The Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) has reported attacks on Peshmerga positions in Zummar early Thursday morning. The Iraqi government deployed armored vehicles, tanks, and artillery in the area Wednesday evening and Kurdish officials warned of an imminent attack. The attacks, which were repelled by Peshmerga forces, come after the Turkish government allegedly agreed to hand over the Habur gate to Baghdad. The Kurdish Parliament is scheduled to meet today on a number of issues including this one.
Meanwhile, three Lebanese nationals have been kidnapped shortly after arriving in Baghdad according to Lebanon’s foreign ministry. The three men were kidnapped on arrival in Baghdad on Sunday without further details being given. One of the victims was a visiting businessman.
Lastly, Qatar has committed to a range of labour law reforms, including the introduction of a minimum wage. Doha’s record on migrant worker rights has been under international scrutiny in the run-up to the 2022 football World Cup. The announcement came the day before a meeting of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which had warned Qatar to end abuse of migrant workers. Employers will also no longer be able to stop employees leaving Qatar.
