Iraq

10 Jan 2022; MEMO: The European Union yesterday informed Iraq that it had been removed from the list of countries at high risk of money laundering and terror financing countries.

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry explained in a statement that an EU delegation had delivered a letter to Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi announcing that Iraq had been removed from the commission's list of countries with high-risk money laundering and terror financing.

08 Jan 2022; MEMO: Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr said today said that there will be no place for militias in the country's new government, Anadolu Agency reports.

His statements came on the eve of the first session of Iraq's new parliament following the Oct. 10 parliamentary elections, in which his bloc emerged winner.

"Today, there is no place for sectarianism or ethnicity, but a national majority government where the Shias will defend the rights of minorities, the Sunnis and Kurds," al-Sadr said on Twitter.

BAGHDAD, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on Wednesday called the attacks on Iraqi military bases "absurd", stressing the end of combat mission of the U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq after their withdrawal from the country.

"Unfortunately, there are some absurd actions within the first days of the new year, as several attacks targeted Iraqi bases, and this will certainly disturb the country's security and stability," said a statement by al-Kadhimi's media office.

BAGHDAD, Jan 4 (NNN-NINA) – The Iraqi Ministry of Planning, said yesterday that, Iraq’s population reached 41.19 million in 2021.

The total population is made up of about 51 percent men and about 49 percent women, while 69.9 percent of the population is estimated to live in urban areas and 30.1 percent in rural areas, the ministry said in a statement.

The numbers were sourced from the calculations done by the ministry’s Central Statistical Organisation, in accordance with international statistical standards, the statement noted.

BAGHDAD, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Two explosive-laden drones were shot down on Tuesday by Iraq's air defenses as they approached the Ain al-Asad air base, which hosts U.S. forces, west of Baghdad, an official of the U.S.-led international military coalition said.

U.S. officials in recent weeks had warned that they expected an uptick in attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, in part because of the second anniversary of the killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.

BAGHDAD, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Two drones attacked on Monday a military base near Baghdad International Airport and were shot down, a security source said.

The attack took place at dawn when the drones attacked an Iraqi base known as Camp Victory housing some U.S. experts and agencies, but were shot down by the C-RAM defense system which protects the site, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

There were no reports about the casualties and the security forces launched an investigation into the incident, the source added.

BAGHDAD (AP) — Chanting anti-American slogans, hundreds of people rallied in the Iraqi capital Saturday to mark the anniversary of the killing of a powerful Iranian general and a top Iraqi militia leader in a U.S. drone strike.

The crowd called for the expulsion of remaining American forces from Iraq during the demonstration commemorating the airstrike at Baghdad airport. The strike killed Gen. Qassim Soleimani, who was the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iran-backed militias in Iraq known as the Popular Mobilization Forces.

BAGHDAD, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities Hassan Nadhim announced on Thursday the discovery of more than 2,000 archaeological artifacts during 2021.

"We have opened an exhibition of artifacts discovered this year by joint foreign and Iraqi archaeological expeditions which worked in different areas in Iraq. These newly discovered artifacts will be added to the treasure troves of the Iraq Museum," Nadhim said in a statement during the opening ceremony of an exhibition in a hall of the the national Iraq Museum in the capital Baghdad.

30 Dec 2021; MEMO: Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi yesterday announced the end of the US-led international coalition forces' combat mission in Iraq.

"The coalition have fully completed their combat role after the transfer of personnel and material outside Iraq," Al-Kadhimi said on Twitter, adding that their next role would be "to advise and assist our security forces in accord with the outcome of the Strategic Dialogue."

BAGHDAD, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi confirmed on Wednesday the end of the U.S.-led coalition forces' combat mission in Iraq after the withdrawal of the forces from the country.

"The combat mission of the international coalition has ended, and all the combat equipment withdrew outside Iraq," al-Kadhimi said in a tweet posted on the official Twitter page of his media office.

"The role of the coalition has become limited to advise and support, according to the strategic dialogue," al-Kashimi added.