The United States has expressed concern over the relations between various Kurdish political parties, urging the sides to maintain unity and help find a solution to the political deadlock between Erbil and Baghdad. Speaking to reporters in the embassy on Wednesday, Ambassador to Iraq, Douglas Silliman, urged the Kurdish factions …
Read More »Romania signs deal to buy 227 Piranha V vehicles
Romanian Minister of Defence Mihai Fifor signed a deal Friday for 227 Piranha V infantry fighting vehicles for the country’s armed forces. The eight-wheel drive vehicles will be purchased under a deal worth €895 million euros (U.S. $1 billion), excluding the value-added tax.
Read More »Malian army plans anti-jihadist operation in restive centre
Mali’s army is to deploy patrols in an operation to fight jihadists in the country’s restive centre, according to documents and sources consulted by AFP, as the government expresses concern over extreme instability in the area. Newly-appointed Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga said last week “urgent measures” were required to …
Read More »UNHCR says Israel should halt policy of relocating African refugees
William Spindler, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said in a press briefing on Tuesday in the Swiss city of Geneva that the program was not “coherent” and “has been implemented not in a very transparent manner.” “We are again appealing to Israel to halt its policy …
Read More »Zarif leaves Tehran for Moscow
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif, heading a delegation, left Tehran for Moscow on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said. “Iranian FM is also to have a trip to Brussels on Thursday to attend a meeting with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy …
Read More »EU to make strategy for supporting Iraq recovery
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Commission adopted a Joint Communication proposing an EU strategy for Iraq in order to address the many challenges the country faces following the territorial defeat of the ISIS terrorist group. “Iraq is at a crossroads …
Read More »US Vice President to visit Middle East
US Vice President Mike Pence will visit the Mideast from January 20 to 23, the White House said on Monday. The White House explained, in a statement, that Pence will visit Egypt, Jordan and Israel.
Read More »Fighting parties in Libya agree on cease-fire
Forces of the Libyan UN-backed government and the Municipal Council of the western Libyan city of Zuwara on Saturday reached an agreement to stop all military operations carried out by the government’s Western Military Zone service in the area. “An agreement was reached to freeze military operations in the area …
Read More »Libya government forces conduct artillery attack near Tripoli
Artillery shelling attack rocked Garabulli district near Tripoli by Al-Kani Brigade of the Defense Ministry of the Government of National Accord Sunday afternoon in retaliation of the abduction of one of the brigade’s fighters on Saturday in the district.
Read More »Algeria, Tunisia discuss counter-terrorism cooperation
Algeria and Tunisia on Sunday discussed ways and means to strengthen security cooperation, as part of the visit of Tunisian Interior Minister Lotfi Brahem to Algiers. “My visit is part of usual bilateral dialogue between Algiers and Tunis aiming at examining and building on previous experiences for the service of …
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