06-01-2020
23:10
US Army tells Iraq is preparing to 'move out': AFP
US military officials have informed Iraq's joint operations command that it is preparing to "move out" of the country, AFP has reported.
Iraqi and US Defense officials have confirmed the authenticity of the letter, according to the news agency.
20:13
PM Abdul-Mahdi to US Ambassador: Iraq will work to prevent 'open war'
Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi with US Ambassador to Iraq Matthew Tueller on January 6. Photo: Presidency Twitter
Adil Abdul-Mahdi, Iraqi caretaker prime minister, received US Ambassador to Iraq Matthew Tueller to discuss "the development of events and the position of the Iraqi government," according to a readout from Abdul-Mahdi's office.
Abdul-Mahdi "stressed the need for joint action with the United States in order to implement the withdrawal of foreign forces as per the Iraqi parliament's decision based on right foundations."
He also "stressed on the seriousness of the current situation and its possible repercussions," saying that Iraq will do its best to prevent an "open war."
The Iraqi PM said that Iraq wants build relations with all countries, adding that "the strength of Iraq is in the interests of everyone."
13:29
Body of slain PMF deputy head al-Mohandis to be returned to Iraq on Tuesday
Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis, deputy head of the PMF, holds a press conference during a visit to Basra on January 23, 2018. File photo: Haidar Mohammed Ali / AFP
Media belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, known in Arabic as Hashd al-Shaabi) has announced that the body of slain deputy head Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis will be returned to Iraq on Tuesday.
The US airstrike dismembered the bodies of those it killed, including Muhandis, PMF media said on Monday; DNA tests have been completed, and body parts have been attributed to each of the deceased.
His corpse is expected to arrive in Iraq's southern province of Basra at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, January 7, when a ceremony will be held for him.
A funeral convoy procession will then head to the holy city of Najaf.
“Hashd al-Shaabi Commission calls on people, prominent figures, tribes and clerics participate in a million [individual] gathering to bid farewell” to Mohandis, the statement read.
The US airstrike dismembered the bodies of those it killed, including Muhandis, PMF media said on Monday; DNA tests have been completed, and body parts have been attributed to each of the deceased.
His corpse is expected to arrive in Iraq's southern province of Basra at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, January 7, when a ceremony will be held for him.
A funeral convoy procession will then head to the holy city of Najaf.
“Hashd al-Shaabi Commission calls on people, prominent figures, tribes and clerics participate in a million [individual] gathering to bid farewell” to Mohandis, the statement read.
12:25
Regional, world powers 'the source of the problems' in the Middle East: KCK
The killing of "political and military actor" Qasem Soleimani and Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) deputy leader Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis is proof that regional and international powers are the source, not remedy for conflict in the Middle East, according to a statement published on Monday by an umbrella organisation of Kurdish political and militant parties.
The Kurdistan Community Union (KCK), whose membership includes the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), published the statement on the PKK-affiliated ANF news outlet website.
"Neither the regional powers nor the international powers have a prescription for the problems of the Middle East because they are the source of the problems; therefore, they can not solve them," the statement read.
"The killing of Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis shows that the future for the people of this region will be difficult," it continued.
"As the Kurdistan liberation movement, we are against resolving the problems of the Middle East through foreign interference."
The Kurdistan Community Union (KCK), whose membership includes the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), published the statement on the PKK-affiliated ANF news outlet website.
"Neither the regional powers nor the international powers have a prescription for the problems of the Middle East because they are the source of the problems; therefore, they can not solve them," the statement read.
"The killing of Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis shows that the future for the people of this region will be difficult," it continued.
"As the Kurdistan liberation movement, we are against resolving the problems of the Middle East through foreign interference."
11:10
Tehran mourns the death of Qasem Soleimani
Mourners gather to pay homage to top Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani in Tehran on January 6, 2020. Photo: Atta Kenare / AFP
Hundreds of thousands of people are currently attending the funeral of slain Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Tehran.
His coffin will be paraded through the city's streets, before being taken to his birthplace of Kerman in its final journey tomorrow.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei attended Tehran University to pray on the coffins of General Qasem Soleimani, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) commander Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis, and their companions who were killed in a US airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump on Friday near Baghdad airport.
The Supreme Leader was joined by Esmail Qaani , the newly appointed head of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the IRGC chief and President Hassan Rouhani .
The killing of Soleimani has raised tension in the region, with Iraqi parliament passing a non-binding resolution calling on the Iraqi government to expel foreign forces from Iraqi soil.
President Rouhani’s government announced on Sunday night that it was pulling back further from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Actions (JCPOA) also known as Iran nuclear deal, on Sunday night. The statement said that Tehran would nonetheless allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to nuclear sites.
His coffin will be paraded through the city's streets, before being taken to his birthplace of Kerman in its final journey tomorrow.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei attended Tehran University to pray on the coffins of General Qasem Soleimani, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) commander Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis, and their companions who were killed in a US airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump on Friday near Baghdad airport.
The Supreme Leader was joined by Esmail Qaani , the newly appointed head of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the IRGC chief and President Hassan Rouhani .
The killing of Soleimani has raised tension in the region, with Iraqi parliament passing a non-binding resolution calling on the Iraqi government to expel foreign forces from Iraqi soil.
President Rouhani’s government announced on Sunday night that it was pulling back further from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Actions (JCPOA) also known as Iran nuclear deal, on Sunday night. The statement said that Tehran would nonetheless allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to nuclear sites.