Tag Archives | caliphate

Iraq Accepts Int'l Support Against IS

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. Some Shiite circles in Iraq are unhappy about the US role in the war against the Islamic State (IS), and some politicians are saying that Washington is offering aid to IS […]

Why Army is Stuck on Outskirts of Tikrit

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. The offensive to re-take Tikrit from extremists seems to have stalled as troops surround the city but cannot go further. The same thing is happening elsewhere. And there are three […]

PM Barzani: Shiite Militias should be Regulated

By Amberin Zaman for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. As the battle grinds on against the Islamic State — also known as IS, ISIL and Daesh — there is growing concern about the mounting influence of Iran and Shiite militias known […]

FM al-Jaafari Meets Syrian President al-Assad

By John Lee. During an official visit to Syria on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Dr. Ibrahim Al Jaafari met Syrian President, Bashar Al Assad, and Foreign Minister, Walid Al Muallem. Minister Jaafari stressed in a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart that the visit is part of Iraq's diplomatic endeavor to communicate with all world […]

Germania Suspends Erbil Flights

By John Lee. Germania has suspended air services to Erbil, which has come under increasing threat from Islamic State (IS, ISIS, ISIL) terrorists. Germany's Federal Ministry for Transport (Bundesministerium für Verkehr und digitale Infrastruktur - BMVI) has prohibited all flights by German airlines to Erbil until 30th March 2015 (inclusive). Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Emirates, Etihad […]

PM al-Abadi to Visit US

By John Lee. President Obama will host Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi at the White House on Tuesday, April 14. According to a statement from the United States' Embassy in Baghdad, the Prime Minister’s visit underscores the strategic partnership between the United States and Iraq and the strong U.S. commitment to political and military cooperation […]

The Many Names of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

By Ali Hashem for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Even to those who have hunted him and followed his every move, Islamic State (IS) Caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi remains a mystery. “Before anything I want to understand why he became like […]

Iran Gathers Power, as US Further Sidelined

By Mohammed A. Salih for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. While the United States has invested trillions of dollars and thousands of lives since 2003 to bring Iraq into its orbit, today it is Iran that appears to have achieved that […]

Turn a Light On: Electricity Sector Reform in Iraq

By Luay Al-Khatteeb and Harry Istepanian, of the Brookings Institution. The need to confront and drive back the forces of the Islamic State (IS, ISIS. ISIL) has pushed long-term reform efforts in Iraq far down the list of priorities. Yet pressing economic reforms – such as restructuring and rebuilding the country’s energy sector – increasingly […]

Three Dead in Explosion near Kuwaiti Border

By John Lee. Three Iraqi civilians were reportedly killed on Wednesday when a booby-trapped truck exploded near the Kuwaiti border in Iraq. The Kuwaiti news agency KUNA quoted a local Iraqi official as saying that the explosion happened at a garage near the main road about 12 km (7.5 miles) north of the Safwan border […]