Iraq – Page 29 – CounterVortex

Iraq

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The export of oil from northern Iraq's contested enclave of Kirkuk is to resume under a deal struck between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Iraq's Ministry of Oil announced. With Baghdad's Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline disabled during fighting with ISIS, the so-called KRG pipeline is currently the only method of delivering Kirkuk oil to foreign markets other than through Iran. That route has now also been cut off by the resumption of US sanctions against the Islamic Republic. But Baghdad and the KRG have long been at odds over terms, and the situation was worsened with the central government's seizure last year of Kirkuk and its oil-fields, which had been in Kurdish hands since the KRG routed ISIS from the enclave in 2014. US National Security Advisor John Bolton welcomed the agreement between Baghdad and the KRG as a "promising first step to return to 2017 levels." The KRG pipeline is jointly owned by the Erbil-based KRG, BP and Russia's Rosneft. (Photo via Iraqi News Agency)

Iraq

Campaign for accused WikiLeaks whistle-blower

Bradley Manning, a 22-year-old intelligence analyst stationed in Iraq, stands accused of disclosing a classified video published by WikiLeaks that depicts US troops shooting civilians.

Iraq

Last US “combat brigade” leaves Iraq; private sector to pick up slack

The US Army’s 4th Stryker Brigade crossed into Kuwait—supposedly the last “combat brigade” to leave Iraq. But private contractors will be boosting their presence in Iraq by nearly double.

Iraq

Iraq: countdown to withdrawal?

Obama said the US can safely meet a deadline for removing combat troops from Iraq by year’s end—despite the fact that the country has still failed to form a new government.

Iraq

Judge denies motion to dismiss Abu Ghraib torture case

A group of 72 Iraqis who allege they were tortured while imprisoned at detention facilities can continue with their lawsuit against military contractor L-3 Services, Inc., a judge ruled.

Iraq

Iraq: police raid electricity unions

Police have raided electrical workers unions across Iraq, carrying out a Ministry of Electricity order that prohibits “all trade union activities at the ministry and its departments and sites.”

Iraq

Iraq: new charges for Tariq Aziz

Former Iraqi foreign minister Tariq Aziz faces new charges for crimes committed during Saddam’s regime. Aziz’s lawyer says the Iraqi government is attempting to find a reason to execute him.

Iraq

Iraq: US to hand over last detainment center; sectarian war grinds on

The US military is preparing to hand over control of its last remaining detention center in Iraq—with the government still divided and deadly sectarian violence grinding on.

Iraq

Turkey uses Israel-supplied drones against Kurdish rebels in Iraq

Despite official Turkish tensions with Israel in the wake of the Gaza flotilla attack, the Turkish military is still using Israel-supplied drones against Kurdish rebels—both in Turkey and Iraq.

Iraq

Turkish troops in Iraqi incursion

Hundreds of Turkish soldiers made an incursion into Iraqi territory in “hot pursuit” of Kurdish guerillas, as warplanes carried out a series of air-strikes against suspected rebel targets.

Iraq

Protest female genital mutilation in Iraqi Kurdistan

In a new report, Human Rights Watch documents the persistence of female genital mutilation in Iraqi Kurdistan, and calls upon the Kurdish Regional Government to ban the practice.

Iraq

Iraqi Kurds protest foreign aggression —and internal repression

Schoolchildren marched in Erbil against Iranian shelling of Iraqi Kurdistan, while Kurdish journalists have launched a campaign to demand justice in the torture-slaying of a colleague.