Tag Archives | Kurds

Syria, Iraq Discuss Border Security

By Simon Kent. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem met with Iraqi PM Haidar al-Abadi to discuss border security, Reuters reports. Currently, all of Iraq's border on the Syrian side is either held by Kurdish forces or the self declared Islamic State, with Iraqi forces gradually approaching Al Qaim, the last border town held by the […]

Abadi: Kirkuk Resumption Protects Reservoir

By Simon Kent. Prime Minister Haidar al Abadi (pictured) has remarked that the resumption of pumping oil into the Kurdish export pipeline from Kirkuk--from 70,000 bpd to an expected 150,000 bpd, is due to preserving the reservoir in one of the world's oldest oilfields. Previously oil was being re-injected by the federal North Oil Company […]

Germany Resumes Weapons Exports to Kurds

By Simon Kent. Germany have resumed arms shipments to the Kurdish Peshmerga after they were suspended following allegations that some of the arms had been seen on the black market. The latest shipment comes after the Kurdish Regional Government completed an investigation into the allegations and pledged that it would not happen again. Germany has […]

NOC Allows Kirkuk Oil to Enter Kurdish Pipeline

By Simon Kent. Heightening speculation that  a new, comprehensive deal may be reached between the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) and Baghdad over oil exports and revenues, news has emerged that the federal North Oil Company (NOC) is allowing exports of Kirkuk crude via the Kurdish pipeline through Turkey. This could add up to 150,000 bpd […]

DNO Launch New Drilling at Tawke

By Simon Kent. Norway's DNO ASA have launched a new drilling campaign at Tawke, Oilvoice reports. The field, currently producing 117,000 bpd and selling at an average price of $34 per barrel, earned DNO $16 million in profit in the second quarter. DNO Chief Executive Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani (pictured) noted that the profits would help underpin the current new investment. […]

New Oil Minister Luaibi Backs Deal With Kurds

By Simon Kent. Iraq's new oil Minister Jabbar Al Luaibi, who was appointed April 14th, has remarked that the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) and Baghdad are planning a new oil exports and revenue sharing deal to replace the one which collapsed in early 2015. According to Gulf News, Safeen Dizayee, a spokesman for the KRG also confirmed new […]

Peshmerga Capture Villages Near Mosul

By Simon Kent. Kurdish Peshmerga forces have captured several villages from the self declared Islamic State, near the city of Mosul, the group's last urban stronghold in Iraq. Around 5000 Kurdish fighters participated in the operation, which was backed by Coalition air strikes. IS responded by launching suicide vehicle attacks, but these were not successful. […]

Canada Plans Field Hospital for Mosul Battle

By John Lee. Canadian Minister of Defence Harjit Sajjan has announced that Canada will establish and staff a field hospital (or military hospital) as a part of its contribution to the forthcoming battle for Mosul, expected some time over the coming winter. Sajjan noted, "As part of our ongoing commitment, Canada will soon deploy up […]

Concern over Post ISIS Iraq Landscape

By Mustafa Sadoon for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The military protocol agreement signed July 12 between the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government and the United States might create controversy in Iraq’s public and political circles, especially those that do not have good relations with the […]

Greece Opens Erbil Consulate

By Simon Kent. Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias has announced the opening of a consulate in Erbil, capital of the semi-autonomous region of Iraqi- Kurdistan. Greece already has an embassy in Erbil, and the announcement suggested the new consultate will "substantially upgrade" the country's diplomatic presence in Iraq. (Source: Independent Balkan News Agency)

IS Sells Properties Left by Kurds in Mosul

By John Lee. BasNews reports that the Islamic State group (IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh) is allegedly attempting to put residential buildings taken from civilians in Mosul on sale. A source told the news agency that IS confiscated "more than 126" (sic) houses left by Kurds and Christians in Mosul, and is now selling the houses […]

Third NOC Official Assassinated

By Simon Kent. An official with the Iraqi North Oil Company has been shot dead in Kirkuk, northern Iraq, Reuters reports. The murder of Hassan Salim is the third assassination of an oil official from the NOC in just four months, in an area which has been disputed by Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen since the fall of the […]