US to unveil new policies on Iraq, official says
At a press conference, Abdullah revealed that he held discussions with the US assistant secretary of state and the head of the US religious affairs commission, pointing out that talks focused on Kirkuk and other disputed areas, which Washington views as a matter of significant concern.
The deputy speaker added that the new US administration may introduce several political and economic measures related to Iraq, a topic that has been repeatedly discussed with the federal government.
Abdullah highlighted Kirkuk's historical significance as a center of geopolitical struggle due to its rich intellectual, mineral, and natural resources, noting that the city 'has long faced Arabization policies and demographic changes due to its strategic location.'
He stressed the need for all parties to restore the rights of Kirkuk's original inhabitants and 'erase the impact of successive Iraqi regimes.' Abdullah also confirmed that the Iraqi Parliament has reactivated the Article 140 Committee, aiming to reverse the demographic changes imposed under the former Baath regime.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
37 minutes ago
- Rudaw Net
Yazidi commander says hand Shingal security over to Peshmerga
Also in Iraq Suspected Anfal executioner had plastic surgery to avoid detection Water level plummets in Iraq's largest dam Amnesty urges Iraq's parliament to reject controversial free speech bill Iraqi parliament to vote on controversial protest bill A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Yazidi commander on Friday called for Kurdish Peshmerga forces to be put in charge of security in the Yazidi-majority Shingal (Sinjar) district of northern Iraq where multiple armed groups and forces operate, impeding the return of thousands of residents who fled when the Islamic State (ISIS) attacked 11 years ago. 'Until Shingal's security file is handed over to the Peshmerga, the multiple forces and security problems will continue and the displaced will not trust to return to their homeland, and life in Shingal will not normalize,' Haider Shasho, commander of the Ezidikhan Protection Forces that are a Yazidi division within the Kurdistan Region's Peshmerga Ministry, told Rudaw. In 2020, the Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) signed the Shingal Agreement to restore governance, security, and stability to the district and resolve a number of issues that have prevented the return of its inhabitants. Under that deal, Baghdad was to assume responsibility for security, expelling all armed groups and establishing a new armed force recruited from the local population. The agreement has never been fully implemented and thousands of Yazidis are still unable to return home. 'There are many conspiracies against Shingal and there are political parties in Iraq conspiring against Shingal. That's why the Shingal Agreement has not been implemented until now and the crisis and problems of the district remain ongoing,' Shasho said, calling on international actors to intervene and exert pressure on Baghdad to implement the deal. Shingal is part of the disputed areas between Baghdad and Erbil. The areas stretch across several provinces, including Nineveh, Diyala, Salahaddin, and Kirkuk. Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution, which remains unimplemented, provides a process for the KRG and the federal government to settle their disputes. 'We wish that if Shingal's security file is not handed over to the Peshmerga, at least those Peshmerga who are Yazidis should have their duties transferred to Shingal,' Shasho suggested, explaining that 'would provide important psychological assistance' to the Yazidis, 'most of whom are displaced and living in camps.' The Yazidis are an ethnoreligious group in northern Iraq that were subjected to countless heinous atrocities, including forced marriages, sexual violence, and massacres when ISIS captured the city in 2014, bringing destruction to many villages and towns populated by the minority group and committing genocide. They were forced to flee to displacement camps, mainly in the Kurdistan Region. Political disputes over the region between Baghdad and Erbil, as well as the presence of armed groups like the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), have disrupted reconstruction of the city that suffered heavy destruction during the war against ISIS. International actors, such as the United Nations and the United States, have repeatedly called on Iraqi and Kurdish authorities to implement the agreement and 'break the political deadlock' in the city. Shasho said the PKK forces in Shingal 'should also lay down their arms' after the group dissolved itself and announced it was ending its decades-long armed conflict with Turkey. 'While the PKK is recognized as a banned organization in Iraq and has now dissolved itself, its armed members continue in Shingal and the Iraqi government supports them,' Shasho claimed. The Yazidi Shingal Resistance Units (YBS) and Ezidkhan Asayish were formed by the PKK to oust ISIS. They control parts of the district. The PKK and its proxies have rejected the Shingal Agreement. Nwenar Fatih contributed to this report.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Kurdistan President greets Yazidis on Midsummer, vows to uphold their rights
Shafaq News – Erbil The President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, offered warm greetings to the Yazidi community on Saturday in celebration of the Midsummer holidays, reaffirming the region's commitment to protecting their rights and fostering coexistence. 'I extend my warmest congratulations to our fellow Yazidis in Kurdistan and around the world. I wish everyone a joyous holiday," the President said in a statement. He further pledged continued support for the community, stating, 'We will steadfastly champion and safeguard their rights, ensuring that Kurdistan continues to be a place of harmony for all its communities.' The statement ended with a message of goodwill, 'Wishing you all a happy celebration. The Kurdistan Region is home to a significant Yazidi population, many of whom were displaced or targeted during the Islamic State (ISIS) attacks in 2014. The regional government has since undertaken efforts to support their return, reconstruction of Yazidi-majority areas, and the preservation of their religious and cultural identity.
Shafaq News
an hour ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq launches major Beiji power plant project
Shafaq News – Saladin Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced, on Saturday, allocating the necessary funds to upgrade Iraq's electricity production, transmission, and distribution sectors nationwide. According to Al-Sudani's media office, the PM launched the first phase of construction for the Beiji Gas Power Plant 2 in Saladin province, which will have a total capacity of 1,014 megawatts. Praising the efforts made to prepare the project, he described the energy sector as 'the foundation of any comprehensive development plan.' رئيس مجلس الوزراء السيد محمد شياع السوداني، يطلق الاعمال التنفيذية للمرحلة الأولى لمحطة كهرباء بيجي الغازية الثانية في صلاح الدين، بطاقة إجمالية تصل إلى 1014 ميغاواط.وثمن سيادته الجهود التي بذلت لتهيئة انطلاق هذا المشروع المهم، مؤكداً أن ملف الطاقة يمثل قاعدة لأي خطة تنموية… — المكتب الإعلامي لرئيس الوزراء 🇮🇶 (@IraqiPMO) August 2, 2025 The project will be implemented by a consortium of Germany's Siemens Energy and China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC). It includes the rehabilitation of six Siemens gas turbine units, each with a capacity of 169 megawatts, for a total of 1,014 megawatts. Additionally, the project will establish a new power evacuation network with seven 400-kilovolt transmission lines connected to the national grid through six main lines, along with a 132-kilovolt network comprising 16 lines dedicated to Saladin. The first two units of the plant are scheduled to come online within 27 months, with each subsequent unit expected to be commissioned every two months thereafter.
