Philippines to deport Iraqi who developed missiles for Hamas terror group

The Philippines government on Monday said they would deport an Iraqi citizen who aided the Hamas terror group by developing missiles to attack Israel.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – The Philippines government on Monday said they would deport an Iraqi citizen who aided the Hamas terror group by developing missiles to attack Israel.

According to authorities in the Philippines, Iraq had sent a tip to head of the Philippines National Police Ronald dela Rosa who was made aware of Hamas member Taja Mohammad Al Jabori’s presence in the country.

“He’s an illegal alien, his visa is expired, so he has to be deported right away,” Rosa said.

“[Jabori] admitted being a member of Hamas,” the Police chief added. “He’s a chemist and has been responsible for improving the rocket technology of Hamas in firing their missiles from their area toward the other side, for Israel.”

Jabori, who had spent most of his time in Manila and neighboring areas, reportedly told police that he did not plan to “engage in terror-related activity in the country,” but Rosa said the reason for the Hamas terrorist’s presence in the country remains unclear.

The Iraqi citizen had arrived in the country in 2017, authorities said, as the Islamic State (IS) began a violent campaign against government troops for control of the southern Philippines city of Marawi.

Marawi, which has a predominantly Muslim population, was overrun by the Maute militants last May.

The occupation led to Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte imposing martial law on the entire island of Mindanao.

Since the IS-linked group’s occupation of Marawi, 562 militants, 128 government troops, and 45 civilians have been killed while over 467,000 people have been displaced.