Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

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Volunteers from the Iraqi Shi’ite Badr Army militia take up position near Tikrit, northern Iraq, on February 6, 2015. (EPA/ALI MOHAMMED)

Countdown to Tikrit offensive has already begun: Iraqi army official

by Hamza Mustafa | Feb 9, 2015 | Middle East

Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—The countdown to the liberation of Tikrit from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is already under way, the Iraqi military official who heads the operation told Asharq Al-Awsat on Saturday, though he did not specify a particular date...

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Iraq’s Prime Minister-designate Haider Al-Abadi speaks during a news conference in Baghdad on August 25, 2014. (Reuters/Mahmoud Raouf Mahmoud)

Iraq PM defends controversial new bills

by Hamza Mustafa | Feb 5, 2015 | Middle East

Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi on Wednesday defended the decision to refer a draft law creating a military National Guard force to parliament for ratification, saying its was part of his government’s efforts to fight the Islamic...

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Iraq’s Sunni Parliament Speaker Salim Al-Jabouri speaks during a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq, in this July 26, 2014 file photo. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iraqi MPs receive death threats over calls to investigate village massacre

by Hamza Mustafa | Feb 3, 2015 | Middle East

Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iraqi MPs for Diyala province, including Speaker of Parliament Salim Al-Jabouri, have received death threats warning them to stop all investigations into a massacre that took place in a village in the region last week, according to one MP from...

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Soldiers march during a ceremony marking the anniversary of the founding of the Iraqi Air Defense in Baghdad, February 1, 2015.(REUTERS/Mahmoud Raouf Mahmoud)

Iraqi PM Abadi orders arms-free zone in Baghdad

by Hamza Mustafa | Feb 2, 2015 | Middle East

Baghdad and Anbar, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi has declared the Karrada region of Baghdad an arms-free zone, following reports of violent unrest caused by volunteer militias in the area. In a press statement, Gen. Saad Muin, the official...

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In this July 15, 2014 file photo, Haider Al-Abadi speaks to the media after an Iraqi parliament session in Baghdad. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iraq PM promises National Guard within six months

by Hamza Mustafa | Feb 1, 2015 | Middle East

Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat—Iraqi National Guard units will be formed within six months, Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi pledged on Saturday at an interfaith dialogue conference in Baghdad. “The government is committed to forming a National Guard force within 6 months,”...