Iraq PM visits Counter-Terrorism Service headquarters for first time

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ali Falih Ziyadi on Monday made his first field visit to the headquarters of the Counter-Terrorism Service, according to an official statement. The visit came shortly after Ziyadi was sworn in as prime minister. Ziyadi chaired a meeting at the headquarters attended by the head of the Commander-in-Chief's Office, the head of the Counter-Terrorism Service and a number of senior commanders. During the session, the Counter-Terrorism Service chief delivered a detailed briefing on the progress of ongoing operational tasks, readiness levels and plans to improve performance. According to the statement, the briefing also reviewed a roadmap to expand the service's combat capacity. The visit was intended to assess field readiness and strengthen coordination, it added. Commanders at the meeting shared assessments of their units' recent operations and the challenges they have faced. No further details on specific operations were immediately provided.