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Shafaq News
a day ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's airspace breached: Sovereignty at risk
Shafaq News/ Political and military reactions intensified in Iraq after repeated violations of its airspace amid ongoing Israeli strikes on Iran, now entering their second week. The Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee warned of continued breaches by combat drones, describing them as a violation of Iraq's sovereignty. Committee member Mohammad al-Mohammadi told Shafaq News Agency that Iraq rejects all forms of airspace violations and is not a party to any regional conflict. Al-Mohammadi pointed out that Iraq seeks to avoid regional entanglement and supports diplomatic solutions, warning that drones pose a danger to civilians, especially in populated areas. 'The Iraqi military has radar systems capable of detecting drones but lacks the firepower to intercept them due to limited technological capabilities.' The Iraqi government submitted a formal complaint to the UN Security Council last week, condemning Israel for using Iraqi airspace in military operations. Defense Minister Thabet al-Abbasi said the ministry is expecting the first batch of a new air defense system from South Korea in the coming months, confirming that a strategic agreement was signed with South Korea's LIG Nex1 to supply Iraq with modern systems. Al-Abbasi said the ministry has also received a shipment of French Caracal helicopters and that further deliveries are planned. On Tuesday, the Iraqi Parliament formed a joint committee to investigate delays in acquiring air defense systems. Since June 13, Iraq's airspace has become a corridor for drones and missiles amid intensified conflict between Israel and Iran.
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Khor Abdullah ruling: Mass resignations reported at Iraq's top court
Shafaq News/ Six members of Iraq's Federal Supreme Court submitted their resignations on Thursday in protest over alleged government pressure related to the court's ruling on the Khor Abdullah maritime agreement with Kuwait. A source from within the court told Shafaq News Agency that the resignations were linked to political interference surrounding the case. The dispute stems from a September 2023 ruling in which the Federal Supreme Court annulled Law No. 42 of 2013, which ratified the agreement between Iraq and Kuwait on regulating navigation in Khor Abdullah. The court cited a constitutional violation, stating the law was passed without the required two-thirds majority in parliament, as outlined in Article 61(4) of the Iraqi Constitution. In April 2025, Iraq's president and prime minister each filed appeals requesting the court to reverse its decision, arguing the agreement was related to navigation, not border demarcation, and forms part of Iraq's international commitments under the 1966 Vienna Convention.
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Fatah Alliance anticipates jihad fatwa from al-Sistani amid Israeli strikes on Iran
Shafaq News/ Iraq's pro-Iranian Fatah Alliance, led by Hadi al-Amiri, said on Thursday it expects a religious decree (fatwa) for jihad to be issued by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's highest Shiite authority, in response to escalating Israeli and US actions against Iran. Ali al-Fatlawi, a senior official within the alliance, told Shafaq News Agency that 'the assault on the Islamic Republic, which defends the foundations of Islam, is not limited to the Shia sect—though it is at the forefront of the defense.' He claimed that 'the weakness of Sunni Islamic leadership has made Shiite religious voices appear more dominant.' Al-Fatlawi considered an attack on Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be tantamount to an attack on Islam itself,' likening his influence to that of Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani in Iraq. Al-Sistani, based in the holy city of Najaf and known for his restraint in political matters, issued a rare statement earlier on Thursday warning that any strike against Iran's top religious or political leadership would trigger regional chaos. His office described the ongoing Israeli military campaign as a violation of religious ethics, international law, and humanitarian norms. In Shia Islamic jurisprudence, jihad refers not only to armed struggle in defense of the faith but also to moral and societal resistance in times of crisis. Al-Sistani's last call for jihad came in 2014 when he issued a landmark fatwa urging Iraqis to take up arms against ISIS. That edict led to the formation and mobilization of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a network of mostly pro-Iranian paramilitary groups that now hold significant influence in Iraqi security and politics.
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraqi Foreign Ministry evacuates staff from Iran
Shafaq News/ Iraqi diplomats and staff in Iran have been evacuated due to the ongoing military escalation between Israel and Iran, a source at the Iraqi Foreign Ministry reported on Thursday. The source told Shafaq News Agency that an official directive was issued by the ministry to withdraw all personnel from the embassy and consulates in Iran 'to ensure their safety,' adding that only two or three staff members remain at the diplomatic missions to maintain communication with the Iraqi community in Iranian cities.
Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq's rentier economy: Risks and reforms
Shafaq News/ Iraq's continued dependence on a rentier economic model poses long-term risks, as it encourages a consumption-driven society and weakens domestic production, an Iraqi economist warned on Wednesday. Speaking to Shafaq News Agency, economic expert Mohammed al-Hassani said, 'A rentier economy is usually fragile, creates a consumerist society dominated by imports, and neglects transformative industries — a description that fits Iraq.' Al-Hassani urged the Iraqi government to take concrete steps toward developing the country's industrial and agricultural sectors to invigorate foreign trade. 'This would help generate higher state revenues, support the national income, and strengthen the federal treasury,' he added. Recent data from Iraq's Ministry of Finance showed that revenues in the federal budget exceeded 27 trillion dinars (about $18,8M) between January and March 2025, with oil contributing 91% of the total — reinforcing the rentier nature of the economy. According to financial reports released in June, Iraq's total revenues for the first quarter amounted to 27.25 trillion dinars, while total expenditures reached approximately 26.66 trillion dinars. Oil revenues alone stood at 24.91 trillion dinars, accounting for 91% of total income. Non-oil revenues amounted to just 2.33 trillion dinars. In a prior statement to Shafaq News, the prime minister's financial advisor, Mudher Mohammed Salih, attributed the persistence of Iraq's rentier economy to decades of war, international sanctions, and ongoing political instability — all of which have squandered the country's economic potential. Salih added that Iraq's continued reliance on oil as its sole revenue source leaves it vulnerable to global market fluctuations. This dependence, he noted, often forces the country to resort to borrowing to cover fiscal deficits, highlighting weak financial management and the lack of viable alternative funding strategies.
