Could Saudi-Iraqi ties be Key to Defeating IS?
Posted on 12 October 2015 .
By Mustafa al-Kadhimi for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.
Iraqi-Saudi relations are the main key to the problems and solutions of the crises in the Middle East. The rupture and hostility between the two sides helped promote the positions of extremist groups, which are active in the region and are hostile to both countries. Today and despite the long delay, Iraqi-Saudi bilateral relations are taking a positive turn, as both parties seek to consolidate and strengthen them.
After 25 years of cold relations, which reached the point of a diplomatic rupture for a long period of time, the two sides announced the appointment of new ambassadors through a high-level representation. Iraqi Ambassador Rushdi al-Ani arrived in Riyadh Sept. 20, and the Saudi ambassador is expected to arrive in Baghdad within days. Ani hails from a Sunni family from the Anbar province, and he was a former Iraqi ambassador to Pakistan, which could help facilitate his new task in Saudi Arabia.
In April, Riyadh appointed Maj. Gen. Thamer al-Sabhan, former military attache at the Saudi Embassy in Lebanon, as its ambassador to Iraq. Sabhan took the oath of his new post on June 2. Saudi Arabia also announced that it will be opening a new embassy in Baghdad and a new consulate in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, after the Eid al-Adha holiday on Sept. 24. The embassy and the consulate have yet to open their doors, as of the time of this writing.
The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Jan. 5, 2014, that it had completed the necessary procedures for Saudi Arabia to open its embassy in Iraq. The new Saudi ambassador enjoyed good ties with the United States, and he was awarded medals of honor by the Pentagon for his role in Operation Desert Storm and the liberation of Kuwait.
The Saudi position coincided with a similar initiative by the emir of Qatar, to send the first ambassador of his country to Iraq, after the rupture that occurred following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990. On Sept. 10, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani issued a decree appointing Zayed al-Khayareen as Qatar's “ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Iraq.”
Posted in Politics, Security 2 Comments
Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists in Iraq, Syria
Posted on 12 October 2015 .
U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported on Sunday.
Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.
Airstrikes in Syria
Bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted seven airstrikes in Syria:
- Near Hasakah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL buildings.
- Near Hawl, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building.
- Near Raqqah, one strike destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle.
- Near Manbij, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building.
- Near Palmyra, one strike destroyed an ISIL front end loader and an ISIL excavator.
- Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike destroyed an ISIL crude oil collection point.
- Near Washiya, one strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle bomb.
Airstrikes in Iraq
Attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 17 airstrikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of the government of Iraq:
- Near Huwayjah, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
- Near Bayji, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle bomb.
- Near Fallujah, one strike destroyed an ISIL building and an ISIL anti-air artillery piece.
- Near Habbaniyah, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL building, an ISIL rocket rail, and wounded an ISIL fighter.
- Near Kirkuk, one strike destroyed an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL heavy machine gun.
- Near Kisik, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
- Near Ramadi, four strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL mortar system, an ISIL up-armored vehicle bomb, three vehicle bombs, three home-made explosive facilities, four ISIL buildings, and denied ISIL access to tactical terrain.
- Near Sinjar, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL fighting positions and an ISIL light machine gun.
- Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
- Near, Tal Afar, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL bunkers, three ISIL fighting positions, and wounded two ISIL fighters.
Part of Operation Inherent Resolve
The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community.
The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.
Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Jordan, Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
(Source: US Dept of Defense)
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Why The Russians Won't Win Against Extremists in Iraq
Posted on 10 October 2015 .
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.
Mid-East's New 'Cold War': Why The Russians Won't Win Against Extremists in Iraq
Since the announcement of a new military alliance including Russia, locals have been trading arguments. Could Iraq become the stage for a new “Cold War”? And how effective can this coalition really be?
For many Iraqis, the news that came last week of an alliance between Syria, Russia, Iran and Iraq was shocking. And it is not just in Syria that this Russian intervention is threatening to carve even deeper fault lines in the Middle East. In Iraq, locals are equally divided about the alliance, in line with existing allegiances.
That is, Iraq's Shiite Muslims who tend toward support for Shiite Muslim-dominated Iran, and thereby Bashar al-Assad of Syria and Russia like the idea. Whereas Iraq's Sunni Muslims tend toward support for the US and the Sunni Muslim Gulf Arab states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar and do not like the idea. The Russian intervention presents the country with a real dilemma.
It is true that in Iraq, political discourse is often limited to extreme views, and those views are usually right on the opposite side of the fence from one another with no real middle ground for negotiation. But as many analysts have said before, the Russian intervention seems even more dangerous than usual because it threatens to topple an already very delicate balance of foreign power in Iraq.
All Shiite Muslim political parties and military forces in Iraq have said they welcome the new Russian intervention in the Middle East. They say that US intervention hasn't been able to end the security crisis caused by the extremist group known as the Islamic State in Iraq, despite just over a year of effort.
On an individual level, many local Shiites started calling the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, their hero and were posting footage of him with the Russian army onto social media. Others replaced their Facebook profile pictures with shots of Putin. There were also a lot of false rumours spreading about how Russians had entered Anbar and killed hundreds of Islamic State fighters.
Posted in Security 4 Comments
Strikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq
Posted on 09 October 2015 .
U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported on Thursday.
Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.
Airstrikes in Syria
Fighter aircraft conducted two strikes in Syria:
- Near Hawl, two strikes destroyed an ISIL crude oil collection point and an ISIL oil pump.
Airstrikes in Iraq
Bomber, fighter, attack, fighter-attack and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 18 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of the government of Iraq:
- Near Beiji, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle and three ISIL vehicles.
- Near Kirkuk, two strikes suppressed two ISIL mortar positions.
- Near Mosul, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL fighting position, and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
- Near Ramadi, five strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL buildings, two ISIL tunnels, four ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL mortar position, an ISIL sniper position, and six ISIL homemade explosive facilities.
- Near Sinjar, six strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit, destroyed three separate ISIL vehicle-borne bomb facilities, an ISIL heavy machine gun, two ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL weapons cache, and two ISIL trench systems.
- Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
Part of Operation Inherent Resolve
The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community.
The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct operations.
Coalition nations conducting strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Coalition nations conducting strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
(Source: US Dept of Defense)
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Airstrikes Hit ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq
Posted on 07 October 2015 .
U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported on Tuesday.
Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.
Airstrikes in Syria
Bomber, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft conducted seven strikes in Syria:
- Near Hasakah, five strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, five ISIL buildings, and an ISIL checkpoint.
- Near Dayr Az Zawr, one strike struck an ISIL crude oil collection point.
- Near Manbij, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building.
Airstrikes in Iraq
Bomber, fighter, attack, fighter-attack, ground-attack, and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 17 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of the government of Iraq:
- Near Huwayjah, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL fighting positions and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
- Near Habbaniyah, one strike destroyed an ISIL weapons cache.
- Near Mosul, one strike destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle.
- Near Ramadi, nine strikes struck six separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL vehicle-borne bomb, four ISIL buildings, ten ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL heavy machine gun, an ISIL excavator, two ISIL mortar positions, an ISIL improvised explosive device compound, three ISIL homemade explosive facilities, an ISIL house bomb, an ISIL homemade explosive cache, and denied ISIL access to terrain.
- Near Sinjar, two strikes destroyed six ISIL bunkers.
- Near Sultan Abdallah, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
Part of Operation Inherent Resolve
The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community.
The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct operations.
Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
(Source: US Dept of Defense)
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Coalition Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL Targets in Syria, Iraq
Posted on 05 October 2015 .
U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today (Monday).
Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.
Airstrikes in Syria
Bomber and remotely piloted aircraft conducted eight airstrikes in Syria:
- Near Hasakah, six strikes struck seven separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL fighting positions and three ISIL vehicles.
- Near Hawl, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
- Near Palmyra, one strike produced inconclusive results.
Airstrikes in Iraq
Fighter, fighter-attack, and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 13 airstrikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of the Iraqi government:
- Near Baghdadi, one strike destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun.
- Near Huwayjah, one strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
- Near Beiji, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL structure.
- Near Fallujah, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL buildings.
- Near Habbaniyah, one strike destroyed four ISIL rocket rails.
- Near Hit, one strike destroyed an ISIL weapons storage facility.
- Near Kisik, one strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
- Near Mosul, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL fighting position and wounded one ISIL fighter.
- Near Ramadi, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL buildings, an ISIL weapons cache, an ISIL vehicle, an ISIL tactical vehicle, an ISIL anti-tank weapon, two ISIL mortar positions, and five ISIL fighting positions.
- Near Sinjar, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL heavy machine guns and four ISIL fighting positions.
Part of Operation Inherent Resolve
The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, the region, and the wider international community.
The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.
Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
(Source: US Dept of Defense)
Posted in Construction & Engineering In Iraq 3 Comments
Coalition Airstrikes Hit ISIL in Syria, Iraq
Posted on 02 October 2015 .
U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.
Airstrike in Syria
- A remotely piloted aircraft conducted an airstrike near Mar’a, which destroyed two ISIL excavators.
Airstrikes in Iraq
Bomber, fighter, attack, fighter-attack, and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 21 airstrikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of the Iraqi government:
- Near Huwayjah, seven airstrikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and an area of interest, suppressed ISIL mortar fire, denied ISIL terrain, and destroyed three ISIL heavy machine guns, an ISIL light machine gun, and eight ISIL fighting positions.
- Near Beiji, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle and an ISIL mortar position.
- Near Fallujah, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building and an ISIL tunnel.
- Near Habbaniyah, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL building and an ISIL rocket system.
- Near Kirkuk, four airstrikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units, denied ISIL access to terrain, and destroyed an ISIL cache, two ISIL heavy machine guns, seven ISIL light machine guns, and 22 ISIL fighting positions.
- Near Ramadi, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 10 ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL tactical vehicle and an ISIL vehicle.
- Near Sinjar, two airstrikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL light machine gun and two ISIL fighting positions.
- Near Sultan Abdallah, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL fighting position and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
- Near Tal Afar, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit.
Part of Operation Inherent Resolve
The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, the region, and the wider international community.
The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.
Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
(Source: US Dept of Defense)
Posted in Security 3 Comments
Airstrikes Hit ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq
Posted on 01 October 2015 .
On Tuesday, U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.
Airstrikes in Syria
Remotely piloted, bomber, and fighter aircraft conducted four airstrikes in Syria:
- Near Dayr Az Zawr, an airstrike destroyed two ISIL excavators.
- Near Washiyah, an airstrike destroyed an ISIL excavator and damaged two other ISIL excavators.
- Near Palmyra, two airstrikes destroyed two ISIL tactical vehicles
Airstrikes in Iraq
Bomber, fighter, attack, fighter-attack, ground-attack, and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 26 airstrikes in Iraq, coordinated with the Iraqi government:
- Near Huwayjah, eight airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL staging area, 45 ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL buildings, six ISIL vehicles, an ISIL trailer and denied ISIL terrain.
- Near Beiji, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL buildings, eight ISIL fighting positions and five ISIL weapons caches.
- Near Habbaniyah, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun, nine rocket rails and an ISIL recoilless rifle.
- Near Kirkuk, three airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed 10 ISIL rocket rails, an ISIL cache, five ISIL vehicles and an ISIL vehicle bomb.
- Near Kisik, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
- Near Mosul, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL cache and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
- Near Ramadi, three airstrikes destroyed an ISIL vehicle, two ISIL fighting positions, an ISIL obstacle belt and denied use of an ISIL resupply point.
- Near Sinjar, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL heavy machine gun and two ISIL fighting positions.
- Near Sultan Abdallah, two airstrikes suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
- Tal Afar, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL tactical vehicle and an ISIL vehicle.
Part of Operation Inherent Resolve
The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, the region, and the wider international community.
The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.
Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
(Source: US Dept of Defense)
Posted in Security Comments Off on Airstrikes Hit ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq
Iraq Deploys Forces at Borders
Posted on 29 September 2015 .
By John Lee.
Jordan's Petra news agency reported on Tuesday that Iraq has deployed border guards along the borders with Jordan and Saudi Arabia to prevent the infiltration of extremist elements.
The Head of Anbar Provincial Council, Sabah Karhot, said two brigades were deployed at the Traibil [Turaybeel, Tirbil, Tarbiel, Trebil] border crossing with Jordan (pictured), and the Saudi border crossing of Arar.
(Source: Petra)
Posted in Security Comments Off on Iraq Deploys Forces at Borders
Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists
Posted on 29 September 2015 .
On Monday, U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported.
Officials reported details of the strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.
Airstrikes in Syria
Remotely piloted and fighter aircraft conducted five airstrikes in Syria:
- Near Abu Kamal, two airstrikes destroyed a crude oil collection point.
- Near Dayr Az Zawr, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle.
- Near Mar’a, two airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five ISIL rockets, an ISIL vehicle, and an ISIL mortar system.
Airstrikes in Iraq
Bomber, fighter, attack, and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 12 airstrikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of the government of Iraq:
- Near Asad, an airstrike struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL buildings.
- Near Huwayjah, three airstrikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed nine ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL bunkers, and five ISIL tunnels.
- Near Beiji, two airstrikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed two ISIL buildings and an ISIL weapons cache.
- Near Habbaniyah, an airstrike destroyed three ISIL weapons caches and two rocket positions.
- Near Kirkuk, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions.
- Near Kisik, an airstrike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
- Near Ramadi, two airstrikes destroyed an ISIL tunnel and two ISIL fighting positions.
- Near Sinjar, an airstrike struck an ISIL tactical unit and an ISIL fighting position.
Part of Operation Inherent Resolve
The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community.
The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct operations.
Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Coalition nations conducting airstrikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
(Source: US Dept of Defense)
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