On Saturday, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior announced the seizure of 47 drones and 46 projectiles in an abandoned site west of the governorate, likely belonging to one of the armed factions that enjoy broad military influence in those areas.
The security development in Anbar coincides with attacks carried out by armed factions against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which observers believe, with a degree of cautious optimism, that the authorities are serious about putting an end to these attacks.
The Ministry of Interior said, in a statement, “Based on accurate intelligence information, detachments of the Anbar Governorate Police Command were able to seize an abandoned site in the 35th area, which was previously used as a tire repair shop, and found inside it quantities of drones, projectiles, and equipment related to their operation.”
The ministry added, "The inspection resulted in the seizure of 47 drones and 46 projectiles prepared for connection and use with these aircraft, as well as control devices, batteries, equipment, and other related materials in the 35th area in Anbar."
The site was secured and all seized items were seized, while the competent authorities began their investigative and technical procedures to find out the source of these materials and the parties associated with them, and to take the necessary legal measures in accordance with the rules and regulations, according to the statement.
Security sources in the governorate believe that the seized aircraft and materials belong to one of the armed factions loyal to Iran and operating under the umbrella of the Popular Mobilization Forces.
The sources confirm that “the security leaders are seeking to prevent Anbar Governorate from turning into a platform for launching missiles at neighboring countries.”
Anbar Governorate, with its vast area and borders, is linked to three Arab countries: Jordan, Syria, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As a result, the sources confirm that it “represents a strategic priority for the armed factions and Iran, as it was the main corridor for transferring weapons to the regime of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and to the Lebanese Hezbollah.”
According to security information, many parties operate within the governorate. In addition to the official army and police forces, there are forces from local groups and clans, some of which are under the umbrella of the Popular Mobilization Forces. Factions known for their ties to Iran also operate, such as the Hezbollah Brigades, which have three brigades in the Popular Mobilization Forces and are considered the most influential in western Anbar.
The Al-Nujaba Movement, as well as the Sayyid Al-Shuhada Brigades, are also active in Anbar, and sources indicate that they are present in areas near the Iraqi-Syrian border in coordination with other security formations. There is a presence of fighters affiliated with Asaib Ahl al-Haq and the Badr Organization in various areas in the governorate, but they are relatively far from the border with Syria, according to the sources.
The geographic nature of the governorate, represented by extended deserts, rugged valleys, and abandoned military sites, provides an ideal environment for the factions to establish weapons depots and bases for launching and storing drones and missile projectiles, away from the direct control of the state center.
During the Iranian-American war last March, local reports said that forces affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces and the factions left their positions and redeployed away from the border areas.
On August 31, the Anbar Sector Operations Commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces, Qasim Musleh, denied evacuating the Mobilization Forces’ headquarters in Anbar, stressing that the units would continue to perform their security duties normally.
Musleh said, in a statement, that the units of the Anbar Sector Operations Command continue to carry out their duties within the areas of responsibility, with high levels of readiness and preparedness, noting that all headquarters and units are working in accordance with the approved security plans.
Under the chairmanship of a French-Lebanese-Jordanian trio, an international meeting will convene in Paris next Thursday, the purpose of which is to prepare for the postponed conference to support the Lebanese army and security forces. Sources connected to the file indicate that 17 military missions at the level of chiefs of staff and a group of experts are expected to participate.
Three axes of the Paris meeting: Despite the “technical-preliminary” nature of the meeting, the participation of French President Emmanuel Macron, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, and Jordanian King Abdullah II provides it with additional impetus.
France has officially established three related axes for it: the first deals with assessing the general security situation in Lebanon. The second axis is based on providing the opportunity for the Lebanese side to present in detail the needs of its various security forces. The third axis, which is the most important, deals with considering how to best respond to Lebanese military needs.
Seven prisoners were killed as a result of a fire that broke out during riots in a prison in Kobani (Ain al-Arab), which has a Kurdish majority in the far north of Syria, according to what official media reported on Saturday, after violence took place in the city following the killing of a former Kurdish fighter.
