Iraqi intelligence arrests suspect in killing of senior officer

DHI QAR — The Iraqi Federal Intelligence Investigations Agency announced on Thursday the arrest of a suspect accused of killing Brig. Gen. Ali Al-Halfi, who was assassinated over two years ago in Dhi Qar governorate.

In a statement, the agency said, “In a high-level operation based on precise intelligence and in coordination with Dhi Qar Police, anti-terrorism units of the Federal Intelligence Agency arrested the suspect in the killing of Brig. Gen. Ali Al-Halfi.”

The arrest was carried out under a judicial warrant in accordance with Article 4 of the Counterterrorism Law. The agency confirmed that the suspect has been referred to the relevant investigative authorities to face legal proceedings.

Al-Halfi, the director of intelligence for the Sumaria Operations Command, was assassinated in April 2022 while attempting to mediate and resolve a tribal dispute in the Shatra district, north of Dhi Qar governorate.

This is not the first time authorities have announced arrests related to the case. In the aftermath of the assassination, several suspects were reportedly detained, though members of the Al-Halaf tribe, to which the officer belonged, insisted the main perpetrator remained at large. Investigations into the case have been ongoing, with authorities promising to bring those responsible to justice.