By Patrick Schmidt. The Iraqi government has announced that security forces have reclaimed the K3 Refinery in Haditha. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) had occupied the facility and expelled its staff from the area. Security officials announced that they had killed a number of militants and were now inspecting the facility […]
By John Lee. The Canadian government has confirmed that they have two cargo planes operational to assist in the transfer of arms and supplies to Iraqi Kurdish forces. Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird (pictured) went as far as to endorse US air strikes against the "brutal" ISIS: “Canada supports all efforts, including United States supply drops […]
By John Lee. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has recently given an interview with Rudaw English discussing his hopes for a new Iraqi government that can improve the relations between Baghdad and the Kurdish Regional Government. Despite a joint Kurdish--Iraq security operation to re-take Mosul dam with US air cover (initially reported as being solely Kurdish) […]
By John Lee. The Italian government has joined Germany and France in saying they are preparing to send arms and other assistance to both Kurdish aligned forces and the federal government of Iraq in Baghdad. The move follows a visit to Iraq by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who announced on his return that Italy […]
By John Lee. French President Francois Hollande has called for an international conference to discuss new strategies to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). It is not the first time such an idea has been discussed, with counter-terrorism expert David Kilcullen suggesting a repeat of the WW2 ARCADIA conference, only this time aimed […]
By Patrick Schmidt. The Baghdad local government has announced the opening of refugee camps in Al-Nahrawan for those who are fleeing the violence of the Islamic State (IS) in the north. The complex cost $4.3 million dollars and can house up to 1,000 families with facilities including schools, hospitals, shops, and recreational facilities. "The complex […]
By Patrick Schmidt. The United States government has approved a $500 million program that would assist and train Iraqi pilots. The funding is directed toward helping the Iraqi Air Force mobilize its American-made rotary wing aircraft, including the Bell 407, OH-58, and Huey II. The Iraqi government made the request for support at the end […]
By Patrick Schmidt. On Monday, Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) announced that it will invest $4.9 billion in the Zubair oil field project. The investment will help establish the facilities needed to launch the project and help Zubair reach its potential of over 800,000 barrel per day production. KOGAS have a 23% stake in the Zubair […]
By Robert Tollast. Iraq Energy Institute Director and Brookings Fellow Luay al-Khatteeb (pictured) has written a biography piece for Haider-al Abadi for The Huffington Post. Al-Khatteeb outlines some of the huge challenges Abadi faces, but notes that from 24 years of knowing PM Abadi, the new Iraqi premier is well suited to take on the momentous […]
By John Lee. The United States is now far more open to Iraqi requests for increased military support to fight ISIS, The Wall Street Journal reports. Previously, initiatives to sell arms and rapidly transfer foreign military sales such as F-16s and Hellfire missiles have been slowed by concerns in Congress regarding Nouri-al Maliki's authoritarian style of leadership. […]
By John Lee. Thousands of fighters from as many as 25 pro-government tribes have launched a coordinated offensive against ISIS fighters in the Western Iraqi province of al-Anbar. The leader of these "Sahwa" fighters, Sheikh Abdel Jabbar Abu Risha, announced that the offensive was not related to Maliki stepping down and had been planned for […]
By John Lee. British Prime Minister David Cameron has been defending his case that the UK should expand its role in the current crisis in Iraq. He argued that the world was increasingly interconnected, ISIS were a unique and particularly extreme terror threat and that they will pose a threat to Europe if allowed to […]
