Iraq News

Security in northern Iraq is once again alarming as Iranian shelling is targeting border regions in Kurdistan mainly in Arbil and Sulaymaniya. Iranian shelling has renewed attacks on villages of Haj Omran districts which are affiliated to Joman District in Arbil. Kurdistan Regional Government condemned Iranian shelling urging Tehran to halt bombardments immediately. However, it stressed to prevent any movement that targets neighboring countries as it leads to the immigration of citizens and damages agriculture and farmers. KRG affirmed that relations between the region and neighboring counties should be built on respect and common interests while Kurdistani Alliance members in Parliament called the central government to take a decisive stand over Iranian shelling. Parliamentarian defense and security committee considers that lack of confidence between Baghdad Government and KRG has caused the non-adoption of an official stand by the central government. Yet, Coalition members denied these statements asserting that the government is studying the issue. In his turn, deputy speaker Aref Tayfour condemned continuous Iranian shelling on Kurdistan border regions noting that such actions destabilize the region’s security and stability, therefore, harm good neighboring relations. He added that this is considered as a major interference in the federal state affairs and a violation of its sovereignty. Tayfour pointed out that the United States should interfere to stop these violations as it is considered a strategic partner to Iraq and is committed to help defend Iraq borders by virtue of the security pact signed with the government. He urged as well the government and Parliament to curb violations of national sovereignty. In his turn, MP Ahmad Al Alawani reported that recurrent Iranian shelling to border villages in Kurdistan was not faced with a clear stand by the government stressing the necessity to complain before the United Nations and the Security Council.