trident

World News December 26, 2019 / 12:49 PM / Updated 2 hours ago Iraqi president says he would rather quit than name PM rejected by protesters BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi President Barham Salih refused on Thursday to designate the nominee of an Iran-backed parliamentary bloc for prime minister, saying he would rather resign than appoint someone to the position who would be rejected by protesters. The Bina bloc, led by Iran-backed militia leader Hadi al-Amiri, had nominated Basra Governor Asaad al-Edani to be the next prime minister. But Salih said in a statement that appointing Edani would not placate protesters demanding an independent prime minister with no party affiliation or help calm the unrest that has rocked the country. He said that because the constitution does not give him the right to reject nominees for the premiership, he was ready to quit. “Out of my desire to stop blood and maintain peace, and with due respect to Asaad al-Edani, I refuse to nominate him,” Salih said. “Therefore I put my willingness to resign the post of president to members of parliament so that they decide as representatives of the people what they see fit.” Mass protests have gripped Iraq since Oct. 1 and the protesters, most of them young, are demanding an overhaul of a political system they see as profoundly corrupt and keeping most Iraqis in poverty. More than 450 people have been killed. Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi resigned last month as the protests continued, but he has remained in office in a caretaker capacity. Sources in Salih’s office said the president left Baghdad on Thursday for his hometown of Sulaimaniya in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq and that he would deliver a televised speech later.😊 Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by Gareth Jones and Hugh Lawson Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Like to see how the demonstrators react to this, if its broadcasted on the cities big screens.

Middle East Iraq Parliament set to meet to vote on election bill, nominate PM: sources Kurdistan 24 | 3 hours ago The Iraqi Parliament in Baghdad. (Photo: AFP) Iraq Iraq Protests Iraqi Parliament ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Iraqi Parliament is expected to hold a regular session on Tuesday to complete voting on the draft election law, while political forces are still negotiating to nominate an alternate candidate for outgoing Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi. A parliamentary session last week did not lead to a vote on the election bill, which consists of 50 articles that seek to reform the country’s electoral system. The draft law indicates the electoral system would change to one that is a mix between direct voting and electoral lists, the latter of which protesters have rejected, preferring the former instead. Attending members of the legislature approved the first 14 articles of the bill. But as lawmakers disagreed on a vote on articles 15 and 16, MPs from the Kurdistan Region’s parties left the session, breaking quorum. A parliamentary source told Kurdistan 24 lawmakers would complete the vote on the draft election law, adding that “most articles” would likely be resolved in Tuesday’s session at 1 p.m. local time. Parliamentary blocs must reach consensus before proceeding to vote on the controversial election law, which could herald an escalation on the ground for protesters. Iraq has been engulfed in anti-government protests for nearly three months now, where over 500 people have been killed in clashes between security forces and demonstrators, and thousands of others injured. The protests in Iraq reflect widespread dissatisfaction with the economy, availability of jobs, the dismal state of public services, and widespread government corruption. Demonstrators demand that the next prime minister be independent and someone who has never held a ministerial position in successive governments.

Middle East Iraq reopens a border crossing with Iran after five-month closure Hiwa Shilani | 3 hours ago https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/5dc1e8d7-0e23-4ebd-983e-13e1cfcbf8eb Mandali border crossing. (Photo: Archive) Iraq Iran border crossing ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – On Monday, Iraq announced that it was opening the Mandali border crossing in Diyala governorate, which connects Iraq with Iran, in the middle of the two countries. The border crossing had been closed for nearly five months, as the Iraqi Border Ports Authority explained. It was shut down last August, through a decision of then Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi, because of allegations of corruption in the administration of the border post. The Border Ports Authority in a statement announced that Abdul Mahdi, who remains Iraq’s interim Prime Minister, has now decided on re-opening the border-crossing on Tuesday, Dec. 24. The statement explained that the decision came after “the completion of the necessary procedures to re-develop the border-crossing in terms of infrastructure and services, while building several offices and bases for the operational staff and providing them with the necessary equipment to prevent the violations that had been taking place before.” Iraq has one of the world’s largest oil reserves, and it is the second-largest oil producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC.) However, its citizens suffer from extreme poverty and high unemployment rates—which has led to popular protests that have been ongoing since October. In response, Abdul Mahdi resigned his post on Nov. 29. Iraqi President Barham Salih, after consultation with the parliament, was supposed to name an interim prime minister last week. However, that deadline has passed twice. The underlying problem is that the protestors reject the entire political system, set up by the US in the wake of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)—the US name for the 2003 war that ousted the regime of Saddam Hussein. The Bush administration believed that establishing democracy in Iraq would be easy. It even believed, at one point, that it could transform the entire Middle East by promoting democracy in Iraq and other countries. Yet establishing good governance in the region has proven a much more difficult task than the Bush administration thought, while Iraq’s government remains highly problematic—hence the ongoing protests. But, ironically, the protests are not directed against the US, as much as they are directed against Iran, which has established a considerable presence in Iraq during the 16 years since Saddam’s overthrow. Iraq ranks very high on Transparency International’s list for corruption, fraud, and mismanagement. It is number 169 on that list—the eleventh most corrupt country out of a total of 180. The other government established by the US in its post 9/11 wars—Afghanistan—ranks even worse: 172, while Iran, itself, fares only somewhat better at 138. Editing by Laurie Mylroie

Middle East Protests continue in southern Iraq, reject lead PM candidate Kurdistan 24 | 6 hours ago Demonstrators have long lamented what they see as foreign intervention in Iraqi affairs and see possible candidate Qusay al-Suhail as Iran’s pick for the premiership. (Photo: Ziyad Matt) Iraq Baghdad Iraq Protests ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Protesters in several southern Iraqi cities cut off key roads linking to the capital of Baghdad as widespread demonstrations continue calling for an end to rule by the political elite in a country wracked by years of corruption. In Nasiriyah – which has seen much turmoil since protests began in October – demonstrators stopped traffic across most of the city’s major bridges, with local authorities announcing a holiday for public servants. The city of Nasiriyah is divided by the Tigris River. Protesters chanted slogans rejecting the candidacy of Qusay al-Suhail for the post of prime minister and threatened further escalation should it come to pass. Demonstrators have long lamented what they see as foreign intervention in Iraqi affairs and see Suhail as Iran’s pick for the premiership. Students also partook in the Nasiriyah sit-in square demonstrations, chanting: “No work until the regime falls.” On Saturday, the self-proclaimed largest parliamentary bloc, the Iranian-allied al-Bina Coalition, said it had submitted its candidate for the premiership. The alliance’s pick is most likely Suhail, who is currently the education minister. This comes three weeks after Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi stepped down from his position amid mounting pressure from protesters. Abdul Mahdi said he arrived at his decision after a sermon by the country’s top Shia cleric, Ali al-Sistani, who called for a change in leadership. Bina’s leading contender in influence and size in the national legislature, the Muqtada al-Sadr–led Islah Alliance, has rejected Suhail’s potential candidacy as well, with Sadr himself calling for an independent nominee for the role. Nasiriyah has been the site of one of the deadliest days of protests and assassinations and abductions of demonstrators. On Friday, unidentified gunmen shot and killed an activist, which enraged protesters who marched to multiple party offices widely seen as allies of Iran and torched them. In Muthanna, protesters crossed the main streets of the city of Kut and forced employees and students to return to their homes, demanding that a general strike continue. Demonstrators also shut the main gate of Muthanna University in the city of Samawah. In Basra province, witnesses told Kurdistan 24 that demonstrators closed a number of the Basra city’s roads by burning tires. In response, local authorities deployed several detachments of riot police to the streets and opened several closed roads. Sunday marks the constitutional deadline for Iraqi President Barham Salih to name parliament’s preferred candidate for prime minister to succeed Abdul Mahdi. So far, nearly 500 have reportedly been killed in the protests, mostly peaceful protestors by security forces or Iran-backed militias in the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), and well over 27,000 wounded. Many have been killed after riot police have used live rounds or have fired military-grade tear gas canisters directly into crowds. Editing by Karzan Sulaivany

Shame they cannot run a country as well as they make video's !

Quote from interesting deal, IF actually true - and not just a guru's opinion.

Middle East At least 304 people killed in clashes with security during Iran protests: Amnesty Kurdistan 24 | 7 hours ago Riot police disperse protesters against increased gas prices on a highway in Tehran, Iran, on Nov. 16, 2019. (Photo: Reuters) Iran Iran Protests Amnesty International Amnesty ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Amnesty International said on Monday that security forces had killed over 300 people during demonstrations in Iran. In a new report, the rights group said that “at least 304 people were killed, and thousands injured” during three days between Nov. 15 to 18 “as authorities crushed the protests using lethal force.” “The majority of the deaths that the organization has recorded occurred as a result of gunshots to the head, heart, neck, and other vital organs indicating that the security forces were shooting to kill,” it added. Protests in Iran started on Nov. 15 after Tehran passed a new law on subsidized gasoline that tripled its price. Demonstrations began calmly but quickly spread to dozens of other parts of the country, including multiple cities in Kurdish-majority western provinces. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has mobilized hundreds of thousands of its Basij paramilitaries and other security forces to crack down on protestors. Earlier this month, Iran Human Rights Monitor said over 1,000 Iranian protestors were believed to be dead in clashes with security forces. It also reported that over 12,000 people had been arrested, many after being wounded by gunfire, claiming that “protestors are under severe torture to make false confessions.” Meanwhile, Kurdish rights watchdog Hengaw reported in November that there had been at least 48 deaths and 1,000 arrests in the provinces of Kermanshah, Kurdistan, Ilam, and West Azerbaijan. The group previously said that some wounded protesters had been avoiding hospitals for fear of capture.

More good news.. Middle East Bridge connecting Erbil, Mosul, and Kirkuk reopens after being damaged in fight against ISIS Hiwa Shilani | 6 hours ago Gwer Bridge re-opens, with Iraqi and Kurdistan Region officials attending the ceremony, Dec.12, 2019. (Photo: KDP Website) Kurdistan Iraq Mosul Nineveh Kirkuk Erbil ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A bridge in the Iraqi city of Gwer reopened on Thursday, out of commission since it sustained structural damage during fierce fighting against Islamic State militants who had taken control of the area after their 2014 rise in much of the country. “Three years after it was damaged, today the bridge that is one of the largest in Iraq, is officially opened after its reconstruction,” Masoud Noory, Director of Gwer subdistrict, told the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) news website. He added, “The bridge will be protected by Peshmerga forces, and today it was opened in coordination and cooperation with Unit 6 of Peshmerga in Gwer. The public can now use it.” Noory also mentioned that the bridge has a strategic significance as it ties together the three major cities of Erbil, Mosul, and Kirkuk. The media office of Nineveh governor Najim al-Jubouri also announced the reopening of the bridge, mentioning its economic significance as a result of it facilitating trade and transportation between the Kurdistan Region and Mosul. Peshmerga forces secured the bridge on Aug. 2016, years after Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq, was quick to fall into the hands of the Islamic State. Soon thereafter, the extremist group fanned out over surrounding areas like Gwer. Economic deterioration, mistreatment of locals by Iraqi security forces, and neglect from the central government are all often cited as important factors contributing to the ability of the Islamic State to gain control of such areas so rapidly. Editing by John J. Catherine

Well thats a no brainer and should been done so many years ago ...instead of burning it off and adding to the worlds pollution ... but hey theres more money for the corrupt if they truck it from iran.

No surprise there, hey.

Middle East Kurdistan security forces seize counterfeit medicine, make arrests Kurdistan 24 | 8 hours ago Medicine that the Kurdistan Region's security forces identified as counterfeit and seized in the capital of Erbil, Dec. 9, 2019. (Photo: Kurdistan 24) Kurdistan Erbil Drug Medicine KRG ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Security forces in the Kurdistan Region seized a large number of counterfeit medicines in the capital of Erbil and arrested at least two people for alleged sales of the products, a health official said on Monday. “Drugs that claimed to treat cancer were being manufactured at a farm on the Erbil–Salahuddin Road,” Hezha Anwar, the head of the Kurdistan Region’s drug control commission, told Kurdistan 24. The claims have “no scientific basis,” and the drugs were sold at USD 900 to 1,000 per package, she added. The security forces provided Kurdistan 24 with photos that showed the various medicines as well as two detainees who were captured on charges related to dealing with the products. Medicine that the Kurdistan Region's security forces identified as counterfeit and seized in the capital of Erbil, Dec. 9, 2019. (Photo: Kurdistan 24) Anwar affirmed that the security forces had made arrests related to the case, noting that investigations are continuing to find out the source and distributors of these drugs. The official explained that a portion of these counterfeit medicines had been smuggled from Iran into the region, entering through Sulaimani province before moving to Erbil. She cautioned citizens to purchase medicine only from pharmacies licensed by regional authorities. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) established the drug control commission recently as the need for a body to supervise the import of food and medicine grew. Detainees whom the security forces captured on charges related to dealing with the products. (Photo: Kurdistan 24) In July, Zana Mala-Khalid, head of the Food and Medicine Committee at the Kurdistan Parliament, told local media that one of the KRG cabinet’s agendas was to form a body that would oversee the import of said goods, as well as ensure quality and fair prices. Kurdistan Region citizens have recently been vocal about concerns over the lack of quality control and inflated medicine prices. In October 2018, the KRG enforced new regulations on the region’s pharmaceutical industry after sales of counterfeit drugs and claims of shady deals between doctors and sales companies. Editing by Karzan Sulaivany

Hey Mahdi .... How about you also thank the Coalition forces

Middle East Iraqi army promises to protect demonstrators on ‘day of action’ Kurdistan 24 | 4 hours ago Iraqi security forces gather in front of a concrete barrier on al-Rasheed street in the capital Baghdad, during a lull in the anti-government protests, on Dec. 5, 2019. (Photo: AFP/Ahmad al-Rubaye) Iraq Iraq Protests Baghdad ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Iraqi army said on Tuesday that it would protect protesters as hundreds of thousands of people are expected to gather for a day of action in the capital Baghdad. Othman al-Ghanimi, the Iraqi Army Chief-of-Staff, made the comments in a speech to demonstrators to mark the second anniversary of the military defeat of the so-called Islamic State. “Your army and security forces are there to protect you until your legitimate demands are met,” Ghanimi stated. The announcement comes amid ongoing anti-government protests in Iraq that have left over 450 people dead and at least 17,600 others injured in clashes between demonstrators and security forces. The protests in Iraq reflect widespread dissatisfaction with the economy, a call for more jobs, the dismal state of public services, and widespread government corruption. The United Nations, as well as Amnesty International, have called for an end to the bloodshed and urged security forces to show restraint against protestors. Demonstrators in Iraq are calling for radical change in Iraq’s political system, which they say fails to address their needs, but, rather, serves the interests of a small governing elite. The developments have forced Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi to hand in his resignation. In a special session held last week in Baghdad, the Iraqi Parliament voted to accept Abdul Mahdi’s resignation.

Middle East Iraq summons top Western diplomats over statements on protests Kurdistan 24 | 7 hours ago Iraqi demonstrators gather during ongoing anti-government protests in Baghdad, Dec. 6, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Khalid al-Mousily) Iraq Baghdad Iraq Protests EU Canada ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraq’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday that it had summoned the ambassadors of four Western countries following statements their embassies made to condemn killings militia groups carried out during protests in central and southern provinces. The statements came after a night of deadly violence in the Iraqi capital on Friday when unidentified armed persons shot and stabbed protesters in what appeared to be a coordinated effort to crack down on demonstrations. Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) militias are suspected of having been behind the Friday killings, among others, which were estimated at 23 deaths, including three police officers, and over a hundred more people wounded. Three of the diplomats in question were those from Germany, Britain, and France, the mission offices of which issued a joint statement on Sunday following a meeting with Prime Minister of the Iraqi caretaker government, Adil Abdul Mahdi. “No armed group should be able to operate outside of the control of the state,” the statement from the three European countries said. They “encouraged” Baghdad to implement its recent decision to keep the Hashd al-Shaabi militias away from protest locations. The fourth person the Iraqi Foreign Ministry summoned was Canadian Ambassador to Iraq Ulric Shannon, who officially began his role on Monday. Shannon’s comments on the protests came in a tweet on Saturday, saying that a state should not allow the existence of “armed groups with private interests,” and calling on the authorities to hold “the criminals” who attacked protesters to account. A Foreign Ministry official, Abdul Karim Hashem, had met with the ambassadors. He said in a statement that “the mission of ambassadors to Baghdad is to strengthen relations and build a base of common interests without interfering in [Iraq’s] internal affairs.” Hashem expressed Iraq’s rejection of the contents of the joint European statement, which he considered “unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of Iraq and a clear violation of Article I of the Vienna Agreement that regulates international relations.” On the protests, the Foreign Ministry statement reiterated that the government had “launched a reform package in response to the demands of the protesters.” It claimed investigations into the breakout of violence were “ongoing” and “have taken legal measures to hold the perpetrators accountable and bring them to justice.” Since the demonstrations began, over 460 people have died, most of them killed by Iraqi security forces, while 17,600 others have been wounded. Editing by Karzan Sulaivany

Middle East Iraq repatriates 387 ancient historical artifacts from the US Hiwa Shilani | December 08-2019 05:53 PM An ancient Mesopotamian tablet with cuneiform script inscribed. (Photo: Archive) Iraq US Iraq Museum Ancient Artifacts ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraq’s Ministry of Culture announced on Sunday that it had repatriated 387 ancient historical tablets of clay from the University of Pennsylvania Museum in the United States. The collection consists of clay tablets with cuneiform script inscribed. A team of archeologists from the University of Pennsylvania and the British Museum unearthed the artifacts. “The fragments were 4,000 years old and were excavated from the ancient Mesopotamian city of Ur during expeditions between 1922 to 1934, which were transferred to the Penn Museum at the time and stayed there for study,” the Ministry of Culture said in a statement. Following “intensive efforts during the past months to retrieve the historical artifacts,” they will be delivered to the Iraqi embassy in Washington, DC, on Friday. Once they arrive at the embassy, the artifacts, along with thousands of other ancient artifacts that were recovered and stored at the embassy, will be shipped to Iraq for delivery to the Iraqi museum, the statement added. Brad Hafford, an archeologist at Penn Museum, said the tablets were shipped out for study “because no one in Iraq, at the time, could read them.” According to Hafford, the stone tablets were records of economic transactions, which provided “insight into what goods were traded, where they came from, and how items were valued relative to one another and to amounts of silver.” Iraq’s Ministry of Culture also said the University of Pennsylvania Museum would initiate a filed expedition in the ancient Mesopotamian city of Ur, reconstructing damaged artifacts and temples and provide training for the staff at the Nasiriyah Museum. Editing by Karzan Sulaivany December 08-2019 07:24 PM

they sure like to spend all this time talking about what should be done over and over again. without actually doing it.

Middle East As Iraq protest casualty numbers rise, parliament speaker decries forces 'outside the framework of the state' Kurdistan 24 | 2 hours ago Demonstators hold a vigil in Baghdad's Khilani Square after Friday night’s bloodshed, Dec. 7, 2019. (Photo: AP/Nasser Nasser) Iraq Protests Baghdad ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Iraqi security sources said on Sunday that the death toll from the so-called “Bloody Friday” violence against protesters in the nation's capital two nights before rose to 22 dead, plus more than 140 wounded. Three police officers were among those killed in stabbings and shootings, mostly in Khilani Square and on, or near, central Baghdad's Sinak Bridge, which connects the two halves of the city separated by the Tigris River. The security authorities have so far made no arrests for the killings, but the Ministry of the Interior said it was closely monitoring the situation. Several local media outlets have accused militias in the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). On Thursday, just after supporters of Kata’ib Hezbollah, one of the most prominent Iran-backed PMF groups, briefly joined protests in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square, demonstrators say that 15 among the crowds were stabbed. On Saturday, Iraqi Parliamentary Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi released a statement condemning the violence and urging that “government and the security forces should take their role by force of law to maintain security and protect citizens, their property and capabilities, and to prevent any armed appearances outside the framework of the state.” Earlier in the day, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, strongly condemned the violence. “The deliberate killing of unarmed protesters by armed elements is nothing less than an atrocity against the people of Iraq. The perpetrators must be identified and brought to justice without delay,” Hennis-Plasschaert said in a statement. She urged Iraqi forces “to protect the peaceful protesters from violence” and called on demonstrators “to cooperate constructively to ensure the peaceful protests can be duly protected.” The incident occurred on the same day the US sanctioned three Iran-backed Iraqi militia leaders for alleged roles in the killing of protesters in various parts of Iraq. Washington has said they would be seeking further sanctions against entities involved in the deaths of demonstrators. Although slightly limited in scope since they began in Baghdad in early October, the protests, which quickly spread to other major cities in southern and central Iraqi provinces, have been ongoing despite the resignation of Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi. Last week, he said he had decided to step down as casualties from demonstrations rose to over 400 deaths and close to 17,000 wounded. Iraqi forces have denied being behind a large part of the deaths of demonstrators, while PMF militias reportedly deployed snipers to shoot protesters, killing dozens at least, according to initial estimations in November. Protesters have been calling for the expulsion of the political elite from power after years of rampant corruption, severe unemployment rates, and chronically poor public services.

Middle East US sanctions Iran-backed militia leaders for killing Iraqi demonstrators Laurie Mylroie | 4 hours ago An Iraqi protester carries a wounded comrade in Baghdad's Tayran Square, Oct. 2, 2019. (Photo: AFP) https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/516e8292-e898-4c19-893e-bb6cd8e74625 WASHINGTON DC (Kurdistan 24) – The US announced on Friday that it was imposing sanctions on three militia leaders for their role in killing protestors in Iraq’s protracted demonstrations, now in their third month. The three sanctioned figures are all supported by Tehran. Although the protestors are predominantly Shi’ites, the militia leaders are Shi’ites too. Through most of its history—since its establishment in 1921, under British mandate, until the US-led war in 2003—Sunnis have ruled Iraq, and it is a new phenomenon for a Shi’ite regime to repress Shi’ites. Indeed, on Friday, at least 12 protesters in Baghdad, including two policemen, were killed, and over 40 were wounded, after gunmen suddenly appeared in two vehicles and opened fire, before quickly disappearing. It is impossible to know who the gunmen were, but suspicion falls on Iranian-backed militias. The US also announced on Friday that it was sanctioning a Sunni politician and businessman, Khamis Farhan al-Khanjar al-Issawi, for “engaging in widespread corruption at the expense of the Iraqi people.” As Secretary of State Mike Pompeo noted, the designations come on the eve of International Anticorruption Day, December 9, and International Human Rights Day, December 10. “The United States is doing its part to advance those very same values,” Pompeo said, and “hold to account those who would undermine them through human rights abuses or acts of corruption.” Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq Leaders and PMF Security Chief The three sanctioned militia leaders include two brothers: Qais and Laith al-Khazali. Qais is the head of the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) and Laith is a senior figure in AAH. The third militia figure was identified by US officials as Husayn Falih Aziz al-Lami, but is probably better known as Abu Zainab al-Lami. Al-Lami heads the Central Security Directorate of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and is said to be close to Qasim Soleimani, head of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC.) AAH receives some $2 million in money and weapons from Iran monthly, according to The New York Times. It has been involved in shooting protestors in the current demonstrations, US officials said, but the violence of the al-Khazali brothers—and their association with Iran—goes back over a decade, to the US-led war in Iraq. In 2007, they played “leading roles” in the assault on the headquarters of the Karbala provincial government, in which five US soldiers were killed (the attack was directed by Iran, and on Thursday the US announced a $15 million reward for information on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force commander, Abdul Reza Shahlai, responsible for planning the assault.) In 2015, AAH was “involved in widespread forced disappearances,” which “[targeted] Sunni Iraqis with impunity,” the US said, explaining, “Laith al-Khazali controlled efforts to remove Sunnis from areas of Diyala Province, including killings to drive Sunnis from the area.” Nonetheless, in the May 2018 elections, Qais al-Khazali won 15 seats in Iraq’s National Assembly. In announcing the new sanctions, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, David Schenker, decried Iran’s influence in Iraq. In doing so, he echoed many of the protestors who blame Iran for Iraq’s political and economic woes. Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi resigned a week ago in response to the protests, but no one has been selected to replace him. Yet, as Schenker noted, Qasim Soleimani—whom the US has designated a terrorist—“is in Baghdad, working this issue.” “Foreign terrorist leaders, or military leaders, should not be meeting with Iraqi political leaders to determine the next premier of Iraq,” Schenker said. Iraq is one of the world’s most corrupt countries, ranking 168 out of 180 on Transparency International’s list. Schenker expressed sympathy with the protestors, explaining, “Iraqis are fed up with economic stagnation, endemic corruption, and mismanagement.” But without a commitment among Iraq’s political leaders to better governance, “it makes little difference who they designate as prime minister,” Schenker stated, as he also stressed the need for Iraqi politicians “to put Iraqi interests first.” Schenker promised “further designations in the future,” suggesting Friday’s announcement was the start of a more sustained US effort to improve Iraq’s government. He emphasized America’s good-will. “We are the largest donor of humanitarian, stabilization, demining, and security assistance to Iraq,” he said. “We want to maintain and expand that role to include helping with economic reform to create jobs for Iraqis and Americans alike,” but “we need to see Iraqi leaders” being “equally committed to that partnership.”Schenker confirmed earlier reports that Iran seemed increasingly engaged in hostilities against the US and its allies, attributing that to the US “maximum pressure campaign working over the months.” “There is a trajectory,” he said, in which the Iranians began by increasing “the operational tempo of the Houthis [in Yemen] against the Saudis; then raised the rhetoric and the temperature in Iraq against US personnel;” then “scuttling boats in Fujairah; then kidnapping boats; then shooting down US drones in international airspace, and most recently Abqaiq, targeting directly with their own missiles Saudi oil facilities.” CNN reported on Tuesday that “there is fresh intelligence of a potential Iranian threat against US forces and interests in the Middle East,” but provided no details. On Thursday, two mortars landed in Balad Air Base in Salahadin province, some 64 kilometers north of Baghdad. US troops are stationed at the base, but the mortars caused no casualties or serious damage. Asked who he thought was responsible, Schenker noted the investigation is ongoing, but “if past is prologue, I’d say there’s a good chance it was Iran.” Updated3 hours ago

Iraq Pulse Iranian consulates torched in Najaf and Karbala Shelly Kittleson December 4, 2019 Article Summary Human rightsIraqi government responds to protests by digging in Meanwhile, officials in Karbala claimed that most of those killed during protests were members of security forces. They denied knowledge of local “martyrs” among peaceful protesters or anti-Iran sentiment. In the city, a heavy security presence loomed, and concrete barriers blocked roads lined with charred walls. Protesters and security forces reportedly clashed near the Karbala regional government buildings Dec. 2. Allegations of mass killings of protesters in the city circulated widely among residents and on social media in previous weeks. Major media outlets reported at least 18 killed on Oct. 29 alone. The cities of Karbala and Najaf are sacred to Shiite Muslims, and the reports sparked outcry among the mainly Shiite protesters in other parts of the country. In interviews with Al-Monitor in mid-November, Karbala's police media chief and the deputy security chief for Karbala’s shrines painted a picture of violent infiltrators. Both said that claims of anti-Iran sentiment among those “peacefully demanding their rights” were attempts to exploit the situation by "those with an agenda." Qassim Musleh, the deputy head of security at the Karbala shrines, said "Israel and America" were trying to create divisions among the Shiite community in Iraq. Protests in central and southern Iraq began Oct. 1 and over 400 have reportedly been killed. Reliable figures are hard to get, and casualty counts are likely underestimated. Musleh is also the head of the Shiite-led Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) for Anbar province, meaning he holds both a governmental position and one within the religious establishment. The vulnerability of the holy city of Karbala, Musleh told Al-Monitor in 2018, is why the local Sunni population of Jurf al-Sakr in nearby Babil province would “never be allowed to return.” Jurf al-Sakr is currently under the control of Iran-linked Kataib Hezbollah. The PMU retook Jurf al-Sakr — now Jurf al-Nasr — from the Islamic State in 2014. Many say Kataib Hezbollah use the security of Karbala as a justification for the forces' continued occupation of the town. Musleh said in mid-November, “We support the demands of the protesters who are against corrupt parties.” On the first night of the protests, he said, “there were 105 members of the security forces that were injured and not a single protester,” but some nights later, “rioters tried to destroy the government building and the Bank of Agriculture.” “This violence is rejected by both sides: the security forces and the protesters," he said, "The Marjaiya [or senior Shiite clergy] say that violence is forbidden, and we take orders instructions from them.” Musleh added that, in his role at the shrines, he and others had helped the peaceful protesters. “We saw that toilets were needed and so we sent mobile toilets," he said. "Then we started providing three meals a day. We responded to the Marjaiya’s call to support the people who want to fix the government.” He said that thousands of employees of both Imam Hussein and Imam Abbas shrines had taken part in the protests. Musleh said, “The PMU are providing security and protecting the border, but they are not officially taking part as PMU. If they are on leave, they have the freedom to do so. But we are part of the security forces and we cannot leave our positions to protest.” “Hundreds are in the streets,” he added. “It is difficult for the police to understand who is peaceful and who is not.” The road to the main protest square is blocked by concrete barriers. Vehicle traffic has been barred from the area, and a wide and empty road branches off the roundabout. In late afternoon, police presence in the city is reinforced by black armored vehicles that arrive in waves. Security forces then prepare for possible attempts to reach government buildings. Yet the buildings “are empty now after the government’s decision to stop their work,” Col. Ali Abbas al-Ghanimi, the police media relations chief, told Al-Monitor. Problems, Ghanimi said, don’t begin until after 8 or 9 p.m. The protests “started peacefully, but then rioters from outside the province came and started using bricks and stones to cause destruction and tried to burn” government buildings, schools and banks. Ghanimi claimed that “10 security officers had been injured” for every protester. He said that in the main protest square, "you will not see" protesters chanting against Iran. Shops were shuttered on streets adjacent to the concrete barriers that separated protesters and security forces. A young man who said he had been detained by security forces for several days, allegedly for filming the protests, interrupted his conversation with Al-Monitor to ask a street coffee seller if the two men walking by were “mukhabarat,” or intelligence officers. On the side of the concrete barriers opposite the security forces, reached by taking a two-minute detour, a festive atmosphere reigned. Tents were set up and young people socialized, took selfies, danced and argued amid book stalls and free food. In the center of the main square, photos of “martyrs” were displayed as well as banners, including one calling for “countries that support peace, freedom and democracy to stop Iran and expose its actions before the international community.” A protester said there used to be more banners complaining of Iranian interference in Iraqi affairs in this square, “but one night someone came and took them down.” Less than two weeks later, the Iranian Consulate in Najaf was under attack. 

Middle East Death toll in Iraq protests reaches 460, over 17,400 injured: Iraqi rights commission Kurdistan 24 | December 04-2019 03:28 PM Iraqi mourners carry the coffin of an anti-government protester who died from injuries sustained in previous confrontations with security forces, during his funeral in the capital Baghdad on Dec. 3, 2019. (Photo: AFP/Sabah Arar) Iraq Iraq Protests Human Rights Baghdad ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The death toll in Iraq’s anti-government protests has reached at least 460, with tens of thousands more injured, Iraq’s Independent High Commission for Human Rights said on Wednesday. “At least 460 protestors were killed in October and November in various central and southern cities, including Baghdad,” Ali al-Bayati, a representative of the commission, said in a statement. Bayati added that civilians wounded during the demonstrations surpassed 17,400, with over 3,000 of them permanently disabled. The protests in Iraq reflect widespread dissatisfaction with the economy, a call for more jobs, the dismal state of public services, and widespread government corruption. The United Nations, as well as Amnesty International, have called for an end to the bloodshed and urged security forces to show restraint against protestors. Demonstrators in Iraq are calling for radical change in Iraq’s political system, which they say fails to address their needs, but, rather, serves the interests of a small governing elite. The developments have forced Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi to hand in his resignation. In a special session held on Sunday in Baghdad, the Iraqi Parliament voted to accept Abdul Mahdi’s resignation. According to Bayati, the prime minister’s resignation will not end the unrest in Iraq because the country is in “an ongoing political and security crisis.” “The government’s resignation will not suffice to absorb the anger of the protestors.” UpdatedDecember 04-2019 03:30 PM

Middle East Multiple stabbings after Iran-backed militia supporters join Baghdad protest Kurdistan 24 | 3 hours ago Pro-PMF supporters reportedly joined the protest after calls by Kata'ib Hezbollah, one of the most prominent of Iraq's Iran-backed militias militias. (Photo: Social Media) Iran US Iraq PMF Hashd al-Shaabi ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Just after supporters of Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Force (PMF) militias briefly joined ongoing protests on Thursday in Baghdad's Tahrir Square, demonstrators say that 15 people among the crowds were stabbed. It was not clear whether the stabbings were done by the militia supporters or others. The Associated Press quoted one protester as saying they "might have been perpetrated by the parties [aligned with the PMF] or someone who wants to ignite problems with the parties." While the supporters were in the square, they voiced support for top Shia cleric Ali al-Sistani and waved flags of the PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi, as they are known in Arabic. "Death to America," read one of the signs, with another banner reading "Death to Israel." These are common anti-West slogans used by Iran and its proxies in the Middle East. The pro-PMF march reportedly came after calls by one of the most prominent PMF militias known as Kata'ib Hezbollah, a US-designated foreign terrorist organization. One media source said that some demonstrators also raised signs expressing "support for peace" and preventing "sabotage," a word often used by Iraqi officials who claim that foreign-backed infiltrators among the crowds intentionally derail protests with violence. Iraqi media close to Iran again alleged "saboteurs" were among demonstrators. The Al-Atijah satellite channel, a Kata'ib Hezbollah-affiliated organization, broadcasted scenes from the demonstration. Other media sources have warned that pro-Sistani demonstrations could turn into counter-protests and result in "clashes" at Tahrir Square, which has been the site of anti-government demonstrations for over two months. Another pro-PMF rally is scheduled for Friday. Although slightly limited in scope since they began in October, the Baghdad protests, which quickly spread to other major cities in southern and central Iraqi provinces, have been ongoing despite the resignation of Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi. Last week, he said he had decided to step down after calls for change in leadership by Sistani, as casualties from demonstrations rose to over 400 deaths and close to 17,000 wounded. Iraqi forces have denied being behind a large part of the deaths of demonstrators, while PMF militias reportedly deployed snipers to shoot protesters, killing dozens at least, according to initial estimations in November. Protesters have been calling for the expulsion of the political elite from power after years of rampant corruption, severe unemployment rates, and chronically poor public services. Editing by John J. Catherine Updated12 minutes ago

The judiciary issues an arrest warrant and a travel ban against General Jamil al-Shammari https://www.shafaaq.com/ar/أمـن/القضاء-يصدر-مذكرة-قبض-ومنع-سفر-بحق-الفريق-جميل-الشمري/ 2019/12/01 02:30:36 Shafiq News / The judicial investigative body formed to hear the cases of events in the demonstrations in Dhi Qar arrest warrant and travel ban against General Jamil al-Shammari. The Supreme Judicial Council said in a statement received to Twilight News that "the investigative body in the presidency of the Court of Appeal of Dhi Qar issued a warrant of arrest and travel ban against Lieutenant General Jamil al-Shammari for the crime of issuing orders that caused the killing of demonstrators in the province." Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi decided on Thursday to withdraw the hand of Lieutenant General Jamil al-Shammari from the management of the crisis cell in the province of Dhi Qar after killing 22 people and wounding more than 180 others in clashes with security forces on Wednesday evening.