The Iraqi Ministry of Interior announced the seizure of five billion Syrian pounds hidden in a truck in Kirkuk Governorate in the north of the country, as part of a specific operation.
The spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, Miqdad Miri, said in a statement: “In a qualitative operation, the detachments of the Control Affairs Department in Kirkuk Governorate seized a sum of money amounting to five billion Syrian pounds hidden in a truck while it was crossing Turklan control in Kirkuk Governorate.” He pointed out that the truck driver and the person who was with him were arrested.
Merry added that this operation came after the formation of a work team under the supervision of the Kirkuk Police Commander and a field presence from the Director of the Individual Security Department, the Director of Kirkuk Crime Control, the Director of National Security, and the Director of Combating Organized Crime.
He explained that the accused were arrested in accordance with Article (281) of the Penal Code and in reference to Article 52 of Banks.
Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Miqdad Miri: In a qualitative operation, detachments of the Control Affairs Department in Kirkuk Governorate (Turklan Control) seized…
Posted byIraqi Ministry of InteriorIn Thursday, January 9, 2025
The United Nations demands the lifting of more sanctions on the Syrian people
Also regarding Syria… The United Nations envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, said before the UN Security Council, “Exemption from US sanctions for transactions with Syrian ruling institutions is welcome, but “much greater work… will inevitably be necessary.”
The United States, Britain, the European Union and other countries imposed severe sanctions on Syria after Assad’s crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2011, which turned into a civil war.
Pedersen told the council on Wednesday: “I welcome the US government’s recent issuance of a new temporary general license, but much greater work in fully addressing sanctions and designations (on the lists) will inevitably be necessary.”
On Monday, the United States issued an exemption from sanctions, known as a “general license,” for transactions with ruling institutions in Syria for a period of six months, in an effort to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid and allow some transactions in the field of energy.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Damascus welcomed the American move and called for the complete lifting of restrictions to support Syria’s recovery.
Earlier, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that the sanctions imposed by the European Union on Syria, which impede the delivery of humanitarian aid and hinder the country’s recovery, may be lifted quickly.
The Russian Ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, criticized the sanctions imposed by the United States and other countries on Syria, and added: “As a result, the Syrian economy is under severe pressure and cannot withstand the challenges facing the country.” Russia was an ally of Assad throughout the war.
Israel’s attacks on Syria
Pedersen said that he seeks to work with the transitional authorities in Syria “on how to develop the emerging ideas and steps, and the mission that has been expressed and initiated so far towards a credible, inclusive political transition.”
He added that attacks on Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be stopped, criticizing Israel specifically.
“Reports of the IDF’s use of live ammunition against civilians, their displacement, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure are also deeply concerning,” Pedersen said.
He added: “Such violations, along with Israeli air strikes in other parts of Syria, which were reported until last week, in Aleppo, may further jeopardize the prospects for an orderly political transition.”
America hints that its forces will remain in Syria to prevent the “return of ISIS”
In turn, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced, on Wednesday, that his country needs to keep its forces in Syria, to prevent ISIS from reshaping itself as a major threat, after the fall of the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad.
Austin said in statements to the Associated Press before leaving office, “American forces are still needed in Syria, especially to ensure the security of detention camps that hold tens of thousands of former ISIS fighters and their family members.”
He added in statements from Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where he traveled to discuss military aid to Ukraine with about 50 partner countries: “I believe that ISIS fighters will return to the mainstream if Syria is left unprotected.”
Austin continued: “I think we still have some work to do in terms of keeping our foot on ISIS’s neck.”
He pointed out that “the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were a good partner. “At some point, it may be absorbed into the Syrian army, and then Syria owns all the (ISIS) detention camps and hopefully will retain control over them, but for now I think we have to protect our interests.”
According to estimates, there are up to 10,000 ISIS members in the camps, about 2,000 of whom are classified as “extremely dangerous.”
There are about 2,000 American soldiers in Syria to confront ISIS, a number significantly higher than the 900 soldiers that officials have said for years is the total number. The soldiers were sent in 2015, after the organization took control of large areas in Syria.
The continued presence of American forces began to be questioned after the fall of the Assad regime, as American forces worked with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces against ISIS, providing cover for the group that Turkey considers affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which it classifies as a “terrorist organization.”
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