KRG Protests Int'l Air Traffic Embargo
By John Lee. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has reportedly filed a complaint with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) following Baghdad's decision to close the region's airspace to international traffic. The closure came after Kurdish authorities refused to hand over control of the airports to the central government, following last week's referendum on Kurdish […]
Air Strikes Target ISIS in Syria, Iraq
U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria on Tuesday, conducting 39 strikes consisting of 40 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported yesterday. Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria In Syria, […]
CBI Stops Dollar Sales, Foreign Currency Transfers to Kurdistan
By John Lee. The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) announced on Tuesday that it will block foreign currency transfers to Iraqi Kurdistan, and stop selling dollars to four major Kurdish banks. The decision part of an effort to put pressure on Iraqi Kurdistan after its population voted overwhelmingly in favour of breaking away from Iraq […]
Former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani Dies
Jalal Talabani who served as the president of Iraq between 2005 and 2014 and was the first Kurd to hold the post died at the age of 83 in a hospital in Germany on 3 October 2017. First appointed as the country's president during the Transitional Period in April 2005, he was re-elected twice, in […]
IOM assists Thousands Displaced from West Anbar
With some 8,500 people displaced over the past two weeks amid Iraq’s military operations to retake Anbar province, the United Nations migration agency announced today that it is stepping up provision of life-saving assistance. “People newly displaced from their homes often arrive dehydrated, suffering from hunger and thirst,” said Dr. Hamed Amro, in a news […]
Strikes Continue in Effort to Defeat ISIS in Syria, Iraq
U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria on Monday, conducting 14 strikes consisting of 14 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported yesterday. Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria In Syria, […]
Video: Rashad Residents react to Recapture of IS-held Areas
From AFP. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraqi forces seized a strategic jihadist-held area southeast of the Islamic State group's bastion of Hawija, a senior commander said.
Will the Jewish Archive Return to Iraq?
By Saad Salloum for Al Monitor. Any opinions here are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The US State Department announced Sept. 10 that the United States would return the Iraqi Jewish archive to Iraq next year. The archive had been shipped to the United States […]
Iran Bans Oil Products Shipment to Iraqi Kurdistan
Iran’s Ministry of Roads and Urban Development warned companies against shipment of oil products to and from the Iraqi Kurdistan “until further notice”. The decision is in line with Tehran’s series of measures in response to a referendum held in the semi-autonomous region on possible secession from Iraq which has drawn international criticism. “Given the […]
Putin boxed in by Iran, Turkey on Iraqi Kurdish referendum
From Al Monitor. Any opinions here are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Russian President Vladimir Putin had been banking on Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani. Over the past year, Russia has invested over $4 billion in the Kurdistan Region’s energy sector, overtaking the United […]
Officials Provide Details of Latest Strikes Against ISIS
U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria over the weekend, conducting 69 strikes consisting of 88 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported on Monday. Officials reported details of the weekend's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Sept. 30 […]
September Market Review: Implications of the Kurdish Referendum
By Ahmed Tabaqchali (pictured), CIO of Asia Frontier Capital (AFC) Iraq Fund. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. In spite of the intense international focus, the Kurdish referendum was almost a non-event for the market during the month. Thoughts on the referendum’s […]