Iraq

31 May 2021; MEMO: The Iraqi army on Sunday withdrew tanks and military vehicles deployed in the capital, Baghdad, amid security tension over the arrest of a prominent Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) leader, Anadolu Agency reported.

On Wednesday, the Iraqi security forces arrested the head of the PMF militia, Qassim Mahmoud Musleh, in Anbar province, based on a judicial investigation and arrest warrant on terrorism charges.

BAGHDAD, (Iraq) May 29 (APP): Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Saturday reaffirmed Pakistan’s long-standing and friendly ties with Iraq and expressed Pakistan’s desire to further enhance existing bilateral ties in all spheres of cooperation.  

The foreign minister called on President of the Republic of Iraq Dr. Barham Salih, here.  

The foreign minister also reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq.  

BAGHDAD, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on Wednesday denounced some armed militia for approaching the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad, saying their move violates the country's constitution, according to a statement issued by the Iraqi Joint Operation Command (JOC).

The appearance of a group of paramilitary soldiers near the Green Zone sparked a state of emergency as security forces deployed surrounding the zone and blocked all its entrances, a police source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

(Reuters) --- Iraqi security forces on Wednesday arrested senior militia commander Qasim Muslih under the country's anti-terrorism law, three security sources said.

Muslih was arrested in Baghdad for involvement in several attacks including recent assaults on Ain al-Asad air base, which hosts U.S. and other international forces, two of the security sources with direct knowledge of the arrest told Reuters.

24 May 2021; MEMO: Iraqi President Barham Salih revealed yesterday that nearly $150 billion has been smuggled out of the country since 2003, adding that he had prepared a bill to recover the smuggled funds, Anadolu reported.

"Government and international statistics and data estimate that Iraq's financial revenues from oil since 2003 are close to $1 trillion," Salih said in a televised speech on combating financial and administrative corruption.

24 May 2021; MEMO: The US military commander in the Middle East, Marine General Frank McKenzie, on Saturday warned of the increased use of drones by pro-Iran militias to attack US forces in Iraq, AP reported.

McKenzie told reporters on Saturday that the US is struggling to deal with attacks launched using drones and said: "We're working very hard to find technical fixes that would allow us to be more effective against drones."

BAGHDAD, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Iraq on Sunday reaffirmed its support for the Palestinian cause, while calling for fostering unity among Palestinian parties via dialogue.

Iraqi leaders made the pledges during their meetings with visiting Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki in Baghdad on Sunday, after a ceasefire ended the 11-day fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.

22 May 2021; MEMO: Baghdad announced on Thursday its readiness to receive Palestinians injured during the Israeli aggression to receive treatment in Iraq's healthcare facilities.

Spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Health Saif Al-Badr announced that all Iraqi healthcare institutions are ready to receive wounded Palestinian citizens and provide them with healthcare services.

21 May 2021; MEMO: Hundreds of Iraqi protesters aboard 21 buses yesterday headed to the Iraqi-Jordanian border to protest against Israel's violence against Palestinians at the Hashemite Kingdom's border with the occupied West Bank, Anadolu news agency reported.

17 May 2021; MEMO: Iraqi MP Hassan Salem called on Sunday for the government in Baghdad to cut ties with the Gulf States that have signed normalisation deals with Israel, namely the UAE and Bahrain. He added Saudi Arabia into the mix as well, as it is known to have unofficial links with the occupation state.