By Shelly Kittleson for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The road to the front line runs close to the Syrian border, through Yazidi towns once occupied by the Islamic State (IS) and bombarded by airstrikes. Peshmerga fighters allied with various other […]
By John Lee. Four former Blackwater guards have been given long prison sentences over the killing of 14 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad's Nisoor Square in 2007. Nicholas Slatten received a life sentence for first-degree murder, while Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard were all sentenced to 30 years on multiple counts of manslaughter, attempted […]
The United Nations agency mandated with protecting heritage sites worldwide today denounced further destruction at the archaeological site of Nimrud in Iraq, calling the deliberate damage of culture a "war crime" and pledging to do everything possible to fight it. "I condemn this mad, destructive act that accentuates the horror of the situation. It confirms […]
Shell Iraq staff dug deep into their own pockets to raise money for the AMAR International Charitable Foundation. They collected almost £10,000 ($14,700), which Shell management generously agreed to double. The photo from Khanke IDP camp near Dohuk today show AMAR staff distributing essential supplies for babies and young children which were bought with some […]
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Diyala province is on the border with Iran, and Iranian influence is evident. The Popular Mobilization Force and Shia militias are the real power here. Some analysts fear that the victory over ISIL […]
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Iraqi authorities to investigate death threats against Reuters' bureau chief in Baghdad and ensure that journalists are able to work in Iraq without fear of reprisal. Ned Parker was forced to flee Iraq following death threats, Reuters reported on Saturday. "Threats aimed at silencing journalists, no […]
From AFP. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Monday that he will use a visit to the United States to seek increased air support and arms deliveries to aid Baghdad's battle against jihadists.
By John Lee. Islamic State militants (IS, ISIS, ISIL) breached the security perimeter around Baiji [Beiji, Bayji) refinery on Monday, but were repelled by security forces and coalition airstrikes. The 20-square-kilometer site was under siege for five months last summer, until its liberation in November. According to Reuters, provincial council member Khazaal Hammad said the […]
By John Lee. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi (pictured) has "[sent] more than 300 officers in the ministry of Defense into retirement. This comes within a plan to reorganize the hierarchy of the Iraqi Army and make it more active and efficient to confront the dangers that face Iraq and to protect its national security. " […]
By John Lee. Reuters' bureau chief in Baghdad has left Iraq after he was threatened on Facebook and denounced by a satellite news channel belonging to a Shiite paramilitary group. Journalist Ned Parker has previously detailed lynching and looting in Tikrit, following the city's liberation from the Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL). In addition to […]
By John Lee. Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi chaired a meeting of the ministerial crisis unit on Sunday, attended by the ministers of Oil, Finance, and Planning, and by the governor of the Central Bank and a number of advisors and specialists. Abadi emphasised the importance of stimulating economic growth to compensate for the drop in […]
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Iraq this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bahjat al-Baqir Charitable Institution in Baghdad to advance humanitarian programs in response to the current crisis. The agreement covers cooperation in emergency response distributions, provision of health and psychosocial services, and livelihoods programming. The organizations will also collaborate on […]
