By John Lee. A move in cabinet to reform Iraq's controversial debaathification law has been opposed by Sunni ministers. Current laws prevent former Baath Party members from participating in Iraq’s government and public service. The Sunni ministers said the reforms do not go far enough, while the rest of the cabinet approved them. The reforms […]
By John Lee. The Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL) is reported to be exports 100 tankers of crude oil every day from the Hamrin oil fields in southern Kirkuk. The US has previously warned that IS is using oil as a major source of funds. An Iraqi army officer, who declined to be identified, told […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi Cabinet approved a draft law on Tuesday to create a new National Guard. Reuters reports that Sunni political and tribal leaders have billed the move as a way to handle their own security in the fight against the Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL). The National Guard would consist of locally […]
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. The militant activities of the Islamic State (IS) and its counterparts have contributed to the rise of moderate Islam in the Islamic world. The fact is that it is Muslims, of all sects, who have […]
Kurdistan Regional Government’s Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday in Erbil received the Austrian Foreign Minister, Sebastian Kurz and his accompanying delegation, which included the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the European Parliament, the Austrian Ambassador to Iraq and a number of senior officials from the Austrian Foreign Ministry, as well as Iraq’s Ambassador […]
National Overview ISIS fighters mount the largest offensive against Kirkuk since July 2014, seizing control of oil and gas facilities as Peshmerga forces defend outer districts of the provincial capital. Preceded by a considerable build-up of militants in the Hawija and Sharqat areas south west of Kirkuk city, the main thrust of the attack occurred […]
Head of the KRG Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa, today received Ambassador of Armenia to Iraq Mr Karin Gregorian to discuss bilateral ties. In his first visit to the Kurdistan Region, Ambassador Gregorian commended Kurdistan Region for its political and economic developments as well as its culture of peaceful coexistence and religious tolerance. He briefed […]
By John Lee. Production at the Khabbaz oilfield, 20 km southwest of Kirkuk, remained suspended on Monday following severe damage during a weekend attack by Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL) insurgents. Oil Minister Dr. Adel Abdul Mahdi [Adel Abdel Mehdi] (pictured) said there is severe damage to the field, which was recaptured by Kurdish forces on […]
By John Lee. In its full-year results announced on Sunday, Zain Group CEO Scott Gegenheimer (pictured) said the escalation of political instability in Iraq in 2014 saw several million people displaced internally coupled with Zain Iraq enduring frequent temporary network interruptions and associated higher network operational costs: "These exceptional circumstances adversely affected the operation’s financial […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi Ministry of Defence has taken delivery of another consignment of Russian Mi-28NE attack helicopters. The shipment is part of a deal agreed in 2012, and reported to involve 28 Mi-35M and 15 Mi-28NE helicopters. IHS Jane's 360 reports that helicopters from the previous consignments have been seen flying over Baghdad, […]
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. In northern Iraq, Shia militias are being accused of preventing Sunnis from returning to their homes once areas are cleared from ISIL fighters. Kurd and Shia commanders are denying the allegations. Al Jazeera's […]
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Prime Minister Haider al Abadi says militias carrying out killings in Iraq are 'no less dangerous than terrorists'. Sami Zeidan speaks to Sabah Al-Mukhtar, an Iraqi political analyst and president of the Arab […]
