Archive | Security

Threat to Haditha Dam 'Contained'

By John Lee. The Financial Times reports that US forces, Iraqi government troops and their militia allies say they have cleared Islamist militants threatening the crucial Haditha dam (pictured) in Anbar province, in Washington’s first attack in direct support of Baghdad since the launch of US operations a month ago. Baghdad has controlled the dam […]

Fmr US Ambassador Suspected of Money Laundering

By John Lee. Bloomberg reports that A US probe into alleged money laundering by former Ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad (pictured), has led Austrian authorities to freeze a Vienna bank account linked to him. Khalilzad allegedly transferred $1.4 million to a bank account owned by his wife, Cheryl Benard, in Vienna. According to reports, the money […]

Cleric Wrecking Karbala’s Tourism-Based Economy

This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Extremists And Errant Cleric Wrecking Karbala’s Tourism-Based Economy The southern Iraqi city of Karbala makes a lot of its money from religious tourism; it is the site of some of […]

UNESCO Condemns Attack on journalist

Axel Plathe, Director of UNESCO Office for Iraq, condemned today the bombing that targeted the house of Iraqi reporter Maytham Al-Shibani in Diwaniyah, calling for more efficient measures to ensure the safety of media professionals in Iraq. “On behalf of UNESCO, I strongly condemn the recent attack that targeted Maytham Al-Shibani, and I call the […]

Repairing Baiji Refinery to take more than a Year

By John Lee. The KRG's Minister of Natural Resources, Ashti Hawrami, has said repairs to the Baiji refinery will take more than a year, following attacks by militants of the Islamic State in June. According to the report from NINA, he also confirmed that shipment of oil through the pipeline linking Kirkuk and the Turkish […]

Shelter Needs Acute in Northern Iraq

As the UN refugee agency continues a major aid operation for almost half a million displaced people in northern Iraq, pressure on accommodation remains acute. "Many schools are still being used to house the displaced. In addition, there is urgent need to reinforce tents and other housing in preparation for the coming winter," UNHCR spokesman […]

When Extremists Become Bad Bank Managers

This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Paying For The Caliphate: When Extremists Become Bad Bank Managers In Mosul Up until now, locals in Mosul, the northern city under the control of Sunni Muslim extremists, have not […]

Iraq Sues Shipping Firm for "Illegal" Kurdish Exports

By John Lee. Iraq has taken legal action against Greece’s Marine Management Services (MMS) over its role in the export of crude oil from Iraqi Kurdistan, which Baghdad regards as illegal. The tanker concerned, the Marshall Islands-flagged United Kalavrvta (pictured), is still said to be fully laden off the coast of Texas, carrying $100m worth […]

Saudis Provide Homes to Displaced Families

Funding from Saudi Arabia to the UN will allow UN-Habitat to provide shelter options for internally displaced people, commonly referred to as IDPs, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Following the takeover of Mosul by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant movement – ISIL – last June and the influx of more than […]

UN to Dispatch Team to Iraq

By Patrick M Schmidt. The United Nations (UN) announced that investigators would be sent to Iraq to research the numerous atrocities committed by the Islamic State (IS). The team will consist of eleven investigators who will be budgeted $1.18 million for their inquires and projects. The United Nations currently suspects the Islamic State (IS) of […]