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Sunday’s earthquake was the deadliest of 2017 as more than 400 people were killed and over 7000 injured. A huge rescue effort is under way after the powerful quake struck Iran’s mountainous border with Iraq. The Kurdish areas who were most affected are already among some of the poorest in Iran. Entire buildings in Derbandikhan […]
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Still no resolution in sight as the KRG’s Minister of Peshmerga warned on Monday that Iraqi forces and Hashd al-Shaabi continue military buildup close to the Peshmerga frontlines. A delegation of Peshmerga commanders met with the US-led Coalition to discuss military cooperation and the ongoing situation between Peshmerga and the Iraqi forces. The KRG once again asked Baghdad […]
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Things might be evolving as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Baghdad yesterday on a surprise visit for talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and President Fuad Masum. Tillerson on Sunday had said Iranian fighters and militias must leave Iraq for the country to rebuild. In response, Abadi defended the Iranian-backed militias […]
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US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said Iran-backed militias who have been fighting ISIS in Iraq should go home as the battle is nearing its end. Mr Tillerson said all foreign fighters should leave and let Iraqis rebuild. He apparently asked Iraqi Shias in these militias to eutger integrate into the Iraqi army or […]
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Baghdad trouble brewing as influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s supporters vowed to hold a million-man march to storm the Iraqi Parliament “again” if the term of the elections commission was extended. In a statement on Monday, the Central Revolution Committee affiliated to Sadr warned the Independent High Electoral Commission’s (IHEC) they had one more chance […]
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More travel headaches coming. The United States has suspended all non-immigrant visa services in Turkey due to security concerns after Ankara arrested a Turkish national employed by the US consulate. Turkey quickly retaliated with a similar move, by suspending in-passport visas as well as e-visas and visas issued at the borders for American passport holders. […]
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Iran threatens to close its borders and withdraw its diplomatic mission in Erbil should the Kurdistan Region proceed with the referendum. Supreme National Security Council explained that the relationship between Tehran and Erbil only exists as part of a united Iraq. The Kurdistan Region’s High Council for the Independence Referendum on Sunday however announced the […]
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An explosion in Kirkuk shocked the city last night. A car bomb exploded in Kirkuk’s al-Adan neighborhood on Saturday evening, killing at least two people and wounding 10 others. It went off on the main Kirkuk-Baghdad road and security forces cordoned off the area out of fear there might be another rigged vehicle. Meanwhile, Iraqi PM […]
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Political drama as Iran’s president has warned that it could restart its nuclear programme “within hours” if the United States imposes any new sanctions. Hassan Rouhani also said the programme would be more advanced than in 2015, when Iran curbed its nuclear activities as part of a deal with world powers. At the same time, an Iranian […]
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Shocking news as the US army on Sunday announced two soldiers were killed and five others injured in operations against the Islamic State (IS) in northern Iraq. The death of the US troops was reportedly not a result of “enemy contact.” Central Command confirmed the deaths and injuries but did not provide any further details. […]
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