By Simon Kent. The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority has suspended flights from Baghdad to Sulaymaniyah and Erbil in the Kurdish region of Iraq (KRI) for two days, effective from today. The move follows concern that Russian jets and cruise missiles pass though that airspace from the Caspian Sea region, to targets in Syria. It is […]
By Simon Kent. Japan will extend a loan worth "billions" of Yen to construct a water treatment facility in Samawah, southern Iraq. According to the Japan Today, the southern city of 300,000 people currently lacks adequate treatment facilities. Between 2003-04 a contingent of Japanese troops were stationed in the city, and the new loan represents […]
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 on Sunday. Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria Attack, ground-attack, fighter, bomber […]
By Simon Kent. An improvised explosive device has killed at least 9 people and injured many more in the town of Yusifiyah, about 20km south of Baghdad. The town used to be part of what was once called the "triangle of death" along with nearby Mahmudiyah and Iskandariyah, and was once the scene of almost […]
By Simon Kent. Concern is mounting in Iraq following an outbreak of cholera which has caused at least 5000 cases since September, with many more suspected to have gone unreported. World Health Organization official Rana Sidani described the current crisis, noting that, "We expect an increase in the rate of infections [beyond] the officially declared […]
By Simon Kent. Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi faces new political pressure over the payment of salaries for the 100,000 strong Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) or Hashd al-Shaabi, as they are known in Iraq. The Hashd al-Shaabi were formed last summer after a call from the holy figure Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, to defend […]
By Simon Kent. In a striking admission of the policy of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Minister of Natural Resources Ashti Hawrami (pictured) has described the outcome of the political deadlock with Baghdad, which has led to secret oil exports by the KRG. Quoted in Reuters, Hawrami says that following former PM Nouri-al Maliki's blocking of the KRG […]
By Simon Kent. A recent piece about Basra in The Economist made an interesting point about Iraqi politics today, noting that while in Basra the provincial council suffers deep political divisions, the nearby province of Maysan has a spirit of cooperation under the much lauded, long time governor Ali Dawai Lazem. PM Abadi (pictured) seems to share this […]
By Simon Kent. Kurdish Peshmerga forces in newly liberated Sinjar, the Yazidi majority town en route to Mosul, have discovered an ISIS tunnel complex of fighting positions. The Wall Street Journal has documented the find in a photo essay report. Tunnel complexes have previously been used by ISIS in the battle of Jurf al Sakhar last year, […]
By Simon Kent. Traders in Europe have reported to Reuters that the Basra Light grade of crude is selling for $30 on the European market, as Iraq gains on Saudi Arabia as one of the main suppliers of oil to EU countries. Last year, Basra split its exports into Basra Light and Basra Heavy grades and […]
By Simon Kent. Bloom Properties, subsidiary of Dubai based Abu Dhabi National Holding, has delayed construction of a 40,000 housing unit project in Karbala. The site, dubbed "Shores of Karbala" (pictured: plan of the site) was announced in 2013 with former PM Nouri al Maliki attending a ceremony to mark the signing of the contract, with […]
By Simon Kent. Basra provincial council has reportedly hired international consultancy firm Mott MacDonald to finalise plans for a 3500ft, 240 floor building which would be host to business communities, residents and public entertainment. According to designers AMBS Architects, the "city in the sky" is designed to be an "antidote" to modern super towers in […]
