Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan arrived in Baghdad this morning for an unannounced trip, that he said would emphasize the importance of Iraqi sovereignty and broach the issue of the future of U.S. troops in the country. Secretary Shanahan told reporters accompanying him that his trip came ‘at the invitation of the Iraqi … Read more
Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has once again condemned President Donald Trump for recent comments he made on maintaining an American military presence in Iraq so that Washington can keep a close eye on Iran. Trump’s comments have been met with strong opposition from officials in Baghdad, whom are deeply divided on many issues pertaining … Read more
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called U.S. President Donald Trump a ‘liar,’ after the American leader expressed his wish to keep U.S. forces in Iraq in order to monitor neighboring Iran, earlier this week. In a statement quoted by state-run media, the Iranian president said “You say you stay in Iraq to watch Iran, while before … Read more
Despite a decision that was made by U.S. President Donald Trump to withdraw American forces from Syria, a military presence will remain in neighboring Iraq, “to keep a close eye” over Iran, and “different parts of the trouble Middle East.” In an interview President Trump gave to CBS’s Face The Nation, the American leader reiterated … Read more
France agreed to a loan Iraq 1 billion euros for the purpose of reconstruction, in a declared effort to boost stability in the country that was devastated by the Islamic State between 2014 and 2017. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced the decision after meeting with his Iraqi counterpart in Baghdad. The French top … Read more
The powerful Iranian-backed PMF, Popular Mobilization Forces, has reportedly become an integral part of the Iraqi defense forces, assuming positions, among others, along the country’s border with Syria. According to the top border commander of the PMF, the only forces capable of defending Iraq’s sovereignty, are the Shi’ite militias which operate under the directives of … Read more
The Persian Gulf Al-Khaleej newspaper reported this morning that Iranian-backed militias in Iraq are preparing for the possibility that Israel may attack and have begun moving weapons and equipment to underground bunkers. According to the report, the Shi’ite militias had begun moving their weapons from Baghdad and from other areas in Iraq, in wake of … Read more
The country’s parliament held its first session since May’s national election but failed to elect a speaker; in what should have been the first step towards forming a new government. Lawmakers were supposed to elect the speaker and two deputies, at the start of a 90-day process outlined in the constitution. But with competing political … Read more
After Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced earlier this week that his country does not plan to abide by the U.S. sanctions against neighbor, the Islamic Republic of Iran; The United States has threatened Iraq with sanctions similar to those it imposed on Iran if it does not comply. Prime Minister al-Abadi said on Sunday, … Read more
Baghdad announced that it will start exporting oil from the northern Kirkuk fields, which it recently recaptured from Kurdish forces, to the Islamic Republic of Iran, with a first delivery date scheduled before the end of January. Iraq’s Oil Minister Jabar Al-Luaibi, “As a first stage we are planning to export 30,000 (barrels per day … Read more