Hundreds of families to return to Al-Qaeda stronghold in Iraq

Shafaq News / A government official in Diyala announced on Monday the completion of the necessary measures to return hundreds of displaced families to the southeastern regions of Baqubah, which were former strongholds of Al-Qaeda.

 The director of Buhriz district, 7 km south of Baqubah, Nizar al-Lahibi, told Shafaq News  agency that approvals were obtained to return the four Bani Zaid villages, which were displaced from the areas between Buhriz and Canaan, southeast of Baqubah, during the threats of Al Qaeda in 2006.

Al-Lahibi announced the return of 118 families this weekend as a first batch, followed by other batches gradually in accordance with security and administrative plans.

In addition, a former member of the Council of Buhriz, who preferred to stay anonymous, warned of this return, considering that the areas south of Buhriz are still not prepared for the security of the return of the displaced despite the spread of security points.

It is noteworthy that Buhriz district, south of Baqubah, is considered one of the security hotspots and has been witnessing continuous attacks for several years. It was the largest stronghold of al-Qaeda and ISIS in recent years.