lahaliya was released, “the first thing he asked for was stuffed cabbage and shawarma,” noting that she rushed to fulfill his request.
The boy was released after the family paid a bail of 5,000 shekels (about 1,500 dollars).
As the eldest son among five siblings, his absence had a major impact on his younger siblings.
Ezz El-Din said: “They are happy with my return, but they were suffering throughout my absence from them.”
According to figures from the Addameer Foundation for Prisoner Care and Human Rights, 9,300 Palestinians are currently detained in Israeli prisons, including 350 minors.
Earlier this week, the Israeli army confirmed that it shot a 14-year-old boy who was part of a group of boys suspected of throwing stones at a passing car in the northern occupied West Bank.
Relaxing the rules for shooting at individuals suspected of throwing stones in 2022 resulted in a rise in the death toll among Palestinians, according to the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem.
