Iraqi Defense Minister warns of firm response to any threat
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, Iraqi Defense Minister Thabet Al-Abbasi warned that the country's response will respond firmly to any external threat or violation of Iraq's sovereignty when necessary.
During a visit to the 9th Armored Division, Al-Abbasi stated that Iraq is capable of protecting its territory from any external or internal threat. He further noted that plans are underway to equip the armed forces with advanced technologies, while continuing training and cooperation with international institutions to enhance defense capabilities.
The minister affirmed that Iraq is 'closely following regional developments and responds to any threat with wisdom and composure,' adding that the country's defense policy is grounded in respect for sovereignty and rejection of foreign interference.
As war between Iran and Israel escalate, Iraq faces mounting challenges in navigating a volatile regional landscape. Positioned at the geographic and political crossroads of the conflict, Baghdad reaffirms its commitment to sovereignty and regional stability.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Iraqi News
an hour ago
- Iraqi News
US bases in the Middle East
Washington – Iran on Sunday threatened military bases used by US forces to launch attacks on the country's nuclear sites, saying such facilities would be considered legitimate targets. The United States has thousands of troops deployed on bases across the Middle East. Below, AFP examines countries with major concentrations of US forces in the Middle East, which falls under the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM). – Bahrain – The tiny Gulf kingdom hosts an installation known as Naval Support Activity Bahrain, where the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and US Naval Forces Central Command headquarters are based. Bahrain's deep-water port can accommodate the largest US military vessels, such as aircraft carriers, and the US Navy has used the base in the country since 1948, when the facility was operated by Britain's Royal Navy. Several US ships have their home port in Bahrain, including four anti-mine vessels and two logistical support ships. The US Coast Guard also has vessels in the country, including six fast response cutters. – Iraq – The United States has troops at various installations in Iraq, including Al-Asad and Arbil air bases. The Iraqi government is a close ally of Iran, but also a strategic partner of Tehran's arch-foe the United States. There are some 2,500 US troops in Iraq as part of the international coalition against the Islamic State jihadist group. Baghdad and Washington have agreed on a timetable for the gradual withdrawal of the coalition's forces from the country. US forces in Iraq and Syria were repeatedly targeted by pro-Iran militants following the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, but responded with heavy strikes on Tehran-linked targets, and the attacks largely subsided. – Kuwait – Kuwait has several US bases, including Camp Arifjan, the location of the forward headquarters for the US Army component of CENTCOM. The US Army also has stocks of prepositioned materiel in the country. Ali al-Salem Air Base hosts the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, which the military describes as the 'primary airlift hub and gateway for delivering combat power to joint and coalition forces' in the region. Additionally, the United States has drones including MQ-9 Reapers in Kuwait. – Qatar – Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar includes the forward components of CENTCOM, as well as of its air forces and special operation forces in the region. It also hosts rotating combat aircraft, as well as the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, which the military says includes 'airlift, aerial refueling intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and aeromedical evacuation assets.' – Syria – The United States has for years maintained troop presences at a series of installations in Syria as part of international efforts against the Islamic State group, which rose out of the country's civil war to overrun large parts of Syria and neighboring Iraq. The Pentagon announced in April that it would roughly halve the number of its forces in the country to less than 1,000 in the coming months as part of a 'consolidation' of US troops in the country. – United Arab Emirates – Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE hosts the US 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, a force that is composed of 10 squadrons of aircraft and also includes drones such as MQ-9 Reapers. Combat aircraft have rotated through Al Dhafra, which also hosts the Gulf Air Warfare Center for air and missile defense training.
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iran confirms continued uranium enrichment after US strikes
Shafaq News/ Iran will continue enriching uranium, rejecting any external pressure over its nuclear program, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi confirmed on Monday. 'We will continue enrichment, and no one can dictate what we should or should not do, as long as we operate within the framework of our obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),' Takht-Ravanchi stated in remarks to Germany's ARD television network. His comments came after the US targeted Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. President Donald Trump later confirmed the strikes, describing them as 'precision attacks on deep underground targets' and warning of 'more severe consequences' if Tehran does not end the ongoing war. Takht-Ravanchi denounced the attack as a 'breach of international law'' underscoring Iran's right to self-defense and dismissing renewed calls from the United States and Germany to return to negotiations. 'We were talking on June 13th when we were attacked,' he said. 'We do not negotiate just for the sake of negotiation.' The exchange marks a sharp escalation in regional tensions following the breakdown of indirect talks earlier this year. On June 13, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, an offensive aimed at dismantling key components of Iran's nuclear, military, and intelligence infrastructure.
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Oil surges to five-month high after US hits Iran's key nuclear sites
Shafaq News/ Oil prices jumped on Monday to their highest since January as the United States' weekend move to join Israel in attacking Iran's nuclear facilities stoked supply concerns. Brent crude futures were up $1.52 or 1.97% to $78.53 a barrel as of 0503 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude advanced $1.51 or 2.04% to $75.35. Both contracts jumped by more than 3% earlier in the session to $81.40 and $78.40, respectively, touching five-month highs before giving up some gains. The rise in prices came after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had "obliterated" Iran's main nuclear sites in strikes over the weekend, joining an Israeli assault in an escalation of conflict in the Middle East as Tehran vowed to defend itself. Iran is OPEC's third-largest crude producer. Market participants expect further price gains amid mounting fears that an Iranian retaliation may include a closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of global crude supply flows. "The current geopolitical escalation provides the fundamental catalyst for (Brent) prices to traverse higher and potentially spiral towards $100, with $120 per barrel appearing increasingly plausible," said Sugandha Sachdeva, founder of New Delhi-based research firm SS WealthStreet. Iran's Press TV reported that the Iranian parliament had approved a measure to close the strait. Iran has in the past threatened to close the strait but has never followed through. Iran and Israel exchanged air and missile strikes on Monday, as global tensions rose over Tehran's expected response to a U.S. attack on its nuclear facilities. "The risks of damage to oil infrastructure ... have multiplied," said Sparta Commodities senior analyst June Goh. Although there are alternative pipeline routes out of the region, there will still be crude volume that cannot be fully exported out if the Strait of Hormuz becomes inaccessible. Shippers will increasingly stay out of the region, she added. Goldman Sachs said in a Sunday report that Brent could briefly peak at $110 per barrel if oil flows through the critical waterway were halved for a month, and remain down by 10% for the following 11 months. The bank still assumed no significant disruption to oil and natural gas supply, adding global incentives to try and prevent a sustained and very large disruption. Brent has risen 13% since the conflict began on June 13, while WTI has gained around 10%. Given the Strait of Hormuz is indispensable for Iran's own oil exports, which are a vital source of its national revenues, a sustained closure would inflict severe economic damage on Iran itself, making it a double-edged sword, Sachdeva added. Meanwhile, Japan on Monday called for de-escalation of the conflict in Iran, while a South Korean vice industry minister voiced concern over the potential impact of the strikes on the country's trade.
