Baghdad command says 11 unlicensed fish ponds filled, river encroachments cleared in Tarmiya

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Baghdad Operations Command said on Tuesday that 11 unlicensed fish ponds were filled in and demolished in the Tarmiya district on the northern outskirts of the capital. The command said the operation also removed encroachments on rivers and irrigation facilities that had been identified in parts of the district. In a statement issued on July 21, the command said the action was carried out as part of efforts to clear encroachments on rivers and irrigation projects. It added that the step aimed to protect the water allocations reserved for farmland and reduce waste. The operation was conducted with the participation of Water Resources Department teams, according to the statement, and was described as a continuation of support tasks provided to state institutions. The command said the work in Tarmiya was part of a broader ongoing campaign in the northern areas of the capital. No further details on additional locations or timelines were immediately available.