Leaked Iran spy documents reveal extent of grip on Iraq Ground-breaking documents detailing staggering evidence of Iran’s espionage operations, bribery payments and efforts to expand influence within Iraq have been leaked to the US-based media organisation The Intercept in collaboration with the New York Times. Together they reveal the huge extent of Iran’s grip on […]
By Vera Mironova and Mohammed Hussein, for Foreign Policy. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. With ongoing protests making other investors nervous, Moscow is charging ahead. Despite ongoing protests in Baghdad, which have seen the departure of many foreign diplomats for […]
GardaWorld, a global leader in comprehensive security and risk management, has made its weekly security report available to Iraq Business News readers. Prepared by GardaWorld's Risk Analysis Team in Iraq, this essential report includes short- and medium-term outlooks on the security situation, reports and commentary on recent significant events, and a detailed overview of developments […]
By Harith Hasan, for Carnegie Middle East Center. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. On November 11, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani received Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the representative in Iraq of the United Nations secretary general. Sistani welcomed a reform plan proposed by Plasschaert […]
By John Lee. Iraqi security forces have attacked medical workers for treating protesters since protests began on October 25, 2019, firing on medical workers, tents, and ambulances with teargas and live ammunition, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday. The attacks have left at least one medic dead. “Medics have become another victim of the […]
By Omar Sattar for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Is Iran trying to hijack Iraqi protesters’ demands? In reaction to continuing mass protests that began Oct. 1, the Supreme Judicial Council is reviewing the Iraqi Constitution and will submit proposed amendments to parliament […]
The following is attributable to US State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus: Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo spoke [on Tuesday] with Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abd al-Mahdi. Secretary Pompeo emphasized that peaceful public demonstrations are a fundamental element of all democracies. The Secretary deplored the death toll among the protesters as a result of the […]
By Michael Knights, for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. U.S. Interests and the Unsustainable Status Quo in Iraq The unprecedented protests in Iraq underline the reality that Iraq is slowly failing as a state. […]
By Ali Mamouri for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Despite several proposals to solve the crises in Iraq and in spite of using different tactics such as promises and threats, the Iraqi government is unable to stop the protests and is […]
UNAMI launches dedicated reporting e-mail for human rights violations To further strengthen and expand its fact-finding efforts on human rights violations and abuses, particularly in relation to the ongoing protests, UNAMI has set up a dedicated e-mail address: [email protected]. The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert (pictured): “I encourage anyone […]
By John Lee. Operations have reportedly resumed at Umm Qasr port on Saturday. According to Reuters, all terminals were operating again, having been halted for nearly 10 days by protesters. (Source: Reuters)
By John Lee. On Sunday, the UN issued the following statement on the crisis facing Iraq: Over the past weeks, demonstrations erupted in Baghdad and other governorates in Iraq. Protester demands cover a wide spectrum of issues, including economic growth and employment, reliable public services, prudent and impartial governance, an end to corruption, credible elections […]
