BAGHDAD

Sarraf starts official visit to Baghdad, meets Iraqi counterpart

Beirut - Muslimchronicle

Minister of Defense, Yaacoub Sarraf, started a three-day visit to Iraq, which began with talks with his Iraqi counterpart Irfan Mahmoud Al-Hayali, on boosting bilateral relations, especially on the military levels. The pair discussed prospects for joint cooperation between Iraq and Lebanon. At the beginning of the meeting, Sarraf congratulated his Iraqi counterpart on "the victories achieved by the IraqiRead more

Iraqi parliament approves date for general elections

BAGHDAD - Muslimchronicle

The Iraqi parliament Monday approved the date of the country's general elections on May 12 after the federal court ruled that it is not possible for the elections to be delayed. source: XinhuaRead more

Iraqi, Kurdish PMs try to resolve bitter dispute

Baghdad - Muslimchronicle

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi met Kurdish regional government counterpart Nechirvan Barzani for the first time on Saturday since the autonomous northern region's failed attempt to secede. Since Kurdish voters returned a resounding "yes" in a referendum on independence last September 25, the federal government in Baghdad has taken retaliatory measures. These include an air blockade of international flights to the Kurdish region's twoRead more

IS poses threat to Iraq one month after 'liberation'

Mosul - Muslimchronicle

Barely a month after Baghdad declared victory over the Islamic State group, the jihadists could still recapture areas of Iraq, especially near the border with Syria, experts and officials say. Ali al-Bayati, a commander of the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary units which fought alongside Iraqi security forces in a gruelling battle against the group, said the Nimrud area of northern Iraq could "fall at anyRead more

Iraqi parliament postpones session on elections' date amid political row

BAGHDAD - Muslimchronicle

The Iraqi parliament Thursday postponed its session for two days due to a lack of quorum after the lawmakers failed on whether to approve the date of general elections on May 12, or delay the elections to the end of the year, amid debate among political blocs. A statement by the parliament said that 149 lawmakers out of 260 attendingRead more

World Cup likely target for ISIS

Baghdad - Muslimchronicle

The World Cup soccer tournament to be held in Russia in June and July will be an “attractive target” for ISIS given Russia’s role in the territorial defeat of the militant group, the UK-based analysis firm, IHS, said on Thursday. “A successful attack (in Russia) would provide a tremendous propaganda boost for the ISIS and its fighters and supporters, underliningRead more

Baghdad twin suicide bombing kills 31

Baghdad - Muslimchronicle

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi called Monday for the elimination of jihadist "sleeper cells" after a twin suicide bombing killed 31 people in Baghdad in the second such attack in three days. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but most such attacks in Iraq are the work of the Islamic State jihadist group. The bombing comes after Abadi's government declared victoryRead more

Thirty-eight dead in central Baghdad double suicide attack

Baghdad - Muslimchronicle

A double suicide attack killed 38 people in Baghdad on Monday, a health official said, the second such attack in the Iraqi capital in three days. Earlier reports by spokesmen from the Health Ministry and the Interior Ministry had 26 killed and at least 16 dead, respectively, and dozens wounded. Dr Abdel Ghani al-Saadi, health chief for east Baghdad, reportedRead more

Iraq PM heads for May elections after defeating IS

Baghdad - Muslimchronicle

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Sunday he would stand for re-election in May at the head of a new coalition, buoyed by victory over the Islamic State group. Abadi's newly created "Victory Alliance" will face the "State of Law" bloc of Nuri al-Maliki, his predecessor, key rival and Shiite Dawa party co-member who now holds the post of viceRead more

More than half of Iraq's displaced have returned home

Baghdad - Muslimchronicle

More than half of Iraqis displaced by recent conflicts to other parts of the country have now returned to their homes, the UN’s International Organization for Migration said on Thursday. At the end of December, more than 3.2 million displaced Iraqis had gone home while 2.6 million still lived away from home, the IOM said. Iraqi forces have regained large swathes ofRead more