About: Iraq
NATO willing to expand Iraqi training mission to meet Trump demand
NATO is considering an increase to its training mission in Iraq to relieve the burden on the US-led coalition against Islamic State, senior officials and diplomats said on Tuesday (11 February).
Von der Leyen fails to convince that her Commission is ‘geopolitical’
New European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was put on the spot during her visit to Zagreb on Friday (10 January). Asked how she would prove that her Commission is ‘geopolitical’, given the EU's weak response to growing challenges in the region, von der Leyen failed to provide convincing answers.
NATO, EU call on Iran to avoid ‘further provocations’
Tehran should avoid “further violence and provocations”, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned Monday (6 January) evening following an extraordinary meeting between Alliance members, as tensions mount in the Middle East after US forces killed Iran’s top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani....
Iran’s supreme leader weeps as vast crowd mourns slain general in Tehran
Iran's supreme leader wept in grief with hundreds of thousands of mourners thronging Tehran's streets on Monday (6 January) for the funeral of military commander Qassem Soleimani, killed by a US drone on the orders of US President Donald Trump.
EU foreign ministers to hold emergency Iran talks on Friday
EU foreign ministers will hold emergency talks on the Iran crisis later this week on Friday as tensions rise after US forces killed an Iranian general in a drone strike, diplomats said on Monday (6 January).
Trump threatens to hit 52 Iranian targets, Borrell urges ‘de-escalation’
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Saturday (4 January) stressed the "need for de-escalation" after the US assassination of a top Iranian in Baghdad, while US President Donald Trump threatened to hit 52 Iranian sites “very hard” if Iran attacks Americans or US assets.
‘Geopolitical’ Europe could struggle to take shape in troublesome 2020
Among the many foreign policy challenges facing the EU in 2020, the main theme will be how to assert itself on the world stage against China, the US and Russia, while upholding multilateralism and at least a semblance of global order.
US kills top Iranian commander Soleimani in air strike
The United States killed Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force and architect of Iran’s spreading military influence in the Middle East, in an air strike on Friday (3 December) at Baghdad airport, the Pentagon and Iran...
Fresh victims in Iraq’s largest anti-government protests
Iraqi security forces killed at least five people when they opened fire on protesters in Baghdad on Monday (4 November), a Reuters witness said, as thousands took part in the largest wave of anti-government protests for decades.
Mogherini cautions against ‘dangerous adventures’ in the Middle East
The European Union fully backs Iraq's efforts to de-escalate growing tensions between the United States and Iran because conflict will have dire consequences for all sides, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Saturday (13 July).
Mosul reconstruction to give UNESCO chance to revive fortunes
The United Nations’ cultural agency wants to use the reconstruction of Iraq’s second city Mosul as a way to restore its credibility and show how a fraying multilateral order can be revived, its director general said on Monday (10 September).
Turkey vows to launch new cross-border military operations
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Sunday (6 May) said Turkey would launch cross-border offensives, like previous military operations in Syria, in the "new era" after snap polls on 24 June.
Syria donors fall short without US aid, warn of cruel end-game
International donors raised $4.4 billion in emergency aid for Syria and its neighbours this year on Wednesday (25 April), but the total fell well short of the UN target for 2018 after the United States failed to submit a pledge.
EU unveils strategy to stabilise Iraq following territorial defeat of ISIS
The EU's foreign affairs chief and the European Commission adopted yesterday (8 January) a Joint Communication proposing an EU strategy for Iraq in order to address the many challenges the country faces following the territorial defeat of Islamic State.
Netanyahu makes appearance at EU foreign affairs meeting
Today’s (11 December) Foreign Affairs Council begins with a discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, against the background of the decision of US President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalm as the capital of Israel.
Baghdad piles pressure on Iraqi Kurds to reverse overwhelming independence vote
Baghdad heaped pressure on Iraq’s Kurds yesterday (27 September), demanding they cancel their overwhelming vote for independence while parliament urged the Iraqi central government to send troops to take control of vital oil fields held by Kurdish forces.
At UN, Erdogan demands Iraqi Kurds call off referendum, warns of ‘consequences’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday (19 September) demanded that Iraqi Kurds call off a referendum on independence, hinting at consequences if they go ahead.
Iraq, Turkey step up pressure over Kurdish independence vote
Iraq and Turkey yesterday (14 September) stepped up the pressure on Iraqi Kurdistan over its planned independence referendum, as the governor of oil-rich Kirkuk province that decided to take part in the vote was sacked.
EU hails liberation of Mosul from Islamic State
EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini on Sunday (9 July) hailed the liberation of Mosul, Iraq’s second city, as a decisive step in the campaign to eliminate terrorist control in parts of the country and to free its people.
EU considers Iraq security mission after Mosul falls
The European Union will consider sending a new security mission to help stabilise Iraq after the expected recapture of Mosul from Islamic State, EU foreign ministers said on Monday (19 June).
Lessons from Iraq and India on building ‘resilient’ recovery after disasters
Examples of how to rebuild resilient societies in the wake of natural disasters and man-made conflicts, from countries are varied as Iraq and India, were on offer during the second day of the EU Development Days conference in Brussels on Thursday (8 June).
Europol probing IS setting up of social network
European police are probing whether the Islamic State group and other extremists are setting up a social network to spread propaganda, gain funding and avoid security crackdowns, an official said Wednesday (3 May).
Senior Arab diplomat derides EU migrant discourse
A distinguished Arab diplomat remarked that EU politicians and think tank representatives did not make use of keywords such as “Iraq” or “Islam” while discussing the Union’s relations with its neighbours and the refugee crisis for several hours.