Iraq: Security services arrested a senior official in pro-Iranian militias
The Baghdad government arrested several figures in the umbrella organization of Shiite militias "Hashd al-Shaabi" as part of an attempt to centralize weapons in the hands of the state. The arrests took place a few days after the arrest and release of a senior militia official named Abbas al-Yaqubi.
Sources told the Al-Hadath channel today, Monday, that security services in Iraq arrested a senior official in the Shiite militias named Abu Jaafar. According to the sources, he is a member of the general staff of Hashd al-Shaabi, the umbrella organization of the militias. There were also reports of the arrest of three other members of the militias.
An Iraqi security official confirmed to the Arab channel "Asharq" that four members of Hashd al-Shaabi were arrested by a joint force of counter-terrorism units and the intelligence apparatus. As of now, the background to the arrests is unclear, but it is apparently related to the activity of the pro-Iranian militias against US forces.
The arrests took place a few days after the arrest and release of a senior militia official named Abbas al-Yaqubi. The latter was arrested on charges of involvement in attacks against American forces in Iraq. Despite this, the country's judicial system acquitted him completely of all charges. He previously served as the head of the intelligence staff of the pro-Iranian militia Al-Nujaba.
Iraq's National Security Advisor, Qasim al-Aboudi, claimed last week that the government continues to implement its plan to centralize weapons in the hands of the state. According to him, Iraqi law does not permit the existence of armed groups that threaten the security of neighboring countries.
