Iraq

23 Apr 2021; MEMO: An Iraqi military airbase, which houses US forces, has been targeted by three Katyusha rockets, a police officer said today, Anadolu Agency reports.

A Baghdad police officer said the three rockets targeted the Martyr Muhammad Ala Air Base inside the Baghdad airport.

The officer, who preferred not to be named, said: "It is not clear until now whether there were any casualties or injuries due to the attack."

20 Apr 2021; MEMO: Iran said on Tuesday it welcomes Iraqi mediation to help mend its ties with Gulf Arab states, following reports that Saudi and Iranian officials had held discussions in Iraq, Reuters reported.

The remarks by the Iranian ambassador to Baghdad came a day after Iran's foreign ministry said that Tehran always welcomed dialogue with its arch-rival Saudi Arabia, without confirming that talks had been held.

BAGHDAD (AP) — A first round of direct talks between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran signaled a possible de-escalation following years of animosity that often spilled into neighboring countries and at least one still-raging war. But few expect quick results.

The talks, hosted by Iraq earlier this month, were confirmed Tuesday to The Associated Press by an Iraqi and a Western official in Baghdad.

17 Apr 2021; MEMO: The Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has invited 75 states and bodies to monitor the country's snap elections slated for 10 October, Anadolu Agency reported on Friday.

According to Anadolu Agency, Jumana Al-Ghalai, spokesperson for the IHEC, explained that that the invitations were coordinated with the Foreign Ministry, noting that they were sent to embassies of Arab and foreign countries, in addition to offices of international organisations.

15 Apr 2021; MEMO: An explosive-laden drone targeted a central command for the US-led International Coalition Erbil International Airport in northern Iraq yesterday causing material damages, the Interior Ministry of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) said, Reuters reports.

IKRG President Nechirvan Barzani condemned the attack in a press release.

10 Apr 2021; MEMO: Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission announced on Friday that the date for holding early general elections next October is "certain and will not be reversed."

08 Apr 2021; MEMO: Assistant to the Secretary of Defence for Public Affairs John Kirby has announced that there are no agreements with Baghdad regarding a timetable for withdrawal of US combat forces from Iraq.

BAGHDAD, Apr 8 (NNN-NINA) – A total of 60 militants of the Daesh group were killed, in airstrikes in a mountainous area, in Salahudin province, north of Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, the Iraqi military said.

Iraqi aircraft, in coordination with Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), conducted airstrikes on Daesh hideouts, on Mar 25, in Himreen mountain range, leaving 60 militants killed, Yahia Rasoul, spokesman of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi forces, said, in a statement.

BAGHDAD, Apr 5 (NNN-NINA) – Two rockets, yesterday, landed near an Iraqi military air base, in Iraq’s Salahudin province, north of the capital, Baghdad, the Iraqi military said.

A statement by the media office of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, said that, the rockets landed at 12:15 p.m. local time (0915 GMT), at the edge of Balad air base, some 90 km north of Baghdad, without causing casualties.

TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) - A rocket fell on Sunday in a rural area close to an Iraqi military air base hosting some U.S. contractors, but there were no casualties, Iraqi security officials said.

Initial investigations showed that the target of the attack was to strike Balad air base, north of Baghdad, but the rocket fell short and hit the village of al-Bu Asi just southeast, they said.

No group immediately claimed the attack, but armed groups that some Iraqi officials have said are backed by Iran have claimed similar incidents in the past.