Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam confirmed that the authorities will not hesitate to pursue the investigation into the case of the arrest of a truck loaded with hundreds of kilograms of explosive materials, including highly explosive C-4, in the Dahr al-Baydar area a few days ago, stressing the need to identify all those involved in the operation and those behind them and refer them to the judiciary.
The Prime Minister said, in blog posts on the “X” website, today, Monday, that he understands the concern of the Lebanese about the arrest of the truck and the materials it was transporting, noting that the substance “C-4” was used in a number of political assassinations in Lebanon’s modern history.
Salam saluted the security forces that stopped the truck, seized the explosive materials, and referred its drivers to the competent authorities for investigation.
He stressed that the government will follow up the investigation and expand it to uncover those involved, their plans and goals, stressing that it will not tolerate any party that tampers with the country’s security, safety and stability, and will deal firmly with any weapon outside the framework of legitimacy, whether in terms of its possession, transfer or use.
Yesterday (Sunday), the Iraqi Intelligence and Investigation Agency announced the overthrow of a network that forced citizens to sell their body parts due to debts.
An Iraqi intelligence statement, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), stated that “in continuation of qualitative pre-emptive operations targeting organized crime networks, the intelligence agency and anti-organized crime units (Baghdad/Al-Rusafa), under the direct supervision of the team, the Undersecretary for Intelligence and Federal Investigations, were able to overthrow a dangerous criminal network that took citizens as a scene for its heinous crimes, in which they are integrated.” Obscene usury rings with human trafficking gangs and the sale of human organs (kidneys).”
The statement added, “The operation came after the agency’s detachments monitored information indicating the existence of an organized criminal network working to deceive citizens with limited income, by luring them with fake usurious loans and advances, and imposing impossible conditions on them, after which they were bargained to sell their human organs (kidneys) to pay off the accumulated debts.”
He continued, "Immediately, a specialized intelligence team was formed, and all members of the network, consisting of four defendants, including two women, were arrested after obtaining due judicial approvals," noting that "they were seized with telephone devices and records documenting their usurious acts and their bargaining with the victims."
The Federal Intelligence and Investigation Agency confirmed “the continuation of its operations targeting anyone who dares to tamper with the security of citizens and exploit their living conditions, and that it will remain an impenetrable bulwark and a watchful eye to protect them from crime gangs under their various names.”
This morning (Monday), the Israeli authorities began demolishing the homes of 80 families in the village of Al-Dahiya in the Negev region.
The Palestinian News and Information Agency (Wafa) reported today that the demolition targeted the homes of a Palestinian family called Abu Wadi, in a move that threatens to displace hundreds of residents, amid fears that dozens of families will lose their homes and lands.
She pointed out that the demolition operations came after the Central Court in Beersheba rejected a request to freeze their implementation, which paved the way for the implementation of demolition decisions affecting homes and buildings in the village.
Previous reports indicated that there were demolition orders targeting about 60 houses in the village, while they are inhabited by approximately 300 family members, including children and the elderly.
Demolition operations have escalated significantly in recent years, affecting dozens of homes and facilities in Rahat and other towns and villages in the Negev.
According to the agency: “A large proportion of demolitions are concentrated in deprived Arab villages, whose residents face repeated demolition orders under the pretext of building without a permit, in light of Israel’s lack of recognition of these villages and the absence of plans that allow for the regulation of construction in them.”
According to the agency: “Reports estimate that tens of thousands of Arab citizens in the Negev live in unrecognized villages and face harsh conditions in the areas of housing, infrastructure, and services.”
The policy of demolishing homes is not limited to the Negev, as Arab towns in various regions of the country are facing a chronic planning and housing crisis, according to the agency.
