The governor of Karbala announced the thwarting of a joint terrorist plan by ISIS and the Zionist regime to attack Arbaeen pilgrims. The operation was stopped before it was carried out due to close monitoring by Iraqi intelligence forces and the arrest of 22 terrorist elements.
According to the official Iraqi News Agency (WAA), Nasif Jassim Khatabi, the governor of Karbala, announced in a press conference that the “Shaheen” intelligence group in the province, under the direct supervision of the Karbala Investigation Court, successfully carried out a highly secret operation.
According to him, 22 individuals affiliated with the ISIS terrorist group were arrested in this operation who intended to create widespread insecurity by detonating explosives on the routes leading to the holy shrine, attacking security forces and Husseini processions, and even poisoning pilgrims at gathering places.
Khatabi added that one of the scenarios discovered was an attack on a Hussainiya on the Karbala-Najaf road, which was thwarted before it could happen with the cooperation of the Iraqi judicial and security apparatus.
He noted that the detainees confessed to their affiliation with ISIS during interrogation, and investigations show that some of them had direct ties to foreign entities, including the Zionist regime and groups supporting terrorism.
According to recent reports published in Iraqi media, including Al-Sumaria News, the operation to identify and arrest this terrorist network lasted more than two months and was carried out in cooperation with security forces in several Iraqi provinces. Also, during this operation, significant amounts of explosives, electronic equipment, and toxic substances that were to be used in the pilgrims’ drinks and food were discovered and seized. Some Iraqi security sources have said that part of the planning of these attacks was carried out from abroad and using encrypted communication platforms.
According to security experts, the revelation of the simultaneous role of ISIS and the Zionist regime in planning this operation indicates the convergence of their interests in creating instability in Iraq and damaging major religious ceremonies. Studies show that the choice of the time of Arbaeen, due to the presence of millions of pilgrims, provides an opportunity for terrorist groups to send a broad political and psychological message with an attack. The success of the Iraqi security forces in thwarting this plan, in addition to maintaining the security of the pilgrims, has sent a deterrent message to foreign and domestic planners of such terrorist acts.
