Latest news with #SecurityandDefenseCommittee
Shafaq News
a day ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
US Embassy warning sparks fears of major security shift in Iraq
Shafaq News/ A senior Iraqi lawmaker warned on Friday that a potential closure of the US Embassy in Baghdad could be a 'precursor to an unprecedented security event' in Iraq or the wider region. Mohammed al-Shammari, a member of the Iraqi Parliament's Security and Defense Committee, told Shafaq News that 'the possible shutdown of the American Embassy is a serious indicator that the United States and Israel may be preparing for a dangerous operation, warranting the evacuation of diplomatic personnel.' 'This is an early warning signal that demands urgent political and security preparedness inside Iraq,' al-Shammari added. He pointed to Iraq's limited sovereignty, particularly in defense and financial matters, blaming US control over Iraqi oil revenues for hampering military development. 'If Iraq held its financial sovereignty, weapons, salaries, and pensions would be fully national,' he said, noting that the US Federal Reserve can block arms deals that don't align with Washington's preferences. Al-Shammari stressed that sovereignty is not merely territorial, but also financial, warning that the Iraqi military's weaknesses are rooted in dependence on foreign-controlled funds. Regarding the future of US forces in Iraq, he confirmed there is a binding agreement for full withdrawal by 2026, with a mutually agreed timeline currently in place. Earlier on Friday, the US Embassy in Baghdad issued a statement denying any operational changes at its Baghdad embassy or the consulate in Erbil. 'The United States remains firmly committed to advancing its policy priorities in Iraq, supporting Iraqi sovereignty, and engaging with Iraqi leaders and citizens,' the statement said. However, the embassy had issued a security alert last week warning American citizens of increased risks of violence or attacks on US interests. It advised Americans in Iraq to avoid crowded areas and locations frequented by foreigners. The State Department continues to classify Iraq as a Level 4 'Do Not Travel' destination. Last Sunday, Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah threatened to strike US bases and interests in the region if Washington intervenes militarily in the ongoing war between Iran and Israel.
Shafaq News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
US hindering air defense advancements, Iraqi MP says
Shafaq News/ The United States of obstructing efforts to equip the country with modern air defense systems, a member of Iraq's parliamentary Security and Defense Committee accused on Wednesday. MP Ahmed al-Moussawi told Shafaq News that Israeli forces have repeatedly breached Iraqi airspace to hit Iranian targets, exposing a dangerous gap in Iraq's military defenses. 'The absence of missile defenses has turned Iraq's skies into a vulnerability." Baghdad recently signed a $2.7 billion deal with South Korea to procure the Cheongung II (KM-SAM) system, designed to intercept hostile aircraft and missiles, al-Moussawi revealed, noting that delivery has not begun, and deployment remains pending. Al-Moussawi claimed the delay stems from longstanding US opposition. 'Washington had previously vetoed air defense imports under successive governments,' he said, urging the current administration to press ahead with implementation and restore full sovereignty over Iraqi airspace. In response to these concerns, Parliament formed a joint committee earlier from the Security and Defense and Integrity panels to examine the delays and summon responsible officials. Since June 13, Iraqi airspace has become a transit zone for Iranian and Israeli missile and drone strikes, and Baghdad currently lacks the advanced capabilities needed to detect or intercept such threats. To mitigate risk, Iraqi forces have deployed limited air defense systems at strategic locations, including the Bazarkan oil field in Maysan province, though a security official confirmed the systems are in passive monitoring mode and will only be activated if a direct threat emerges.
Shafaq News
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Dhi Qar deadly drill drives Iraq to rethink military training
Shafaq News/ The recent deaths of two cadets during a training exercise in Dhi Qar have reignited longstanding concerns about Iraq's military education model, which critics argue remains locked in outdated Cold War–era doctrines. Far from being an isolated lapse, the tragedy reflects deep structural and philosophical shortcomings that, if unaddressed, risk perpetuating preventable losses and undermining Iraq's future defense capability. Legacy Systems vs. Modern Needs Iraq's military training institutions continue to rely on rigid, antiquated protocols that prioritize physical endurance over tactical readiness and psychological resilience. Adnan Al-Kanani, a retired military instructor, explains that military education is divided into two main phases: a three-month 'basic training' at foundational schools, followed by branch-specific academies (e.g., infantry, engineering, logistics, armored units). Elite forces—such as special operations—undergo additional courses, including parachuting and advanced assault techniques. 'Training begins with theoretical instruction and gradual exposure to physical stress,' notes Alaa Al-Nashou, another retired instructor. 'The first 45 days are supposed to focus on adjusting the cadet mentally and physically to the military environment. Only afterward do they advance to intensive field training and combat simulations.' Under these curricula—formally vetted by military education authorities—each session is prescribed by strict 'training cards.' Deviations can lead to disciplinary action or even military prosecution. In theory, this ensures uniformity; in practice, however, oversight is weak, coordination between institutions is poor, and some instructors resort to personal improvisation, perpetuating outdated beliefs about 'breaking in' new soldiers. In neighboring Jordan and Egypt, military academies have shifted in recent years to emphasize tactical simulations and stress inoculation techniques over brute endurance—a model Iraq has yet to emulate, italicized by regional military analysts. Fatal Drill in Dhi Qar On May 21, 2025, seven cadets at the Fourth Military College in Dhi Qar were hospitalized—and two succumbed to dehydration and heatstroke—after enduring prolonged drills under direct sunlight without access to water, despite wearing civilian clothing during their first day of training. Mustafa Ajeel, Advisor to the Iraqi Parliament's Security and Defense Committee, condemned the incident as 'entirely preventable' and labeled it 'a case of gross mismanagement.' 'There was a complete disregard for even the most basic health and safety protocols,' Ajeel said. According to survivors, the cadets were marched across open ground in extreme heat, with no pauses for hydration. By the time instructors recognized signs of distress—confusion, collapse, rapid heartbeat—it was too late. Exposing Structural and Philosophical Flaws Alaa Al-Nashou emphasizes that the Dhi Qar incident was not merely procedural but structural. By exposing fresh recruits to intensive field drills from day one, instructors violated the intended progression from classroom instruction to physical conditioning. 'Losses do happen during advanced training—but not like this, and not this early,' Nashou said. 'This was negligence, plain and simple.' Despite official curricula mandating a gradual build-up—45 days of mental and physical acclimation before rigorous exercise—many training centers still adhere to the notion that brutality equals discipline. Nashou warns that 'modern warfare demands intelligence, agility, emotional resilience, and above all, leadership,' qualities that cannot be forged by running cadets to collapse. On the other hand, Al-Kanani points out that, while formal structures exist, their enforcement is spotty. Inspectors rarely visit remote bases, and coordination between the Ministry of Defense and individual colleges is minimal. 'Instructors are expected to follow training cards, but there is no real accountability when they improvise,' Al-Kanani told Shafaq News. 'Outdated beliefs about 'breaking in' new soldiers are still prevalent.' Mustafa Ajeel corroborates this, noting that inspectors often find discrepancies between written protocols and actual practices. 'We've discovered that some academies ignore basic precautions during summer months,' Ajeel said. 'This pattern predates the Dhi Qar tragedy but was only exposed when lives were lost.' Inadequate medical support and nutrition services further compound the problem. Cadets frequently train on empty stomachs, and medical teams are ill-equipped to handle heatstroke or dehydration. Al-Kanani warns that, without systematic reform, 'Iraq's military education will remain an exercise in endurance rather than a science of readiness.' Government Response and Accountability In the days following the fatalities, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al- Sudani —also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces—ordered the immediate dismissal of the academy's president, deputy, and the battalion commander overseeing the drill. He convened an investigative board and granted the two fallen cadets promotions to second lieutenant posthumously. In addition, the Ministry of Defense revised training schedules: afternoon summer drills were canceled, and training hours were restricted to 6:00–10:00 a.m. and 5:00–9:00 p.m. to avoid peak heat. The Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee pledged to dispatch inspection teams nationwide. Mustafa Ajeel explained that these teams will 'review training conditions and adherence to modern protocols in military bases nationwide. These visits will help us determine where the system is breaking down.' Calls for Comprehensive Reform While the immediate policy changes address scheduling and chain-of-command accountability, experts insist that Iraq must undertake a deeper overhaul of its military education philosophy. Essential components include: Modern Training Tools: Investment in flight simulators, urban-combat mock-villages, and virtual-reality modules to replicate battlefield scenarios without endangering cadets. Psychological Preparedness: Embedding stress-management courses, resilience workshops, and mental-health screenings as core components of the initial 45-day phase. Enhanced Nutritional and Medical Services: Providing balanced meals, hydration stations, and medical personnel trained specifically in heat-related illnesses at every training facility. Instructor Accountability: Instituting an 'Instructor Accreditation Program' to ensure that all trainers meet global standards, with regular audits and disciplinary measures for deviations. 'Unless these long-overdue changes are implemented, the Dhi Qar tragedy risks being remembered not as a turning point—but as just another avoidable loss in a broken system,' Al-Nashou warned. Al-Kanani added that 'modern warfare requires more than just physical stamina—it demands intelligence, agility, emotional resilience, and above all, leadership. Continuing to treat new cadets with outdated methods risks not only lives but Iraq's future defense capability.'
Rudaw Net
01-06-2025
- Health
- Rudaw Net
Tragic death of army cadets sparks national outcry in Iraq
Also in Iraq Coordination Framework delegation to visit Erbil amid Baghdad-KRG strain Kurdistan workers urge Iraq's top court to order salary release from Baghdad Iraq transfers military college cadets to Baghdad after tragic deaths Iraqi leaders receive Lebanese president for talks on bilateral ties, security A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani has ordered an investigation into the deaths of two Iraqi army cadets and the illness of many others at a military college in the southern Dhi Qar province. Parliament has also called for accountability in the incident that saw 'over 100 cadets' suffer from extreme exhaustion due to high temperatures and intense physical exertion The Premier's Spokesperson Sabah al-Numan on Wednesday stated that Sudani 'directed the formation of an investigative council to identify those responsible and take legal action, following the deaths of two cadets from the Fourth Military College in Dhi Qar Province and the illness of other cadets.' Sudani further dismissed the head of the military academy, his deputy, and the commanding officer of the regiment whose cadets were affected, Numan said. The Prime Minister also instructed that 'the rank of Second Lieutenant be posthumously awarded to the two deceased cadets,' making their families eligible for compensation granted to fallen soldiers. Earlier in the day, the Iraqi defense ministry stated that the cadets had joined the Fourth Military College in Dhi Qar's provincial capital Nasiriyah on Sunday. During the reception process, 'nine cadets began showing signs of dehydration and health complications' due to prolonged sun exposure, the ministry noted, adding that 'they were immediately transported to Nasiriyah Hospital by the military college's medical team.' Initially, the ministry confirmed that one cadet succumbed to health complications, while six others recovered and are set to be discharged and two cadets remain under medical observation. Later, the Iraqi parliament's Security and Defense Committee stated that the death toll had risen to two, noting that it had formed a 'follow-up team' to investigate the incident thoroughly and 'ensure the safety of the cadets and improve their training conditions.' Importantly, the Committee noted that 'more than a 100 cadets' had 'suffered fainting and severe exhaustion' during the reception process and emphasized that it is 'closely monitoring the health status of the affected cadets to prevent future occurrences.
Shafaq News
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
UN-backed return: Over 240 families home from Syrian camp
Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, Iraq repatriated more than 240 families from Syria's al-Hol camp as part of a UN-backed agreement, a lawmaker said. Hussein al-Ameri, a member of parliament's Security and Defense Committee, told Shafaq New that the returns follow a 'long-standing' arrangement that permits groups of 50 people at a time to return for psychological and social rehabilitation. The families, previously housed in the al-Hol and al-Hasakah camps in northeastern Syria, crossed into Nineveh province aboard 20 Iraqi buses via the al-Yarubiyah border crossing, according to security and humanitarian officials. 'This is the 25th convoy since returns began and the eighth so far in 2025,' Shukri al-Hajji, head of al-Hol's exit office, told Shafaq News. The convoy was accompanied by US armored vehicles under Global Coalition coordination to ensure safe passage, officials said. Returnees are currently housed at al-Jadaa camp south of Mosul, where they undergo reintegration supported by Iraqi authorities and UN agencies. Future relocation to their original home areas depends on clearance by national security and intelligence services, al-Ameri said. On Tuesday, over 240 families of 860 individuals were also returned as part of the same agreement. Iraq launched the repatriation program in 2021 with international backing. However, it continues to face local opposition, particularly in Nineveh, where families of ISIS victims have raised concerns about the return of former camp residents.
