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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Iraq's parliament has decided to hold a new session on February 7 to elect the country's President
Iraq’s parliament has decided to hold a new session on February 7 to elect the country’s President…reports Asian Lite News
The decision was made after a meeting between Parliamentary Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi and his two deputies, during which they agreed to hold another parliamentary session to continue constitutional processes toward forming a new government, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement issued by the parliament.
The meeting also decided to announce the names of the candidates who are eligible to run for Iraqi president on January 31, it said.
Local media reports said that the most prominent presidential candidates include incumbent President Barham Salih, who is running for the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and former Foreign Minister and Finance Minister Hoshyar Zebari, who is running for the Kurdistan Democratic Party.
On October 10, 2021, Iraq held the fifth parliamentary elections since the 2003 US-led invasion, with Shi’ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr becoming the biggest winner with 73 of 329 seats.
Iraq’s Supreme Court ratified the election results in later December after rejecting the appeals from the Iran-backed Shi’ite factions which alleged fraud in the elections.
The Iraqi President is elected by the Council of Representatives, Iraq’s parliament, by a two-thirds majority, and is limited to 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.
Covid in Iraq
The Iraqi Ministry of Health reported 8,107 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, the highest daily count so far in 2022, raising the nationwide caseload to 2,175,793.
It also reported 10 new deaths, bringing the death toll from the virus to 24,319, while the total recoveries in Iraq climbed by 3,154 to 2,087,357, Xinhua news agency quoted the ministry as saying.
Meanwhile, 53,590 people got vaccinated against Covid-19 in a period of 24 hours, bringing the total number of doses administered in the country to 9,167,113.
Since the start of 2022, the ministry has reported continued increases in Covid-19 infections in Iraq.
Saudi-Iraq
Recently, Saudi Arabia and Iraq had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to link the power grids of the two countries.
The deal was inked by Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud Al Saud and Iraqi Minister of Electricity Adel Karim, on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported citing the official Saudi Press.
Saudi, Iraq ink deal to link power grids
It aims to share the electricity-generating reserves and exchange electricity between the two countries for emergency use in case of a power cut, it said.
The deal will also accelerate the export and import of electricity between the two sides or with other Arab countries.
The MoU is the latest of many cooperation initiatives between the two countries that reflect the major progress made in the bilateral ties in recent years.
Iraq tightens security measures on border with Syria after Islamic State jail break
Iraq has tightened security measures on the border with neighbouring Syria after a jailbreak by Islamic State (IS) terrorists in a Kurdish-controlled prison located in the latter country’s Hasakah province…reports Asian Lite News
On January 20, a group of IS militants escaped from the Sina’a prison in the Gweiran neighbourhood of Hasakah, followed by violent clashes between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and the terror group, reports Xinhua news agency.
“There are directives issued by the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi forces to double the security measures on the Iraqi-Syrian border,” Yahia Rasoul, spokesman of the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, told the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) on Saturday.
The Iraqi security forces are ready to confront any attempt by IS militants to infiltrate Iraqi territory, Rasoul was quoted as saying by INA.
According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the IS militants blew off the gate of the Sina’a prison with a booby-trapped car and an explosive-laden fuel tanker.
It said a number of inmates fled the prison while many Kurdish security members were wounded.
Captured IS militants have repeatedly tried to break free from the prison in Hasakah.
A number of IS militants have been imprisoned by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) following the defeat of the terror group in Hasakah and parts of Deir al-Zour province.
Iraqi Airways, the national carrier of Iraq, has taken delivery of its first out of five A220-300 aircraft from Mirabel, Canada…reports Asian Lite News
Upon entry into service, Iraqi Airways will become one of the first airlines to operate the A220 in the Middle East region.
With the A220, Iraqi Airways will benefit from the aircraft’s exceptional technical, economic and environmental performance. Iraqi Airways’ A220-300 features a modern and highly comfortable dual-class cabin that seats 132 passengers; 12 in business class and 120 in economy class. The state of the art aircraft will play an integral part of Iraqi Airways fleet renewal and modernization plan.
The A220 is the only aircraft purpose-built for the 100-150 seat market and brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines. Featuring a 50% reduced noise footprint and up to 25% lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation aircraft, as well as around 50% lower NOx emissions than industry standards, the A220 is a great aircraft for regional as well as long distance routes operations.
As of the end of November 2021, over 180 A220s had been delivered to 13 operators, from Asia, North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East – proving the great versatility of Airbus’ new generation single-aisle family member.
The Iraqi Ministry of Planning said that the country’s population reached 41.19 million in 2021…reports Asian Lite News
The total population is made up of about 51 percent of men and about 49 percent of women, while 69.9 percent of the population is estimated to live in urban areas and 30.1 percent in rural areas, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying in a statement.
The numbers were sourced from the calculations done by the ministry’s Central Statistical Organization in accordance with international statistical standards, the statement noted.
The Ministry announced last year that the country’s population had exceeded 40.15 million by the end of 2020, while the population in 2019 exceeded 39 million.
A senior Iraqi government official and head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) mission in Iraq discussed on Sunday NATO’s support for Iraqi forces and ways to enhance stability in the region…reports Asian Lite News
Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji and head of NATO’s Mission in Iraq, Michael Anker Lollesgaard “discussed ways to enhance security and stability in the region, as well as NATO’s support to Iraq in the field of advice and training for Iraqi forces,” according to a statement from al-Araji’s media office.
Iraq, NATO discuss regional stability
During the meeting, al-Araji said the Iraqi government is responsible for protecting Iraq and keeping it away from any regional conflict, and reiterated “Iraq’s refusal to use its lands, airspace and waters as a launching pad for any aggression against any country,” Xinhua news agency reported.
The meeting came as the coalition forces led by the United States are withdrawing from Iraq, and the task of the remaining foreign soldiers’ mission is shifting to giving advice, help, and empowerment to Iraqi security forces.
On January 5, 2020, the Iraqi parliament passed a resolution requiring the government to end the presence of foreign forces in the country.
In July this year, the United States and Iraq held a session of strategic dialogue, during which the two countries agreed on withdrawing all US combat troops from Iraq by December 31.
