Archive | 2014

How Haider al-Abadi became PM

By Ali Hashem for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The 48 hours preceding the Aug. 11 appointment of Haider al-Abadi as Iraq’s prime minister-designate were decisive. Efforts to convince a defiant Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to resign were at their peak, […]

IS "Profits from Oil Sales"

By John Lee. According to a report from Reuters, Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL) militants fighting in Iraq are selling oil from oilfields and refineries they control to local communities and smugglers, augmenting their existing ample finances. It is understood that at least some of the oil is used to fuel a power plant they […]

KRG Requests Heavy Weapons

By Patrick M Schmidt. In an interview with BBC, Masrour Barzani (pictured), the Head of the Kurdish Security Council, has requested that the international community supply Kurdish security forces with heavy weaponry. Barzani once again emphasized that there was no need for foreign military intervention with ground troops. “We need more modern weaponry. We need […]

Kurds Announce International Military Support

By Patrick M Schmidt. Kurdish security forces have announced that a military airport will open in Erbil that will be the receiving point for international military assistance to the regional government. Iraqi, Kurdish and American forces will jointly operate the airbase. While the Kurdish security forces have already received weapons from the United States, they […]

Turkey Encourages US to Lift Ban on Kurdish Oil

By Patrick M. Schmidt. In statements made to the Financial Times, Turkish officials have encouraged the United States to allow American businesses to import Kurdish oil. They argued that the United States should support the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) economically as Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, ISIS) has been able to directly […]

Maliki Steps Aside for New PM

By Laith Hammoudi. This article was originally published by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, iwpr.net, and it is reproduced by Iraq Business News with permission. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News Nuri al-Malik, prime minister of Iraq for the last […]

Video: Maliki gives up PM Job

From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Nouri al-Maliki has in a television address announced his decision to step down as Iraq's prime minister and endorsed Haider al-Abadi as his successor. He said his decision was aimed at preserving the […]

Maliki Quits as PM in Favour of Abadi

By John Lee. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has finally bowed to pressure and stepped aside to make way for Haider al-Abadi [Haydar al-Abbadi], who has been asked by Iraq's president to form a government. Appearing on state TV flanked by Mr Abadi and other Shia politicians, Mr Maliki said: "I announce before you today, to […]

Urgent Appeal to Help Refugees

British Charity Makes Urgent Appeal to Help Refugees Fleeing Islamic State A British-run charity has launched an emergency appeal to help the many hundreds of thousands of people forced from their homes by the Islamic State (IS) fighters in Iraq. The AMAR International Charitable Foundation is one of the only organisations offering help to families […]

Video: Col. Tim Collins talks Iraq Strategy

From CNN. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Col. Tim Collins, Former British Army Commander, speaks with CNN's Hala Gorani about the chaos in Iraq: