President Barzani: Drone strikes threaten Iraq's economy
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani warned on Wednesday that repeated drone attacks on the Region's oil infrastructure pose a serious threat not only to local stability but also to Iraq's broader economy.
According to the Kurdish Presidency, Barzani's met in Erbil with Vice Admiral Edward Algren, the United Kingdom's Senior Defence Advisor for the Middle East and North Africa. The discussions centered on Iraq's security, relations between Erbil and Baghdad, and the wider regional situation.
https://t.co/oVcBJswx5X pic.twitter.com/pdZK2Lfo1c
— Kurdistan Region Presidency (@KurdistanRegion) July 30, 2025
Barzani emphasized the continuing danger posed by ISIS, describing the group as 'a real and direct threat to the stability and security of Iraq and Syria.' He also urged swift measures to halt drone strikes targeting vital economic facilities in the Kurdistan Region.
Algren reaffirmed the UK's commitment to enhancing cooperation with both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. He underlined London's 'strong interest in the security and stability of the Region' and pledged continued British support in counterterrorism and security coordination.
The meeting also addressed Iraq's federal structure, the Kurdistan Region's relations with allied nations, the situation in Syria, the rights of Kurds and other communities, as well as recent developments in Turkiye's peace process.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Iraqi News
31 minutes ago
- Iraqi News
Iraq rejects British ambassador's remarks on PMF draft bill
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted a letter of complaint against the British Ambassador to Iraq, Irfan Siddiq, on Sunday, citing his latest remarks on the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) draft bill as a violation of diplomatic norms and interference in Iraq's internal affairs. The Iraqi ministry mentioned in a statement that it had officially informed the United Kingdom's ambassador of its strong opposition to his recent remarks, which the Iraqi government sees as contradictory to diplomatic criteria, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported. Deputy Foreign Minister for Bilateral Affairs Mohammed Bahr al-Uloom expressed on Sunday the government's deep concern, reiterating that the British ambassador's remarks violate the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which require diplomats to respect the host country's laws and refrain from interfering in its internal affairs. The Iraqi ministry asked Siddiq to avoid such remarks in the future and to engage in ways that promote positive relationships between both countries. Siddiq also suggested that the PMF's position as an emergency force should be reviewed after the battle against the terrorist group ISIS has finished. The Iraqi foreign ministry emphasized the need to adopt constructive diplomatic cooperation based on respect between parties and not getting involved in governments' internal affairs. The law, known as the revised PMF authority law, would transform the PMF into a permanent armed entity with broad operational, political, and financial capabilities.
Rudaw Net
an hour ago
- Rudaw Net
US-led coalition support for Peshmerga to continue: Peshmerga ministry official
Also in Kurdistan Halabja not its own constituency in Iraq's parliamentary elections PKK leader gives Makhmour camp residents hope of return KRG offers free online Kurdish classes for diaspora Suspect turns himself in after Halabja double homicide A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Assistance to the Kurdish Peshmerga from the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State (ISIS) will continue in accordance with existing agreements between Erbil and Washington, a senior official from the Kurdistan Region's Peshmerga Ministry told Rudaw on Sunday. The remarks come amid reports that the United States may be planning to reduce or eliminate support for the Kurdish forces. Lieutenant Colonel Bakhtiar Mohammed, secretary-general of the Peshmerga Ministry, confirmed that "according to the bilateral memorandum of understanding, the aid will continue until October 2026." As part of this assistance, the coalition provides an estimated $20 to $25 million in monthly aid to the Peshmerga. However, recent media reports suggest that this support may be significantly reduced or potentially redirected to Iraqi security forces, including the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), later this year. For years, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has sought to unify its various military units into a single, professional, and depoliticized national force. This initiative has received strong backing from international partners, especially the United States and its coalition allies. Central to the effort is the integration of Unit 70 and Unit 80 - affiliated with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), respectively - into a unified command structure. Together, these units comprise the bulk of the Peshmerga, totaling over 100,000 troops. Despite consistent international support, the unification process has faced recurring obstacles. Between 2010 and 2013, approximately 42,000 fighters from Unit 70 and Unit 80 were merged, resulting in the formation of 14 brigades. However, progress stalled amid internal political disputes and the outbreak of war against ISIS in 2014. In 2018, the process was revived through a 35-point reform plan developed with coalition partners. Most recently, in late April, an initiative to digitize health data for Peshmerga forces was launched as part of the broader effort to professionalize the forces. The US-based NGO Spirit of America funded the project. In July, Babakir Zebari, former chief of staff of Iraq's Army and advisor to the Kurdistan Region's presidency, told Rudaw that Peshmerga unification had entered its final phase and would be completed by the end of the year. 'So far, ten brigades have been formed. We are now on the final one, and the process will be completed this year. All forces will be unified,' he said. However, on Sunday, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed acknowledged that 'the unification of all Kurdish Peshmerga forces continues and has not stopped, but it is proceeding slowly.' He cited several reasons for the delay, including the absence of a 'dedicated budget' for the Kurdish Peshmerga as well as 'problems between Erbil and Baghdad have their own impact.' Another contributing factor, according to Mohammed, is the delay in forming the KRG's tenth cabinet. Following parliamentary elections in October, the KDP emerged as the largest party with 39 seats in the 100-member legislature, followed by the PUK with 23 seats. With no party holding a majority, coalition negotiations between the two ruling parties have continued for months. Another reason for the slow progress, according to Mohammed, is the delay in forming the KRG's tenth cabinet. Preeminent Kurdish leader and KDP head Masoud Barzani on Monday revealed that a 'better level of understanding' had been reached between the PUK and the KDP regarding the formation of the new cabinet, which he said would be completed ahead of Iraq's legislative elections in November.
Rudaw Net
an hour ago
- Rudaw Net
Halabja not its own constituency in Iraq's parliamentary elections
Also in Kurdistan US-led coalition support for Peshmerga to continue: Peshmerga ministry official PKK leader gives Makhmour camp residents hope of return KRG offers free online Kurdish classes for diaspora Suspect turns himself in after Halabja double homicide A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's newest province Halabja will not be considered its own constituency in Iraq's upcoming parliamentary elections, an electoral official told Rudaw on Saturday. 'We work according to the 2023 election law, which was voted on in the Iraqi parliament. At that time, Halabja was not a province. It was even after the election date was determined that Halabja was made a province, so it is still counted under the Sulaimani constituency,' said Nabard Omar, head of the Kurdistan Region electoral team at the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC). 'In future elections, Halabja will be designated as an independent constituency,' he added. The Iraqi parliament officially recognized Halabja as the country's 19th province and the Kurdistan Region's fourth in April, passing a long-awaited bill. The Iraqi Council of Ministers had initially approved Halabja's status change in 2013, separating it from Sulaimani province, but political disputes delayed the formalization for more than a decade. As the site of the devastating 1988 chemical weapon attack by the former regime, Halabja stands out as a potent symbol of Kurdish resilience. Iraq's electoral commission has allocated 15 seats for Erbil, 17 for Sulaimani, and 11 for Duhok, with each province receiving one additional seat for minorities. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for November 11. According to IHEC, 854 candidates have registered to run, including 76 independents. Approximately 29 million citizens in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region will have the right to vote, but only those with biometric voting cards will be able to cast a ballot.
