Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, Dec. 25

BAGHDAD -- The hard-won victory in 2017 over the terror group Islamic State (IS) by Iraq is overshadowed by a growing conflict with the Kurds following a controversial independence referendum.

In early 2017, Iraqi forces advanced into the city of Mosul, IS' de facto capital, after grueling fighting with IS militants armed with booby-traps, snipers and suicide bombers. (Iraq-IS-Kurd)

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JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Guatemala's President Jimmy Morales on Monday for deciding to move his country's embassy to Jerusalem.

Morales said in a post on his official Facebook page that he decided to transfer the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem after talking with Netanyahu. (Israel-Guatemala-Jerusalem)

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JERUSALEM -- An Israeli court had extended Monday the custody of a Palestinian girl who became a national Palestinian heroine after she was caught on video kicking Israeli soldiers in her West Bank village.

The Ofer Military Court in the Israeli-occupied West Bank remanded Ahed Tamimi in custody by additional four days. (Israel-Palestinians)

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RIYADH -- Around 20 Saudi Arabian princes and officials accused of corruption were released after accepting financial settlement, local media reported Monday.

Among those released were a former official of the Finance Ministry and a number of businessmen, an advisor to the Saudi government was quoted by the Sabq online news website as saying. (Saudi Arabia-Corruption) Enditem