Iraq

6 July 2019; DW: The UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Friday designated the ancient city of Babylon as a World Heritage Site, recognizing its "outstanding value to humanity."

"The inscription represents a recognition of the outstanding human value and the unique significance of this ancient city and of the civilizations of Mesopotamia and their contributions to humanity," the Iraqi government said in a tweet.

BAGHDAD, July 3 (Xinhua) -- A total of 18 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed on Wednesday in operations by Iraqi security forces and airstrikes by international U.S.-led coalition aircraft, the Iraqi military said.

In Iraq's western province of Anbar, four IS militants were killed and their vehicle destroyed when paramilitary tribal fighters raided their hideout in Akashat area in the desert near the border with Syria, the media office of the Joint Operations Command (JOC) said in a statement.

2 July 2019; DW: Baghdad has ordered militias to join the army and their leaders to choose between paramilitary or political activity. The move comes amid concern that Iraq could become a battleground as US-Iran tensions spike.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has issued a decree seeking to bring mostly Iran-backed militias under the command of the armed forces.

Baghdad, Jul 2 (AFP/PTI) Iraq is establishing a financial "loophole" to continue buying vital gas and electricity from Iran despite US sanctions, AFP has learned, mirroring a European mechanism that came into effect Friday.

The "special purpose vehicle" (SPV) would allow Iraq to pay for imported Iranian energy in Iraqi dinars, which Iran could use to exclusively buy humanitarian goods, three senior Iraqi officials said.

28 June 2019; DW: Receding waters in the Mosul Dam reservoir have unveiled "one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the region." Researchers said the Mittani Empire is one of the least understood ancient civilizations.

A team of German and Kurdish archaeologists have discovered a 3,400-year-old palace that belonged to the mysterious Mittani Empire, the University of Tübingen announced on Thursday.

BAGHDAD, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) backed by the U.S.-led coalition aircraft on Monday killed 14 Islamic State (IS) militants in an operation in Iraq's northern province of Kirkuk, the Iraqi military said.

A force from the CTS in coordination with the international coalition aircraft conducted an operation to hunt down IS remnants in south of the provincial capital city of Kirkuk, some 250 km north of Baghdad, the media office of the Joint Operations Command said in a statement.

BAGHDAD, June 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. forces in Iraq prepared a plan to evacuate hundreds of contractors of security companies from an Iraqi military base in central of the country, an Iraqi security source said on Friday.

"The two U.S. companies Lockheed Martin Corp. and Sallyport Global, prepared a plan to evacuate their staff from Balad air base, depending on the development of the security situation," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

BAGHDAD, June 21 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and more than 15 others injured Friday in a suicide bomb attack at a Shiite mosque in eastern Baghdad, a police source said.

The attack took place when a suicide bomber detonated his explosive belt among dozens of Shiite worshippers who were observing prayer in Imam Mahdi mosque in Baladiyat neighborhood, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

BAGHDAD, June 18 (Xinhua) -- A Katyusha rocket landed Tuesday near a military base in the eastern side of the city of Mosul, where U.S. trainers are present, the Iraqi military said.

The rocket landed in the evening on the complex of the former presidential palace in Mosul, the capital of Iraq's northern province of Nineveh, a local security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Several security headquarters are stationed in the complex, which also houses U.S. troops tasked with training the Iraqi forces, the source said without giving further details.

BAGHDAD, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Three Katyusha rockets landed Monday on a military base just north of Baghdad where U.S. trainers are present, the Iraqi military said.

The three rockets landed in the evening on Camp Taji, a military base some 20 km north of the Iraqi capital, a media office affiliated with the Iraqi Joint Operations Command said in a statement without giving further details.

The huge military installation is located in a rural area and houses U.S. troops tasked with training the Iraqi forces.