Iraq to use Cyprus airspace to transport stranded Iraqi nationals
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Ministry of Transport revealed on Monday that Cyprus has approved an Iraqi request to use its airspace to repatriate Iraqis stranded in Turkey, Lebanon, and Georgia.
The government team led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has gained permission from authorities in Cyprus to utilize its airspace to transport Iraqi nationals stranded in Beirut, Turkey, and Georgia to Basra International Airport by Iraqi Airways planes, according to a statement cited by the state news agency (INA).
Iraq's national carrier operated seven flights on Monday through Basra International Airport in southern Iraq to evacuate Iraqis stranded in several airports around the world.
Iraqi Airways is currently collaborating with the relevant authorities to prepare a flexible operations plan that includes emergency flights to and from several international destinations.
Priority will be given to Iraqi nationals stranded at Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport and in other countries, according to the statement.
On Monday, Al-Sudani authorized the creation of a team, led by the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) and members from the ministries of transport and foreign affairs, to repatriate Iraqi nationals stuck outside the country following the outbreak of the war between Iran and Israel.
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Memri
2 hours ago
- Memri
Pro-Hizbullah Daily: U.S. Interests In Middle East To Become Tehran Target Bank If U.S. Intervenes In Israel-Iran War; Iran Has 'Surprises' To 'Embarrass Washington'
The following report is now a complimentary offering from MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here. On June 18, 2025, while Arab and Western media increasingly debated whether the U.S. would join the Israel-Iran war to assist Israel, the pro-Hizbullah Lebanese Al-Akhbar daily published two wide-ranging articles that detail the threat posed by Iran to American forces in the Middle East. The articles also relate to harsh consequences they claim the U.S. will face on land and at sea, if it interferes in the fighting. One article reviews the deployment of American forces in the Middle East and suggests that these forces will become "a bank of strategic targets" for Iran, if the U.S. joins the war. A second article states that the Iranian missile arsenal comprises types of missiles that have yet to be revealed, and hints at additional "tactical surprises" in the hands of the Iranians which, according to Al-Akhbar, would "embarrass Washington."[1] The above illustrative photograph appeared with the first article referred to below. The following are the main points raised in the Al-Akhbar articles that appeared on June 18, 2025: One of the articles titled "Washington's Assets in the Region: Valuable Target Bank for Tehran," details the deployment of American forces in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa and states that the U.S. army has more than 50 bases in countries that are allies of the U.S., from the area of the Persian Gulf to Turkey and the Horn of Africa, including "an undeclared presence" of American forces on Israeli territory. The article provides the names of the bases, their locations, and the scope of the deployment of the forces stationed there. According to the article there are 2,500 American soldiers stationed at seven bases across Iraq; 1,500 in Syria, also stationed at seven bases; 2,000 stationed at one base in Turkey; 3,000 across four bases in Jordan; 3,000 across five bases in Saudi Arabia; 9,000 across three bases in Bahrain; 13,000 at one base in Qatar; 5,000 on three bases in the Emirates; and in Oman it says that there are 600 American soldiers stationed at six bases. These numbers don't include the soldiers on several aircraft carriers and destroyers that are already in the region or en route to the Middle East, as well as additional forces on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. The article implies that the network of American bases in the Middle East "will become a bank of strategic targets for Iran." A second article titled "Iranian Surprises that Await the Americans: This is What Iran Has Up Its Sleeve" claims that the Iranian missile arsenal contains missiles of a range that has not yet been disclosed, as well as "tactical surprises which are likely to embarrass Washington." It lists the main types of missiles that Iran has, and among other things mentions that Iran has extended the range of its missiles and improved their accuracy so that they can hit a target with an accuracy of seven to 50 meters. The article also claims that Iran has enlarged its missiles' warheads to a weight of two tons, and improved their ability to maneuver and their resistance to the electronic warfare employed by the enemy. It further states that Iran has developed hypersonic missiles, long-range cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles with a range of up to 300 km., and various types of drones with a range of 2,000 km. The article states that Iran focused on developing missiles that will enable it to go to war with the U.S., to attack its bases, and to wear down its forces in the region. It claims that Iran has a large supply of long-range missiles to enable it to wage an open-ended war against Israel, and that to this end it built "missile cities" across the country that can store great quantities of missiles. According to the article, to date Iran has only revealed that it has missiles with a 2,000 km. range, although it is believed that it actually possesses missiles with a range of 4,000 km, whose existence it chose not to disclose so as not to arouse the concern of countries in Europe. The above photograph, published with the second article referred to in this report, shows the aftermath of an Iranian missile attack on northern Israel. These articles in the Al-Akhbar daily follow similar reports published on June 17 by media outlets affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran-backed militias in Iraq, which highlight the vulnerability of U.S. military bases in the Middle East to Iranian missile strikes,[2] and warn that American interference in the war against Iran will activate the regional axis of resistance and claim "a heavy price" from the U.S. in the Middle East and across the world.[3]
Memri
2 hours ago
- Memri
Qatar Supports Iran, Gloats Over Destruction In Israel: The Scenes Of Devastation In The Entity Destined For Extinction Warm The Heart
In the war between Israel and Iran that broke out on June 13, 2025, Qatar has positioned itself squarely on Iran's side and against Israel. This is evident in the statements issued by the Qatari establishment, which condemn Israel's attack on Iran while disregarding the reasons for it as well as Iran's missile attacks on Israel, which have caused immense devastation in populated areas and claimed the lives of many Israeli civilians. The Qatari support for Iran is also manifest in remarks made by journalists and senior media figures in Qatar, including the editors of government newspapers and presenters on Al-Jazeera TV, who gloated over the destruction in Israel and hoped for more attacks on this 'artificial entity, destined for extinction' and for an ultimate Iranian victory. The Internation Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), which is headquartered in Doha and serves as a tool of the Qatari regime to disseminate extremist anti-Western Islamist ideology,[1] called for jihad to repel 'the tyrannical Zionist aggression against Iran,' and its senior members welcomed the destruction caused in Israel by the Iranian missiles. Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Aal Thani with Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in February 2025 (Image: Al-Quds Al-Arabi, London, February 20, 2025) This report reviews the responses in Qatar to the Israel-Iran war: Qatari Regime In One-Sided Condemnation Of Israel: There Is No Justification For The Attack On Iran Qatar's support for Iran was evident from the start of Israel's attacks on June 13. The Qatari foreign ministry issued a statement condemning them and describing them as 'part of a recurring pattern of aggressive policy that threatens the security and stability of the region and impedes efforts to reduce the tension and achieve diplomatic solutions,' while ignoring the Iranian threat to Israel that led to the attacks.[2] That evening Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Aal Thani reiterated this condemnation in a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.[3] In a June 17 press briefing, Qatar's foreign minister spokesperson, Majed Al Ansari, came out against Israel's attacks in Iran while ignoring Iran's missile attacks on civilian targets in Israel. He stated that, despite all the attempts to alleviate the tensions, 'there is one player in the region that insists on initiating escalation and sabotaging all the efforts to make peace there,' hinting at Israel.[4] Qatari media reports about exchanges about the war between Qatari officials and their Arab and Western counterparts likewise stressed Qatar's condemnation of the Israeli attack while disregarding Iran's counterattacks on Israel.[5] Qatar also expressed its support for Iran at an emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on June 16. At the meeting Jassim Yacoub Al-Hammadi, Qatar's ambassador to Austria, who also serves as the country's permanent representative to the UN offices in Vienna, slammed the Israeli attack on Iran, claiming that "there is no legal basis for Israel's claim that its attack on Iran was a preemptive strike in self-defense." He urged the IAEA secretary-general to renew contacts with the Iranians in order to find a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.[6] International Union Of Muslim Scholars Gloats Over Attacks On Israel, Calls For Jihad To Repel Its "Aggression" The International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), which is headquartered in Doha and serves as a Qatari arm for spreading extremist anti-Western Islamist ideology, condemned what it called "the oppressive Zionist aggression against Iran."[7] The union's head, Ali Al-Qaradaghi, wrote: "This attack must not be considered outside the broader context of the regional tension that is caused by the systematic Zionist policy of dragging the region into endless conflicts." He added: "It is impossible to remain silent in the face of this injustice. [Rather,] it is a duty to resist it… to support the oppressed and to repel the aggression… There is need for financial jihad, but [such jihad] is not sufficient. Even if it is obligatory, it must be accompanied by all [other] types [of jihad], including informational efforts, influencing public opinion, and encouraging action by young people and human rights activists."[8] Al-Qaradaghi's deputy, Ahmed Al-Khalili, who also serves as the mufti of Oman, welcomed Iran's counterattack against Israel, writing on X: "Iran's forceful response heartened us and gave us hope that the loathsome Zionist occupation of the sacred lands [in Palestine] will end for good, Allah willing."[9] IUMS member Muhammad Al-Mukhtar Al-Shinqiti, who is also a lecturer at Qatar University, shared footage of the aftermath of an Iranian missile on Israel, and commented: "[This is] the devastation [seen] this morning in Tel Aviv, capital of the temporary entity [Israel], after a dark night of Iranian missile [strikes]. Allah, let there be more [such strikes] and bless [those who carry them out]."[10] Al-Shinqiti's post ( June 15, 2025) Editor Of Al-Sharq Government Daily: We Must Support Iran; Israel Understands Only The Language Of Force Jaber Al-Harmi, editor of the Qatari government daily Al-Sharq, wrote on X following Israel's opening attack on Iran: "We [sometimes] agree with Iran and [sometimes] disagree with it, but we are never at odds [with it] when it comes to hostility toward the Zionist entity. Since [Iran] is a neighbor and a sister with whom we share [our] 'regional home' and 'Islamic home,' we oppose the Zionist aggression toward it… Now is not the time to address our disagreements with it. Now is the time to stand with it against the Zionist arrogance… "Iran must respond with every means at its disposal and all its remaining strength, and the Arab and Islamic world must take a serious and firm stance on this Israeli brutality… This aggression is [just] a prelude to [Israeli] attacks on additional countries and a warning message to anyone who is thinking of shrugging off the Zionist yoke. 'Israel' understands only the language of force… It is disgraceful and immoral to express pleasure at Iran's suffering while it is being subjected to [this] treacherous aggression."[11] Former Editor Of Al-Arab Government Daily: Allah, Bring Perdition Upon Israel Abdullah bin Hamad Aal Athbah, a former editor of the Qatari Al-Arab daily, posted a message in support of Iran: 'We do not accept the aggression of the Zionist Jews against our great sister and neighbor Iran. All [our] solidarity [is with] the fraternal Iranian people against the murderers of the women and children of Gaza and of our Arab and Muslim region.'[12] In another post, Aal Athbah shared footage from the Qatari Al-Arabi channel showing the site of a missile strike in Tel Aviv, and commented: 'Teheran sends its third response to the fourth aggression by the Zionist Jews. Allah bring perdition upon the attackers.'[13] One of Aal Athbah's posts ( June 13, 2025) Senior Al-Jazeera Presenter: Israel Is An Artificial Entity Destined For Extinction Al-Jazeera presenter Ghada Oueiss posted on her X account: 'What is this country that lives on wars and hostility toward all its neighbors since its establishment?? It is an artificial entity, destined for extinction.'[14] Qatari journalist Abd Al-Aziz Al-Khater, a columnist for the Qatari Al-Raya daily, wrote in a similar vein: 'Iran, as an entity and a historic people, will not be defeated by Israel, whose existence is artificial."[15] Senior Al-Jazeera Presenter: Israel's Cities Are Burning; Remember That Iran Supports The Palestinian Resistance Movements Palestinian Al-Jazeera presenter Jamal Rayyan rejoiced over the destruction in Israel, writing on June 16: "Israel's cities are burning. It has been proven that Iran's advanced missile fire is capable of destroying Israel's nuclear facilities and its conventional military [sites], as well as civilian sectors. The entity [Israel] is unable to withstand the losses that are bound to be [caused by the Iranian missile attacks]. Netanyahu, who thought Iran would be easy prey, is now begging Trump to intervene and protect Israel from it." [16] In an earlier post, from June 13, Rayyan came out against anyone condemning Iran on social media, [17]writing: "To all those who are attacking Iran on social media, [I say]: always remember that Iran is a great Islamic nation, thousands of years old, that [observes the five pillars of the Islamic faith:] professes that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, fasts [on Ramadan], performs the prayers, gives alms and performs the pilgrimage [to Mecca]. It [also] dedicates 20 percent of its national income to supporting the resistance movements [fighting] to liberate Al-Aqsa and Palestine."[18] Al-Jazeera Presenter: The Images Coming Out Of Tel Aviv Are Far From Victorious Al-Jazeera presenter Zein Elabadin Tawfik shared footage of a missile strike site in Tel Aviv and praised the Iranian counterattack: "The importance of the Iranian response [to Israel's opening attack] lies in the fact that it was unprecedented and came just a few hours after the elimination of Iran's top military command in this attack. The war is just beginning and the images coming out of Tel Aviv are far from victorious."[19] Tawfik's post Qatar-Affiliated Journalist: The Scenes Of Devastation In Israel Are Heart-Warming After a night of massive missile attacks from Iran and direct hits to residential buildings in Israel, Egyptian documentary filmmaker Assaad Taha, a former Al Jazeera presenter, wrote on X: "This is the first time in my life I see destruction and my heart expands."[20] Columnist For Qatari Daily: Allah, Burn Their Homes Over Their Heads And Don't Spare A Single Soul Among Them Palestinian author Adham Sharkawi, a columnist for the Qatari daily Al-Watan, shared footage of a fire that broke out in an Israeli city following an Iranian missile strike, and wrote: "Allah, place a heavy burden upon them and let us see You punish them… Burn their homes over their heads and subject them to the rule of the righteous and sinful among Your servants [i.e., the Muslims]."[21] In another post, from June 16, he shared footage of the aftermath of the Iranian missile strike on the Haifa oil refinery, and wrote: "O Allah, gather them in great numbers, kill them one by one and do not spare a single soul among them. O Allah, subject them to the rule of the righteous and sinful from among Your servants [i.e., the Muslims], and do not take our souls until we heal our hearts by [seeing] them [suffer]." [22] Adham Sjarkawi's posts Columnist For Qatari Daily: Supporting Iran Is A Religious And Moral Obligation Algerian journalist Hafid Derradji, a columnist for the Qatari daily Al-Raya and a commentator on Qatar's beIN Sports channel, wrote on X: "Standing with the [Islamic] nation is a duty, not a choice. Standing with any Islamic country that is facing the Zionist-Western-American aggression is not a choice but a duty dictated by faith and manliness… It is not merely a political or emotional stance but a religious and moral obligation that cannot be postponed or [evaded under any] pretext. Any downplaying of the importance of [this] support, or justification of silence, is implicit partnership in the crime. The time has come to rise above narrow considerations and view the war as an existential one, not just as a passing crisis. The enemy is one, the blood is one, and the fate is one. Allah, grant victory to those who have supported Islam and humiliate those who have abandoned our nation and betrayed our causes."[23] Hafid Derradji's post
Memri
2 hours ago
- Memri
Article In UAE Daily: The Gulf States' Silence On The Iran-Israel Conflict Stems From Fear Of Its Possible Ramifications
Against the backdrop of the escalating Israel-Iran military conflict, Yemeni journalist Hani Salem Mashour explained in his June 16, 2025 column in the UAE daily Al-Arab that the UAE is working to stop the escalation because of its profound fear that the situation's deterioration into a broad regional war would threaten its own existence and that of all the Gulf states. Stating that "the deliberate silence of the Gulf states today does not mean neutrality, but is [the result of their] careful calculations," he added that while they cannot allow Iran to go nuclear and cannot forget Iran's consistent support for militias that destabilize the region, at the same time they cannot risk an expansion of the war which would undermine the stability of the region. Risking an expanded war is also not an option for them, he wrote, as it is they who will suffer for it. Noting in this context that the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war "tore the entire Arab Gulf to shreds," he recalled how these countries had "paid a heavy price in stability, security, and economy" for a war in which they had no part. He added that the Gulf states now want to prevent this from happening again, and thus the UAE strives to stop the region from igniting and is seeking a diplomatic solution. He also wrote that the waging of this battle must not be left in the hands of "actors obsessed with a bloody [military] win," and called on "rational Arabs – headed by the UAE – to continue to play a balancing, responsible role, not just due to fear of the fire, but also due to the awareness that the entire region will not survive if one of its elements burns up." The following is a translation of excerpts from Mashour's June 16, 2025 article: "From the heart of the deep strikes that shake Iran from within, and from among the echoes of the explosions in the nuclear basements and nuclear warehouses, a new map of regional deterrence is being drawn: Israel strikes and Iran is silent or finds it difficult to respond. At the same time, eyes are raised to the Arab Gulf – not because it is a side in the conflict, but because it is the arena that is at risk and is expected to explode. Amid this historic collision between two axes that are armed with both ideology and technology, the UAE emerges as a different voice, that is trying to tell the world that not all countries are lining up behind the fire. "For decades, the UAE has believed that stability is not an accident of circumstance but a strategic identity, and in the current scene that is in flames, it is again presenting itself as a responsible state that is attempting, using diplomacy, to hold open the door of reason. While not denying that Israel and Iran have entered a stage of open conflict, and not ignoring the multi-sided nature of the [Iran-Israel] conflict [indirectly involving arenas] from Gaza to Sana'a, from Lebanon to the heart of Tehran. But at the same time, it understands very well that this great conflagration [of the direct Iran-Israel conflict] will sweep everyone away.. "With every explosion in Iran, [Arabs] must ask: Who will pay if this clash crosses the gray lines and becomes an all-out regional war? "The UAE, and with it the Arab Gulf states, know the answer to this question all too well. They lived an entire decade in this region under the shadow of others' clashes. The Iran-Iraq war was not only at Iran's borders; it also tore the entire Arab Gulf to shreds... The Arab Gulf states paid a heavy price in stability, security, and economy for a war in which they had no part. As far as the political consciousness of the Gulf [states] and of the UAE in particular is concerned, the drums of war are a warning sign... "The UAE leadership realizes that the region cannot endure a major war; when wars break out, they don't care about geography [i.e. they spill over and expand] ... The UAE experienced this when the fire of the Houthis spread from Sa'ada [in Yemen] across the entire Arabian Peninsula... "In light of this clash, it has become clear that the entire Arab Gulf, led by the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is carefully considering its options. True, no one [in the Gulf] will trust a nuclear Iran, and true, no one will forget Iran's bankrolling of the [Shi'ite] militias and destruction of [Arab] countries. But [for the Gulf states,] standing on the threshold of a mini-world war between Israel and Iran is not an acceptable option... "The deliberate silence of the Gulf [states] today does not mean neutrality, but is [the result of their] careful calculations. As the Israelis wage their security campaign [against the Iranian nuclear project] and the Iranians are getting slapped again and again, the responsible Arabs are working to put out the fire, not pour oil on it. That is the fundamental difference between a country that believes that hegemony is [achieved] through destruction and one that believes that genuine influence is built only through development, openness, and stable partnerships. "The truth is that the world should listen more to the voice of the UAE... It is unfortunate that this voice is sometimes sidelined amid the clamor of guns and speeches about the 'holy' wars, even though it is the only balanced voice warning against a recurrence of past catastrophes. "The current Israel-Iran campaign, which is likely to expand to Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq, must not be left in the hands of actors obsessed with a bloody [military] win. The rational Arabs – headed by the UAE – must continue to play a balancing, responsible role, not just out of fear of the fire, but also out of an understanding that [if the situation develops into war], the entire region will not survive if one of its elements burns up." "It is true that the UAE is not a superpower – but it is a country with a vision. It is true that its diplomacy does not work miracles, but it prevents disasters. In moments of great madness, what we need is not more missiles, but more courage to say no to war... "The UAE, which over the past five decades has gained top-quality mediation experience, understands that the window [of opportunity for] negotiations is closing rapidly, and that the last chance for containing the Iranian nuclear crisis and mutual Tel Aviv-Tehran deterrence is only through quiet diplomatic channels... "The UAE's position today... is to aspire to build a rational Arab position to strengthen the region [and protect it] from spilling over into open [battle]fronts, to lay the foundation for viable understandings that will transcend this emotional moment, and to re-establish a regional balance of interests based on shared security, respect for sovereignty, and a halt to foreign interference [in each other's domestic affairs]. "Today, every diplomatic move by the UAE, and all the quiet contacts [conducted] behind the scenes, are a genuine attempt to salvage what can be salvaged... What the UAE is doing today is exactly what any wise country must do: stand on the brink of [an abyss] – not to jump, but to keep others from falling."[1]
