Hekim says Anbar tribes made major sacrifices in counterterrorism fight

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Ammar al-Hekim, head of Iraq's Hikma National Movement, said tribes in Anbar province have given many martyrs in the fight against terrorism during a visit to the provincial capital. Speaking at a press conference in Anbar, Hekim said the trip aimed to strengthen social ties and deepen fraternal relations with tribal leaders. Hekim stressed that families of the fallen should receive all their entitlements despite financial difficulties, and pointed to obstacles preventing that from happening. He did not specify which families or outline the obstacles in detail. He also referred to Prime Minister Ali Zidani's recent visit to Washington, saying such contacts reflect the government's effort to build strategic relations in Iraq's interest. He did not provide further details on the visit's outcomes. Hekim said the country is facing liquidity problems after oil exports were disrupted by international and regional conditions, without elaborating on the duration or scale of the disruption. No further details were immediately available.