Tag Archives | United States

$10m Reward for Information on KH Leader

By John Lee. Rewards for Justice (RFJ), the US Department of State's national security rewards program, has offered a reward of up to $10 million for information on the leader of Kata'ib Hizballah (KH), Ahmad al-Hamidawi. The Department of State designated al-Hamidawi as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in 2020. Full statement from Rewards […]

"Baghdad's Authority in Question" after US Journalist Kidnapped

From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Baghdad's authority in question after US journalist's capture and release Seen by observers as an acute security failure, the abduction of Shelly Kittleson has also complicated already fraught relations between Iraq and the […]

Iraq at Another Crossroads with Iran-Backed Militias, and Washington

By David Schenker for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq Is at Another Crossroads with Iran-Backed Militias -- and Washington Although U.S. officials should keep pushing Baghdad to move against these groups, the Iran […]

The Iran War "Is Exposing Iraq's Weaknesses"

By Steven Simon and Adam Weinstein, for Foreign Policy. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The Iran War Is Exposing Iraq's Weaknesses Baghdad doesn't control much of its own territory. Click here to read the full article (subscription required).

Kidnapped US Journalist Reported Released

By John Lee. [Update, 8th April: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) confirmed the release of Ms Kittleson on 7th April.] Associated Press reports that American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped in Baghdad on 31 March, has been released. The release followed a statement by the Iran-aligned Kata'ib Hizbollah militia, which said it had […]

IFJ calls for Immediate Release of Shelley Kittleson

By John Lee. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called on the Iraqi authorities to do everything in their power to secure the immediate release of Shelley Kittleson, the American freelance journalist who was abducted in Baghdad on Tuesday. The IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "We demand the immediate and unconditional release of […]

Arrest Made Following Kidnapping of US Journalist

By John Lee. Al-Monitor has confirmed that the American journalist kidnapped in Baghdad on Tuesday was Shelly Kittleson, an Al-Monitor contributor. Ms Kittleson, a freelancer, has also reported for BBC World Service, Politico, Foreign Policy and others. A statement from Iraq's Ministry of Interior said that a foreign journalist has been kidnapped by unidentified individuals, […]

Iraq and US to Expand Joint Security Coordination

By John Lee. Iraq and the United States have agreed to establish a High Joint Coordination Committee to strengthen bilateral cooperation across security, political and economic areas. The decision was announced following the committee's first meeting on Thursday. Both sides agreed to intensify coordination to prevent terrorist attacks and ensure that Iraqi territory is not […]

Military Options for Reopening the Strait of Hormuz

By Michael Eisenstadt and Assaf Orion, for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Military Options for Reopening the Strait of Hormuz: Limitations and Imperatives Loosening Tehran's grip on the strait and its disruption of the […]