Latest news with #BaghdadAirport
Iraqi News
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Iraqi News
Weather-related closure at Baghdad International Airport
Baghdad – INA The Ministry of Transportation announced today, Thursday, the temporary closure of Baghdad Airport due to bad weather conditions, due to the dust storm that hit the capital. Ministry spokesman Maitham Al-Safi told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that "Baghdad International Airport was temporarily closed (for an hour) due to bad weather conditions, to departing and landing aircraft." He added that "Iraqi airspace is open and flights are proceeding smoothly and normally, but Baghdad Airport has been closed to departing and landing aircraft, with flights set to resume as soon as the weather improves." Baghdad was hit by a dust storm on Thursday evening, causing reduced visibility.
NBC News
28-02-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Former Navy sailor admits plotting terror attack against Naval Station Great Lakes
A U.S. sailor plotted to attack Naval Station Great Lakes with bombs and guns and also targeted tourist locations in Chicago including the Magnificent Mile and the famous Bean statue in Millennium Park. Xuanyu Harry Pang, who has since left the Navy, admitted to his involvement in the terror attack scheme and pleaded guilty to federal charges in Chicago on Thursday. Pang, a Chinese native who became an American citizen in 1998, was charged two and a half years ago but the case was just unsealed on Thursday in Chicago. . The attack plot targeting Great Lakes, the Navy's main boot camp training facility, was from the inside. The schemed aimed at avenging the killing of a top Iranian military figure-taken out during President Donald Trump's first term. Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian general who was killed during an American drone strike in 2020, had inspired radical Islamists worldwide. Pang, 36 at the time, began communicating with several civilians he thought were like-minded plotters, but who were actually working undercover for the FBI. According to this federal complaint unsealed Thursday in Chicago, Pang 'displayed photos and videos on his phone of multiple locations inside the Naval Station. He also provided two U.S. military uniforms — for operatives to wear inside the base during the attack — and a cell phone that could be used as a test for a detonator.' Pang admits to having scouted other potential targets including Michigan Avenue, city festivals and food fairs. Plotters arranged to buy machine guns that could be used on Michigan Avenue tourists. The famous-and popular 'Cloud Gate' sculpture in Millennium Park, more popularly known as 'The Bean,' was also a discussed target. Federal investigators say the attackers talked about using radiation bombs during the attack to produce what Pang referred to as 'max damage' in one of the recorded conversations. Soleimani was killed near the Baghdad Airport, 6,500 miles from Chicago, but authorities now say had this revenge terror plot not been interrupted, metro Chicago would have paid the price half a world away. Pang's guilty plea today could land him in prison for 20-years. It isn't known why the case was held for two and a half years, or why it was just unsealed.
Zawya
11-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Iraq to offer 26 projects for Baghdad Airport development
Iraq intends to offer 26 contracts within a project to develop its Baghdad Airport as per an expansion plan presented by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). In a statement on Monday, the Transport Ministry said Baghdad Airport expansion is part of an overall plan to develop Iraq's civilian airports. 'The plan to develop Baghdad International Airport includes 26 projects in 2 phases…phase one comprises 16 projects covering the airport's infrastructure and other facilities,' said the statement, carried by Aliqtisad News and other Iraqi publications. The statement did not mention when the project would be launched or provide costs but said the plan would be funded by the state budget. In a report last month, the Transport Ministry said the Washington-based IFC has presented a 3-option plan for Baghdad Airport, including the construction of a new airport, expansion of the existing one or both options. (Writing by Nadim Kawach; Editing by Anoop Menon) (
