Iraq

Iraq: U.S. invites itself to the Middle East and brings destruction along

BAGHDAD, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- What if an uninvited "guest" comes and refuses to leave? Naturally, the host would get furious and try all means to kick the uninvited guest out. This scenario parallels America's current situation in Iraq.

Despite the Iraqi prime minister's repeated orders to expel U.S. forces, the United States is not only turning a deaf ear but also hinting at deploying additional troops.

3 armed drones shot down near U.S. military base in N. Iraq

BAGHDAD, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Three armed drones were shot down Tuesday near a military base hosting U.S. and other international troops in northern Iraq, the Iraqi regional counter-terrorism service reported.

A statement from the service of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region did not say if there were any casualties or damage to infrastructure due to the attack, which happened at the Erbil International Airport.

Iraq recalls ambassador, summons Iran’s chargé d’affaires over strikes in Irbil

IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — Iraq recalled its ambassador from Tehran for consultations and summoned Iran’s chargé d’affaires in Baghdad on Tuesday in protest over Iranian strikes on northern Iraq that killed several civilians overnight, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said.

The Iranian attack was “a blatant violation” of Iraq’s sovereignty and “strongly contradicts the principles of good neighborliness and international law, and threatens the security of the region,” the ministry said in a statement.

Iraqi PM reiterates determination to end int'l coalition's presence

BAGHDAD, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on Monday reiterated that Iraq wants to end the presence of the U.S.-led international coalition in the country.

Al-Sudani made the remarks during his meeting with the Dutch Ambassador to Iraq Hans Sandee, whose country is scheduled to assume the presidency of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) mission in Iraq in mid-May, according to a statement issued by al-Sudani's media office.

Iraqi MPs Propose Draft To End Presence Of Foreign Forces In Iraq

BAGHDAD, Jan 14 (NNN-NINA) – Up to 88 Iraqi lawmakers submitted yesterday, a proposal for a draft law, requiring the end of the presence of foreign forces in Iraq, after repeated U.S. attacks against Iraqi security forces.

Falih al-Khazali, a member of the Iraqi parliament, said in a press conference that, the proposal was signed by 88 lawmakers from the Coordination Framework, the largest parliamentary alliance and an umbrella group of Shiite parliamentary parties.

Iraqi parliament fails to elect new speaker

BAGHDAD, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi parliament failed Sunday to elect a new speaker to replace the sacked speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi due to political wrangling among parliamentary political blocs.

The parliament session began on Saturday afternoon and was chaired by Mohsen al-Mandalawi, the first deputy of the parliament speaker, with the attendance of 314 lawmakers out of the parliament's 329 seats and continued until the early hours of Sunday, according to a statement issued by the parliament.

Iraqis rally in Baghdad to protest against U.S.-Britain strikes in Yemen

BAGHDAD, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Iraqis held a rally on Saturday in Iraq's capital Baghdad in protest against the U.S.-Britain strikes against some Houthi military sites in Yemen.

The protest was held in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad, where demonstrators chanted anti-U.S. slogans and raised banners denouncing Israel and the United States.

Many demonstrators said the air strikes represent American arrogance that does not respect international laws and norms.

Iraqi PM vows to end U.S.-led coalition's presence after strikes kill militia leaders

BAGHDAD, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani reiterated his pledge on Friday to end the presence of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq after a series of U.S. strikes killed Iraqi security personnel and militia leaders.

Al-Sudani said his government would soon start talks with the coalition through a committee to arrange the withdrawal of foreign troops, a move he said was "a commitment that the government will not back down from."

Iraqi security forces seize 80 kg of narcotics in southern province

BAGHDAD, Dec 28 (NNN-XINHUA) — The Iraqi security forces have confiscated 80 kg of narcotics and dismantled an international drug trafficking network in the southern province of Dhi Qar, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Upon intelligence reports, the Iraqi anti-narcotics forces arrested two suspects and seized 80 kg of Captagon pills in the province, the statement said.

Baghdad condemns US strike on Iraqi military positions

BAGHDAD, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Iraq's government on Tuesday condemned overnight U.S. air strikes on Iraqi military positions that it said killed one serviceman and wounded 18 people, calling them a "clear hostile act".

The United States carried out retaliatory air strikes on Monday in Iraq after a one-way drone attack earlier in the day by Iran-aligned militants that left one U.S. service member in critical condition and wounded two others.

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