By Simon Kent. Germany have resumed arms shipments to the Kurdish Peshmerga after they were suspended following allegations that some of the arms had been seen on the black market. The latest shipment comes after the Kurdish Regional Government completed an investigation into the allegations and pledged that it would not happen again. Germany has […]
By Simon Kent. According to Iraqi police sources, members of the self declared "Islamic State" have shelled a refugee camp with mortar fire in northern Salahaddin, killing 12 people and injuring dozens. The camp, most likely populated by Sunni refugees (the very people IS claims to protect) was attacked from positions in the nearby town […]
By Simon Kent. Aircraft from the international Coalition against the self declared Islamic State have struck seven targets in Iraq, according to officials from Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve. This is half the number of strikes that occurred in Syria over a roughly 24 hour period, suggesting a paucity of targets in Iraq […]
By Saad Salloum for Al Monitor. Any opinions here are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The Shabak community is one of the ethnic minorities in Iraq, speaking a language distinct from Arabic and Kurdish. Its members live on the Ninevah plains with other religious minorities […]
By Simon Kent. Amnesty International, the world-wide human rights organization, has published a report warning of imminent humanitarian crisis as the offensive to liberate Mosul from the self declared Islamic State gathers momentum. The organization also warned the current humanitarian emergency, which has seen at least 3 million Iraqis displaced from their homes, is severely […]
By Simon Kent. Iraq's Maysan province, which borders Iran, has opened a new gas processing facility to treat associated gas from the Fakka and Bazargan fields. A statement from Iraq's Ministry of Oil did not say how much gas was being processed, but the gas had previously been flared and will now be used for power […]
By Simon Kent. Kurdish Peshmerga forces have captured several villages from the self declared Islamic State, near the city of Mosul, the group's last urban stronghold in Iraq. Around 5000 Kurdish fighters participated in the operation, which was backed by Coalition air strikes. IS responded by launching suicide vehicle attacks, but these were not successful. […]
By Simon Kent. US Special Forces, possibly in conjunction with Kurdish commandos, have been involved in a targeted raid near the Iraqi border town of Al Qaim, CNN reports. The target of the raid, intended for capture, was killed during a firefight, according to the Kurdish Security Council. The raiding party were attempting to capture Sami […]
The Kingdom of Norway has contributed an additional US$3 million to UNDP’s Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilization (FFIS), which finances fast-track initiatives in areas liberated from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). With this contribution, Norway has channelled $10.7 million to UNDP's FFIS during 2016. Based on priorities identified by the Government […]
By Simon Kent. Outgoing US commander Lieutenant General Sean MacFarland has given a press conference on the state of the self declared Islamic State and the coming campaign to retake Mosul from group. At the conference, he noted that "the enemy is in retreat on all fronts.” The General noted that 30,000 airstrikes had hit […]
By Omar Sattar for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. BAGHDAD — US Ambassador to Iraq Stuart Jones announced July 21 that the Iraqi government has started withdrawing the $2.7 billion loan secured on June 29. However, the Iraqi parliament had not been briefed on the deal, making […]
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Iraq signed an agreement today in Baghdad to help strengthen the capacity of the Government to detect, investigate and prosecute high-profile and complex corruption cases. The Prime Minister’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Naoufel Al-Hasan, said: “Ending impunity is at the center of our reform […]
