Archive | Security

Video: Shia Militias Gaining Strength in Iraq

From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Shia militias in Iraq have been given backing by the government and as a result are growing bigger and stronger by the day. Many of them recently merged under the banner of the […]

Civilised World Must Cooperate Against Extremism

Sweden’s Minister for Defense, Peter Hultqvist, received Minister Falah Mustafa, Head of KRG Foreign Relations, and his accompanying delegation on Wednesday to exchange views on the latest security developments in the Kurdistan Region and the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Mr. Mustafa briefed the defense minister on latest developments on […]

PM Barzani Receives UK Security Envoy

Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received the British Government's Security Envoy to Kurdistan Region, Lieutenant General Sir Simon Mayall, and his accompanying delegation, which included the British Consul to Kurdistan Region, Angus McKee and a number of British military officers. Lieutenant General Mayall said that the aim of his is to acquire […]

KRG Discusses War Crimes with Amnesty Int'l

Minister Falah Mustafa, Head of the KRG foreign relations and his accompanying delegation visited the Swedish Section of the Amnesty International to discuss human rights violations committed by the terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sahm (ISIS, ISIL, IS). Mr. Mustafa stressed, “At times where our voices were not heard, Amnesty International and […]

Peshmerga Divisions "Hamper War Effort"

By Fazel Hawramy for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Next to a row of abandoned shops, three peshmerga fighters warm themselves around a campfire at the entrance to Sinjar town as their comrades, backed by US-led coalition airstrikes, battle Islamic […]

KRG PM meets Pres Obama's Representative

Kurdistan Regional Government’s Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received General John Allen, Special Envoy of President Obama for the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, and his accompanying delegation, which included his deputy Brett McGurk, who is also the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, the US Ambassador to Iraq […]

Weekly Security Update, 06 - 12 January 2015

National Overview International support for Iraq’s counter-ISIS offensive saw a further rally in the wake of last week’s terrorist attacks in Paris, with EU nations Sweden and Finland joining regional allies in preparing to send direct military training and assistance to Iraq’s fragile national armed forces. Coming shortly after PM Abadi announced that it could […]

Short Term Investment Essential for Long Term Benefit

By John Lee. Delivering the keynote speech to the Al-Kindi Society for Engineers forum -- The Role of Engineering during Iraq's Crisis -- in London at the weekend, Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne (pictured) emphasised that short term investment in Iraqi infrastructure was essential for the long term benefit of the country. Baroness Nicholson, who […]

ICRC: Greater Support Needed for IDPs

At the end of a six-day visit to Iraq, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) vowed to scale up assistance to displaced people and the communities hosting them. President Peter Maurer witnessed the difficult conditions endured by people as a result of ongoing fighting, long periods of displacement, loss of […]

Germany Continues Support to KRI

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, has welcomed Germany’s Defence Minister, Ursula von der Leyen and her accompanying delegation in Erbil, which included a number of military and political officials, a number of members of the German Bundestag, German Ambassador to Iraq and the German Consul General to the Kurdistan Region. The German Defence Minister […]

Sweden to Strengthen Ties with Kurdistan

Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Margot Wallstrom, received Minister Falah Mustafa, Head of the KRG Foreign Relations, on Monday to discuss bilateral ties and latest humanitarian and security developments in Kurdistan and the wider region. In welcoming Minister Mustafa and his accompanying delegation, Foreign Minister Wallstrom said, “We enjoy excellent relations with the Kurdistan Region […]

UNICEF Iraq Distributes Winter Clothing

Bitterly cold winter weather in Iraq has compounded the dire situation facing more than one million children, as the country continues to suffer from widespread violence and displacement. Official estimates indicate that over 2.1 million people, over half of whom are children, are displaced across Iraq. The vast majority of the displaced have fled to […]