On Thursday, Qasim Al-Araji, the Iraqi National Security Advisor, underscored the importance of international assistance to Iraq in the field of combating drugs, which presents a new challenge no less significant than the challenge of terrorism.
As reported by “Alsumaria News,” the official statement from the office of the National Security Advisor noted that Al-Araji received the Australian Ambassador to Baghdad, Paula Ganly, during which he emphasized the importance of international assistance to Iraq in combating drugs.
The statement by the Iraqi National Security Advisor highlighted that the meeting with Paula Ganly discussed the latest developments in political and security situations on both the international and regional fronts.
One focal point was the situation at the Syrian Al-Hol camp, where Qasim Al-Araji urged nations to repatriate their citizens from the camp as a step toward its resolution.
During the meeting, they also explored avenues for enhancing cooperation in counterterrorism and anti-drug efforts between Iraq and the Australian Ambassador to his country.
He affirmed that Iraq has gained significant experience during its war against terrorism.
In a related context, the Iraqi Intelligence Agency, on the 22nd of last month, managed to arrest 404 terrorists, drug traffickers, and users within a span of one week.
According to statistics released by the Iraqi Intelligence Agency, the total number of terrorist elements apprehended during the period from July 13th to 20th reached 86 terrorists. The arrest operations also included 318 drug traffickers and users.
It’s noteworthy that the Al-Hol camp in the Syrian Hassakeh countryside lies close to the Iraqi border, and it falls under the control of the U.S. Army and the “SDF” forces allied with it.
The Al-Hol camp currently houses a total of 56,196 individuals, mostly women and children, comprising 15,331 families.
These families include Iraqis, Syrians, foreign women, and children affiliated with the proscribed terrorist organization “ISIS” (banned in Russia and several other countries). The foreign contingent comprises 8,211 individuals within 2,391 families, representing 54 nationalities.
Due to the ISIS terrorist organization’s control over provinces such as Nineveh, Salah al-Din, parts of Kirkuk and Diyala, and Anbar in 2014, over 5 million Iraqis were forced to flee their homes.
