Latest from Iraqi News
Iraqi News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Baghdad hails peace deal Turkey reached with PKK
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, hailed on Saturday the peace agreement Turkey reached recently with the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK). Al-Sudani's remarks took place during a phone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in which they discussed ties between the two countries, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The Iraqi prime minister confirmed that the peace agreement will help the region by promoting stability and development for its people. Last May, the PKK announced its intention to disband and to cease military activities, bringing an end to four decades of conflict. The step took place after PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999, urged the party in February to formally dissolve and start disarmament. After starting the process of handing over its weapons during a ceremony held in the northern Iraqi city of Sulaymaniyah on Friday, the PKK said in a statement that the party handed over its weapons voluntarily in response to the adoption of legislation for democratic integration. Turkey, the United States, and the European Union have all designated the PKK, which has fought for decades, as a terrorist group. The party's decision to disband is an important milestone in regional geopolitics and could ease long-standing tensions, notably in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, where PKK members remain.
Iraqi News
2 hours ago
- Iraqi News
US air defenses at Erbil Airport shoot down a hostile drone
Erbil ( – Loud explosions were heard near Erbil International Airport at dawn on Monday (July 14, 2025), as U.S. air defense systems intercepted and shot down an unknown flying object, according to local sources and eyewitnesses. At approximately 2:30 AM, sirens were activated from within the U.S. Consulate compound, followed by the distinctive sound of the C-RAM air defense system firing. Sources confirmed that the system successfully engaged and neutralized a hostile flying object over the area. Northern regionsecurity forces immediately rushed to the scene and established a security cordon around the airport and its vicinity. An investigation is underway to determine the nature and origin of the object. Despite the incident, airport operations were not affected. The Director of Erbil International Airport confirmed to local media that all flight schedules remain unchanged and that technical crews are operating as usual. No official statement has yet been issued by the Kurdistan Regional Government or the International Coalition. The airport has been targeted by similar drone or rocket attacks in the past.
Iraqi News
2 hours ago
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq Stock Exchange reports 22Bn IQD traded in June as main index drops 5%
Baghdad ( – The Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX) announced on Saturday (July 12, 2025) its trading summary for June 2025, reporting a total traded value of over 22.7 billion Iraqi dinars. Across 17 trading sessions throughout the month, nearly 9 billion shares (8.937 billion) were traded from 75 different listed companies. The exchange executed a total of 14,526 buy and sell transactions. However, the market saw a notable downturn in its main index. The ISX60 index closed at 965.73 points, marking a significant 5% decrease compared to its close at the end of May. The ISX, which lists 104 Iraqi companies across key sectors like banking and telecommunications, experienced a month of high trading volume but negative overall index performance, indicating a market correction following previous gains.
Iraqi News
10 hours ago
- Business
- Iraqi News
Baghdad affirms openness to resume Iraqi Kurdistan's oil exports
Baghdad ( – Amid significant tensions between Baghdad and Erbil over domestic consumption quantities and payment mechanisms, costing the country 300,000 barrels of its OPEC quota each day, the deadlock persists despite continuous government efforts to resume oil shipments from Iraqi Kurdistan through the Turkish port of Ceyhan. In a statement to the state-run news agency (INA), Iraq's Oil Minister, Hayan Abdul-Ghani, said that the government is ready to receive oil from the Kurdistan region of Iraq and export it through Turkey. Abdul-Ghani stated that agreements with Iraqi Kurdistan are nearing completion, with the exception of a thorny issue over how much of the oil produced would be used domestically. The oil minister added that the 2024 general budget required the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to supply 400,000 barrels per day to the State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) for export. Due to financial and legal concerns, crude oil shipments through the Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline, which formerly handled around 0.5 percent of the world's oil supply, have ceased since March 2023. After the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris ruled that Ankara had violated a 1973 treaty by permitting oil exports without the approval of the federal government in Baghdad, oil flows via the Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline were stopped. The ruling obligated Turkey to pay Baghdad $1.5 billion in compensation for losses caused by the KRG's illegal oil exports between 2014 and 2018.
Iraqi News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Iraqi News
11-year-old Iraqi-Dutch talent Yassin Tariq wins top scorer award in Netherlands youth league
( – Eleven-year-old Dutch footballer of Iraqi origin, Yassin Ziyad Tariq, has won the top scorer award in his age-group league in the Utrecht province of the Netherlands after an exceptional season. Playing as a striker for his club, SVW Gorinchem, Tariq scored an impressive 28 goals, finishing as the league's top marksman. His performance has marked him as one of the most promising young talents in the region. As a result of his standout season, Tariq is reportedly being monitored by several top-tier Dutch youth academy clubs, with a potential move being considered for the upcoming summer transfer window. The young player is currently undergoing intensive training with specialized coaches, including Colombian coach Alberto Garcia, alongside his regular club coaching, to continue developing his skills. His success is a proud moment for the Iraqi diaspora and a promising sign for the future.
