Report: Iraq arrests US mercenary tied to Baghdad airport attack

Iraqi intelligence forces have reportedly taken into custody the perpetrator of a recent rocket attack on the Baghdad International Airport compound, who confessed to his affiliation with the United States.

A security source told Baghdad Today news website on Saturday night that Akram al-Qaysi is currently being interrogated.

In a post on his Twitter account, Ahmad al-Mousavi, of the Fatah (Conquest) Alliance in the Iraqi Parliament, said Qaysi had admitted to his charge of targeting Baghdad airport “upon the orders of those who work for the benefit of the US.”

He revealed that orders have been issued by higher institutions in the country to cover up the issue since it reflects the extent of foreign interference in Iraq’s political crisis and attempts to spark sedition among the Iraqi people.

According to a statement released by the Iraqi military, six rockets struck Baghdad airport early on Friday, damaging two commercial planes but causing no casualties.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi described the incident as an "attempt to defame the country," vowing a "decisive" response to the "dangerous" attack.

Iran, Iraqi groups condemn rocket attack on Baghdad airport

Iran and popular Iraqi groups have condemned a recent rocket attack on the Baghdad airport compound, saying such “suspicious” moves are aimed at destabilizing the Arab country.

Iraqi forces target US spy drone over Saladin

Also on Saturday, Iraqi security sources said they had targeted a US spy drone that was flying over Saladin Province.

The drone had tried to enter the airspace of Samarra city to spy on a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) or Hashd al-Sha’abi, according to the Telegram channel of the Nujaba resistance movement.

Iraqi strikes kill 9 Daesh terrorists

In another development, the Iraqi Air Force F-16 fighter jets carried out a series airstrikes on northeast Diyala Province, killing nine Daesh terrorists.

The militants were behind the January 21 attack on an Iraqi army outpost near the town of al-Udhaim (also known as al-Azim) that left 10 soldiers and an officer dead.

Daesh began a campaign of terror in Iraq in 2014, overrunning vast swathes in lightning attacks.

The PMU played a major role in reinforcing the Iraqi army, which had initially suffered heavy setbacks in the face of Daesh gains.

Iraq declared victory over Daesh in December 2017 after a three-year military campaign, which also had the support of neighboring Iran.

The terror outfit’s remnants, however, keep staging sporadic attacks across Iraq, attempting to regroup and unleash a new era of violence.

Daesh has intensified its attacks in Iraq since January 2020, when the US assassinated top Iranian anti-terror commander General Qassem Soleimani and PMU’s deputy commander, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, near Baghdad airport.

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