Iraq

BAGHDAD, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Joint Operations Command (JOC) on Friday said that the Iraqi and U.S. military agreed to reduce combat units in two military bases in Iraq by the end of September.

The agreement was reached during a meeting held on Thursday in Baghdad between an Iraqi committee headed by JOC's Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir al-Shammari and a U.S. committee headed by Maj. Gen. John Brennan, commanding general of the U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq, a JOC statement said.

BAGHDAD, Sept 16 (NNN-NINA) – An Iraqi soldier and a civilian were killed, and three members of the paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces were wounded yesterday, in separate attacks by the militants of the extremist Daesh group in Iraq, security sources said.

One of the attacks took place in the province of Diyala, when the militants attacked an Iraqi army position, near the city of Jalawla, 135 km north-east of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, leaving a soldier killed, Major Alaa al-Saadi, from the provincial police, said.

13 Sep 2021; MEMO: An improvised explosive device yesterday targeted a convoy providing logistical support for the international coalition forces in Al-Muthanna Governorate, southern Iraq, Anadolu reported citing a local security source.

A police captain in Al-Muthanna told the agency that "an explosive device, planted by unknown persons has exploded in a convoy of trucks carrying logistical equipment for the international coalition on the highway in Al-Muthanna Governorate".

13 Sep 2021; MEMO: Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi and Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi yesterday announced that they have reached an agreement to cancel the entry visa requirements between the two neighbouring countries.

Raisi said in a joint press conference following bilateral talks in Tehran that "several decisions were taken in the joint meeting with Al-Kadhimi", adding that Al-Kadhimi has also agreed to increase Iran's share of Arbaeen visitors, in reference to the Shia annual pilgrimage to the Iraqi city of Karbala.

Sept 12 (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi became the first foreign leader on Sunday to visit and meet with Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi since the hardliner took office in August.

Iraq has been trying to mediate between Tehran and its Gulf Arab foes, including Saudi Arabia, in the hope of stopping its neighbours settling scores on its territory.

BAGHDAD, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Six militants of the extremist Islamic State (IS) group were killed in airstrikes on Sunday in Iraq's Kirkuk province, while four federal police members were killed earlier in an overnight IS attack in the province, the Iraqi military said.

12 Sep 2021; MEMO: A drone attack hit near US forces stationed at Erbil International Airport in northern Iraq on Saturday, Iraqi Kurdish security officials said, reported Reuters.

The internal security service for Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, of which Erbil is the capital, initially said three rockets had hit near the airport.

A second statement by the Kurdish counter-terrorism force said the attack had been carried out by explosive-laden drones.

10 Sep 2021; MEMO: Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi yesterday received United States Central Command (CENTCOM) chief, General Kenneth McKenzie, in Baghdad and agreed to hold another meeting of the American and Iraqi technical military committees to finalise plans to end the US combat presence by the end of the year.

BAGHDAD, Sept 8 (NNN-NINA) – Iraqi security forces, yesterday, killed four militants of the extremist Daesh group in an operation in Iraq’s northern province of Kirkuk an official said.

A joint force from the Iraqi army and Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), killed the militants near the town of Altun Kupri, some 40 km north of the namesake provincial capital, Kirkuk, said Ali al-Fraiji, commander of Kirkuk Operations Command, in a statement.

KIRKUK (IRAQ), Sept 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thirteen Iraqi policemen were killed in Daesh group attack against a checkpoint in the country’s north early Sunday, security and medical sources said.

The attack, in the region of Al-Rashad around 65 kilometers south of Kirkuk city, took place just after midnight, a senior Iraqi police officer said.

“Members of the Daesh organization targeted a federal police checkpoint,” said the officer, adding “13 security personnel were killed and three wounded.” 

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.