Latest news with #IraqiShiite
Shafaq News
6 days ago
- General
- Shafaq News
EXCLUSIVE: Pentagon reaffirms Iraq withdrawal timeline
Shafaq News/ The US Department of Defense confirmed on Tuesday that the planned withdrawal of American forces from Iraq remains on schedule, with no changes or delays caused by recent political or regional developments. In an official response to Shafaq News, a Pentagon spokesperson stated, 'We are on track with what we reaffirmed in the September 2024 joint statement.' The spokesperson did not provide additional details regarding ongoing discussions. The Pentagon's remarks come amid continued talks between Baghdad and Washington within the US-Iraq Higher Military Commission. Established in 2023, the commission is tasked with overseeing the transition of US forces from combat operations to bilateral security cooperation focused on training and intelligence sharing. Currently, about 2,500 US troops remain in Iraq, stationed primarily at Ain al-Asad Air Base in al-Anbar and Harir Air Base in Erbil. They continue to provide logistical and operational support to Iraqi forces and engage in efforts to combat the remnants of ISIS. Iraq's parliament voted in early 2020 to set a timetable for ending foreign troop presence following the US assassination of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi armed group leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis near Baghdad airport. Despite ongoing pressure from some Iraqi Shiite factions, the US insists any withdrawal will be fully coordinated with Baghdad to ensure stability and prevent a resurgence of terrorist threats.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arab leaders promise to work on reconstruction of Gaza and again press for a ceasefire
BAGHDAD (AP) — Arab leaders meeting at an annual summit in Baghdad said Saturday that they were trying to reach a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip and promised to contribute to the reconstruction of the territory once the war stops. In March, an emergency Arab League summit in Cairo endorsed a plan for Gaza's reconstruction without displacing its roughly 2 million residents. The summit in Baghdad was attended by Arab leaders including Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Among the guests were Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, who called for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza and the flow of aid into the besieged territory. He said that the U.N. rejects any 'forced displacement' of Palestinians. Saturday's summit comes two months after Israel ended a ceasefire reached with the Hamas militant group in January. In recent days, Israel has launched widespread attacks in Gaza and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a further escalation to pursue his aim of destroying Hamas. 'This genocide has reached levels of ugliness not seen in all conflicts throughout history,' Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a speech that called for allowing aid to flow into Gaza. Al-Sudani added that Iraq will work on setting up an Arab fund for the reconstruction of the region in which Baghdad will pay $20 million for Gaza and a similar amount for Lebanon. El-Sisi said that Egypt, in coordination with Qatar and the U.S., is 'exerting intense efforts to reach a ceasefire' in Gaza, adding that the efforts led to the release of Israel-American hostage Edan Alexander. He said that Egypt plans to hold an international conference for the reconstruction of Gaza 'once the aggression stops.' Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Hamas to abandon power in Gaza and along with other militant groups to hand over weapons to the Palestinian Authority. Hamas seized control of Gaza from Abbas' Western-backed Palestinian Authority in 2007, and reconciliation attempts between the rivals have repeatedly failed. The Baghdad meeting was upstaged by U.S. President Donald Trump's tour in the region earlier in the week. Trump's visit did not usher in a deal for a new ceasefire in Gaza as many had hoped, but he grabbed headlines by meeting with new Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa — who had once fought against U.S. forces in Iraq — and promising to remove U.S. sanctions imposed on Syria. Al-Sharaa did not attend the summit in Baghdad, where Syria's delegation was headed by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani. Iraqi Shiite militias and political factions are wary of al-Sharaa's past as a Sunni militant and had pushed back against his invitation to the summit. During Syria's conflict that began in March 2011, several Iraqi Shiite militias fought alongside the forces of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, making al-Sharaa today a particularly sensitive figure for them. An Iraqi official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to media, said that Iran's Quds Force commander Esmail Ghaani had paid a visit to Baghdad prior to the summit and 'conveyed messages of support for the Iranian-American negotiations' to reach a nuclear deal and lifting of crippling sanctions on Iran. Qassim Abdul-zahra, The Associated Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Leaders
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Leaders
Arab League Summit to Convene in Baghdad amid Regional crises
Regional leaders are to gather in Baghdad on Saturday for the annual Arab League summit, focusing primarily on the ongoing Gaza crisis. The summit aims to address pressing issues affecting the region, particularly the humanitarian situation in Gaza. In March, Arab leaders convened an emergency summit in Cairo, endorsing a reconstruction plan for Gaza. This plan aims to rebuild the Gaza Strip without displacing its approximately 2 million residents. The current summit follows Israel's recent military actions, which have escalated tensions significantly. This summit occurs two months after Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas, which had been established in January. In recent days, Israel launched extensive attacks in Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promising further military escalation. His government aims to dismantle Hamas completely, intensifying the conflict. Impact of U.S. Presidential Visit The Baghdad meeting coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump's regional tour earlier this week. Although many hoped for a new ceasefire deal, Trump's visit did not yield significant results. Instead, he made headlines by meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who previously fought against U.S. forces in Iraq. Al-Sharaa did not attend the summit, as Syria's delegation was led by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani. Iraqi Shiite militias and political factions expressed concerns about al-Sharaa's past as a Sunni militant. They had previously pushed back against his invitation to the summit. Iraq's Balancing Act Iraq maintains complex ties with both the United States and Iran, striving to balance these relationships. An anonymous Iraqi political official revealed that Iran's Quds Force commander, Esmail Ghaani, visited Baghdad before the summit. He conveyed messages of support for Iranian-American negotiations regarding a nuclear deal. The Arab League summit in Baghdad represents a critical moment for regional leaders to address the Gaza crisis and other pressing issues. As tensions rise, the outcomes of this summit could significantly impact the future of Arab unity and regional stability. Short link : Post Views: 5
Japan Today
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Arab League summit kicks off in Baghdad with Gaza at top of the agenda
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, center right, welcomes Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas upon arrival at Baghdad International Airport ahead of the 34th Arab League summit, in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday May 16, 2025. (Murtadha Al-Sudani/Pool Photo via AP) By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA Regional leaders were to meet in Baghdad on Saturday at the annual summit of the Arab League, with the war in Gaza expected to once again loom large. In March, at an emergency summit in Cairo, Arab leaders endorsed a proposed plan for reconstruction of the Gaza Strip without displacing its roughly 2 million residents. Saturday's summit comes two months after after Israel ended a ceasefire reached with the Hamas militant group in January. In recent days, Israel has launched widespread attacks in Gaza and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a further escalation of force to pursue his aim of destroying Hamas. The Baghdad meeting was upstaged by U.S. President Donald Trump's tour in the region earlier in the week. Trump's visit did not usher in a deal for a new ceasefire in Gaza as many had hoped, but he grabbed headlines by meeting with new Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa — who had once fought against U.S. forces in Iraq — and promising to remove U.S. sanctions imposed on Syria. Al-Sharaa was not attending the summit in Baghdad, where Syria's delegation was headed by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani. Iraqi Shiite militias and political factions are wary of al-Sharaa's past as a Sunni militant and had pushed back against his invitation to the summit. Formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, al-Sharaa joined the ranks of al-Qaida insurgents battling U.S. forces in Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 to oust Saddam Hussein and still faces a warrant for his arrest on terrorism charges in Iraq. During Syria's conflict that began in March 2011, several Iraqi Shiite militias fought alongside the forces of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, making al-Sharaa today a particularly sensitive figure for them. Iraq, which has strong — and sometimes conflicting — ties with both the United States and Iran, has sought to strike a difficult balance between them and to position itself as a regional mediator. An Iraqi political official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment, said that Iran's Quds Force commander Esmail Ghaani had paid a visit to Baghdad prior to the summit and 'conveyed messages of support for the Iranian-American negotiations' for a nuclear deal and a demand for the lifting of crippling sanctions on Iran. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
San Francisco Chronicle
17-05-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Arab League summit kicks off in Baghdad with Gaza at the top of the agenda
BAGHDAD (AP) — Regional leaders were to meet in Baghdad on Saturday at the annual summit of the Arab League, with the war in Gaza expected to once again loom large. In March, at an emergency summit in Cairo, Arab leaders endorsed a proposed plan for reconstruction of the Gaza Strip without displacing its roughly 2 million residents. Saturday's summit comes two months after after Israel ended a ceasefire reached with the Hamas militant group in January. In recent days, Israel has launched widespread attacks in Gaza and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a further escalation of force to pursue his aim of destroying Hamas. The Baghdad meeting was upstaged by U.S. President Donald Trump's tour in the region earlier in the week. Trump's visit did not usher in a deal for a new ceasefire in Gaza as many had hoped, but he grabbed headlines by meeting with new Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa — who had once fought against U.S. forces in Iraq — and promising to remove U.S. sanctions imposed on Syria. Al-Sharaa was not attending the summit in Baghdad, where Syria's delegation was headed by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani. Iraqi Shiite militias and political factions are wary of al-Sharaa's past as a Sunni militant and had pushed back against his invitation to the summit. Formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, al-Sharaa joined the ranks of al-Qaida insurgents battling U.S. forces in Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 to oust Saddam Hussein and still faces a warrant for his arrest on terrorism charges in Iraq. During Syria's conflict that began in March 2011, several Iraqi Shiite militias fought alongside the forces of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, making al-Sharaa today a particularly sensitive figure for them. Iraq, which has strong — and sometimes conflicting — ties with both the United States and Iran, has sought to strike a difficult balance between them and to position itself as a regional mediator. An Iraqi political official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment, said that Iran's Quds Force commander Esmail Ghaani had paid a visit to Baghdad prior to the summit and 'conveyed messages of support for the Iranian-American negotiations' for a nuclear deal and a demand for the lifting of crippling sanctions on Iran.
