Iraq Dismisses Four Interior Ministry Officers Over US Flag Incident
Iraq’s Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces’ Office has dismissed four Interior Ministry officers and ordered an investigative committee to be formed to examine alleged negligence and shortcomings in their security duties, following an incident in which members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) were allowed to insult the US flag during a Sovereignty Day celebration.
According to a document issued by the Administrative Affairs and Follow-up Secretariat at the Commander-in-Chief’s Office and signed by its director, General Abdul Amir Al-Shammari, the dismissed officers include Brigadier Dawood Salman Dawood, commander of the Second Security Area; Brigadier Riyadh Jizan Rasn Salloum of the Baghdad Rusafa Police Command; Colonel Dhul-Fiqar Awda Kitab, commander of the Fifth Rusafa Emergency Regiment; and Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Saleh Mahidi, the regiment’s intelligence officer.
The document stated that the measures were taken over the officers’ alleged failure to perform their duties and their allowing PMF members to insult the US flag during the Sovereignty Day parade. The incident was described as damaging to international relations.
The Commander-in-Chief also instructed Baghdad’s Rusafa Police to strengthen field presence and monitoring during demonstrations, celebrations, and public events.
On October 4, Sabah Al-Numan, spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, announced the arrest of those involved in the incident concerning the US flag during the Sovereignty Day celebration.
