Category: Iraq

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Arab News Iraq Saudi Arabia

Iraq condemns latest attack on Saudi

Iraq condemns latest attack on Saudi

Iraq on Sunday condemned the latest attacks that targeted energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said in a statement…reports Asian Lite News

The ministry “reiterated its stance calling for the adoption of dialogue to end these actions between the parties to the conflict, as the dialogue ensures mechanisms for all parties to avoid more losses”, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying.

Earlier in the day, Yemen’s Houthi militia claimed responsibility for its overnight attacks targeting vital energy facilities, including Aramco oil facilities, in several cities in Saudi Arabia.

ALSO READ: Antonio voices concern over missile attack in Iraq’s Erbil

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of the northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the following year to support the Yemeni government.

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Arab News Iraq News

Antonio voices concern over missile attack in Iraq’s Erbil

Antonio voices concern over missile attack in Iraq's Erbil

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply concerned about Sunday’s missile attack in Erbil in Iraq, said Farhan Haq, his deputy spokesman, on Tuesday…reports Asian Lite News

The attack came at a critical moment for Iraq’s path to peace and stability. The secretary-general renewed his call to all concerned sides to exercise restraint and avoid escalation, said the spokesman, Xinhua news agency reported.

Guterres urged Iraq’s partners to support Iraqi efforts to advance regional peace and security in accordance with the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and good neighbourly relations, said Haq.

ALSO READ: Antonio expressed alarm at continued airstrikes in Yemen

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Sunday confirmed that it launched the attack on what it said was an Israeli intelligence base in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region. The operation was in response to an Israeli airstrike on the Syrian capital of Damascus on March 7, in which two IRGC officers were killed, the IRGC said in a statement.

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Dubai Iraq UAE News

UAE condemns missile attack on Erbil

UAE FLAG

The UAE has strongly condemned the ballistic missile attack on Erbil, in Iraqi Kurdistan…reports Asian Lite News

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) in a statement last night expressed the UAE’s strong condemnation and denunciation of the attacks that are aimed to destabilise Iraq in violation of the principles of international law.

ALSO READ: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards hit Mossad centres in Iraq with missiles

The Ministry affirmed the UAE’s solidarity with Iraq in all the measures it takes to ensure its security, stability and sovereignty.

The statement also affirmed the UAE’s standing with Iraq in confronting terrorism and underlined the UAE’s keenness on ensuring the security and stability of the country. (WAM)

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Arab News Iraq News

Iraq summons Iranian envoy in protest against Erbil missile attack

Iraq summons Iranian envoy in protest against Erbil missile attack

The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Iranian Ambassador to the country to protest against Tehran’s ballistic missile attack on the semi-autonomous Kurdish region’s capital Erbil…reports Asian Lite News

The attack has “caused damage to civilian facilities and homes of citizens, in addition to spreading fear among the residents of those areas”, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying in a statement.

The Ministry reiterated its “condemnation of the flagrant violation” of the sovereignty and territory of Iraq, stressing that such attacks will cast a shadow over the regional situation and make it more complicated.

The Kurdistan Regional Government has said 12 long-range ballistic missiles were fired at 1 a.m. on Sunday from the east outside Iraqi borders toward a new building of the US Consulate in Erbil and the surrounding residential areas, leaving one civilian injured.

ALSO READ: Iran strikes Iraq, says target was Israel

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Sunday claimed the missile attack on an Israeli base in Erbil, saying the move came in response to an Israeli airstrike on Syria’s capital Damascus on March 7, in which two IRGC officers were killed.

The attack prompted the Iraqi Ministerial Council for National Security to issue a statement demanding “frank and clear explanations” from the Iranian side.

The Council, headed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, stressed Iraq’s constant rejection of settling scores between countries and entities by violating Iraq’s sovereignty, noting its lands cannot be used to attack neighbouring countries.

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Arab News Iraq News

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards hit Mossad centres in Iraq with missiles

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in a statement confirmed that it targeted the Israeli centres in Erbil with precision-guided missiles

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in a statement confirmed that it targeted the Israeli centres in Erbil with precision-guided missiles, Mehr News reported…repoerts Asian Lite News

Referring to the targeting of the Mossad training centres in Erbil by precision-guided missiles, the IRGC General Public Relations in a statement stressed that the repetition of any evil act of the Zionists will face harsh, decisive and destructive responses.

“Following the recent crimes of the Zionist regime and the previous announcement that the crimes and evil acts of this regime will not go unanswered, last night, the strategic centre for conspiracy and evil acts of the Zionists was targeted with precision-guided missiles of the IRGC”.

Iraqi media on early Sunday reported that Washington’s new consulate building and two advanced training centres run by the Zionist regime’s spy agency, Mossad, in Erbil have been targeted in the missile attack, Mehr News reported.

ALSO READ: Borrell: Pause needed in Iran nuke talks

Earlier on Wednesday, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) vowed to avenge the martyrdom of two of its advisors at the hands of the Israeli regime during a recent attack on the countryside of the Syrian capital of Damascus.

“Undoubtedly, the Zionist regime will pay the price of this atrocity,” the IRGC’s Public Relations Office said in a statement.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards hit Mossad centres in Iraq with missiles.

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Arab News Iraq News

Lebanon returns 337 ancient artifacts to Iraq

Lebanon returns 337 ancient artifacts to Iraq

Lebanon’s Culture Ministry has handed over to Iraq 337 ancient artifacts that had been on display in a private Lebanese museum for years, the National News Agency (NNA) reported…reports Asian Lite News

Culture Minister Mohammad Mortada on Sunday returned the items, which include clay tablets, to Iraqi Ambassador to Lebanon, Haider Shyaa Al-Barrak during a ceremony held at the National Museum of Beirut, NNA said.

ALSO READ: UNSC calls for normal functioning of government in Lebanon

“We are celebrating the handing over of 337 artifacts that are of different eras of civilisations in Mesopotamia,” Al-Barrak said at the ceremony.

Many of Iraq’s antiquities were smuggled abroad during decades of war in the country, Xinhua news agency reported.

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-Top News Arab News Iraq

Boycott threat from Iraqi parties ahead of parliament vote for President

A Kurdish political party and a Sunni political alliance have decided to boycott the Parliament session slated for Monday to elect a new President for the country, threatening to postpone the session…reports Asian Lite News

“To complete the ongoing consultations and dialogues between the political blocs, we decided not to attend the session of the Council of Representatives (Parliament) for Monday,” the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), headed by the Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, who won 33 seats in the October 10 elections, said in a statement.

A Sunni political group, named al-Siyada Alliance, headed by businessman Khamis al-Khanjar, said in a separate statement that they have decided not to participate in the Council of Representatives session to support dialogue among political parties.

On February 5, the Sadrist Movement, loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, which won 73 seats out of 329 seats, also decided to boycott Monday’s Parliament session, Xinhua news agency reported.

The boycott from the three political groups for the Parliament session threatens to postpone the session until further notice.

The boycott also came after the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court decided to suspend the KDP’s nomination of Hoshyar Zebari for the presidency until a corruption lawsuit against him is resolved.

ALSO READ: Iraq, Saudi discuss Iranian-Saudi talks in Baghdad

On January 31, the Iraqi Parliament announced the names of 25 candidates for the presidential election scheduled for February 7, including incumbent President Barham Salih, who represents the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, former Foreign Minister and Finance Minister Zebari from the KDP, and Rizgar Mohammed Amin, former Chief Judge of the Iraqi Special Tribunal that organised the trial of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

According to the Iraqi constitution, lawmakers should elect a new Iraqi President from the candidates by a two-thirds majority of its members, and the President will be limited to serving two four-year terms.

Once elected, the new President will ask the largest parliamentary alliance to name a Prime Minister-designate to form a government within 30 days.

On October 10, 2021, Iraq held the fifth parliamentary election, where Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s Sadrist Movement emerged as the biggest winner with 73 out of the 329 seats.

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-Top News Iraq Saudi Arabia

Iraq, Saudi discuss Iranian-Saudi talks in Baghdad

Fuad Hussein

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein has held a phone talk with Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to discuss delays of the talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia in Baghdad…reports Asian Lite News


During the phone call, the two ministers discussed issues related to the security and stability of the region and the reasons for the delay in holding the fifth round of Saudi-Iranian talks, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry on Sunday said in a statement.

“Iraqi government will make every effort and invest all its relations to create an appropriate opportunity for the understanding between Tehran and Riyadh,” Hussein was quoted as saying by the statement.

In a phone call with the Iraqi Minister on Saturday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi praised Iraq’s efforts to bring closer views and enhance the region’s security and stability, referring to Baghdad’s sponsorship of the negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Prince-Faisal


Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic ties with Iran in January 2016 after protests were held outside its embassy in the Iranian capital in reaction to the kingdom’s execution of a senior Shiite cleric, Xinhua news agency reported.

However, Iranian-Saudi ties, seen as essential to the developments in the Gulf, have shown signs of detente since direct talks between the two sides resumed in April 2021 after a long pause.

Iraq, acting as the mediator, has hosted rounds of talks between the delegations of the two regional powers.

ALSO READ: Raisi praise Iraq’s efforts on Iran-Saudi negotiation

Recently, Iran-backed Houthi rebels had carried out attacks with missiles and armed drones on the targets in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Following this, the Saudi-led Coalition has launched air raids on Yemenis targets hosting Houthi rebels.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition has intervened in the Yemeni war since March 2015, aiming to support the Yemeni government led by President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi who was forced into exile after the Houthi rebels took over most northern provinces, including the Yemeni capital of Sanaa in 2014.

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Arab News Iraq News

Raisi praise Iraq’s efforts on Iran-Saudi negotiation

Irans-President-Ebrahim-Raisi-Photo-by-Ahmad-Halabisaz_Xinhua_IANS

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi praised Iraq’s effort to enhance the region’s security and stability, referring to Baghdad’s sponsorship of the rounds of negotiations between Tehran and Riyadh…reports Asian Lite News

Raisi made the remarks in a phone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, and thanked the the latter’s efforts for hosting talks between Tehran and Riyadh, Xinhua news agency reported.

A strong and cohesive government and a united society in Iraq have always been emphasized by the Islamic republic, he added.

The Iranian President noted that his country is ready for further talks with Saudi Arabia if Riyadh is “willing to continue the talks in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect”.

Referring to regional security and stability, Raisi noted that problems of the region can be solved in case the extra-regional powers stop intervention in the regional affairs.

He also expressed hope that the Iraqi government would be able to take the lead in a regional initiative to lift the siege on the Yemeni people.

ALSO READ: Raisi Iran’s will for agreement in Vienna proven

For his part, al-Kadhimi said it’s important to initiate efforts to bring views in regional affairs closer, and to broaden bilateral cooperation and coordination in various fields and at all levels.

The Prime Minister described the relations between Iraq and Iran as “distinguished, and Iraq is looking forward to expanding these relations”.

The call came a day after Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein discussed with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian the efforts to hold the fifth round of talks in Baghdad.

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Arab News COVID-19 Iraq

Hussein tests positive for Covid-19

Hussein tests positive for Covid-19

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein has been tested positive for Covid-19, but “is recovering and will continue his work soon.”…reports Asian Lite News

“We confirm that the minister’s health condition is good, and he is recovering, and he will continue his work and activities soon,” Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement by the ministry’s spokesman Ahmed al-Sahaf.

The statement came in response to media reports that Hussein did not participate in the consultative meeting of foreign ministers of the Arab League in Kuwait because of his infection with coronavirus.

The Iraqi health ministry reported on Sunday 5,582 new coronavirus cases, raising the nationwide caseload to 2,203,365.

ALSO READ: Iran reports 21,996 new Covid cases

It also reported 15 new deaths, bringing the death toll from the virus to 24,376, while the total recoveries in Iraq climbed by 5,657 to 2,104,993.

A total of 17,395,408 tests have been carried out in Iraq since the outbreak of the disease in 2020, with 20,933 done during the day, the ministry said.

A total of 35,884 people were vaccinated against Covid-19 in the past 24 hours across the country, bringing the total number of doses administered to 9,244,037, it added.